Dear all,

Recently I come across BARF (Bone and Raw Food) for dogs and I am wondering how effective and acceptable to local dog lover. I am doing survey on this to study the pros and cons on BARF. If I may ask,

1. Do you give BARF to your dog? why yes? why no?
2. How much you spend on your dog's meal per day?
3. If there is a shop providing BARF ( including different menu for seven days and free delivery with small fee),specialist to prepare menu to suit your dog nutrient needs. What do you think about it?

Appreciate to share your view. Below are the summary of pros and cons for BARF:-

PRO
•better digestion – natural raw food passes through easier
•healthier coats and skin
•increased energy levels
•improved disposition
•fresher breath
•cleaner teeth and gums – chewing bones helps this process
•weight control – no fatty grains
•very low in carbohydrates – which often cause food allergies and digestive issues
•no chemicals, preservatives, sweeteners, fillers and additives

CONS
•benefits aren’t proven; they’re anecdotal
•raw meat can contain harmful bacteria – including E. coli and salmonella
•airway obstruction and choking – uncooked bones are still dangerous
•bowel obstruction and intestinal perforations – again, uncooked bones, when swallowed, can be a huge problem
•inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
•severe diarrhoea

•time-intensive – besides staying vigilant to avoid having their pets swallow potentially-harmful bones, proponents often talk about the trial-and-error nature of raw food and how they have to change it up and add supplements like fish oil
•more expensive