Usually in BARF, there is some form of carbohydrates in root vegetables already.
Root vegetables are starchy and sugary, thus providing the essential carbohydrates.
Example is carrots.

It would be easier for them to digest fats and meat for energy. This way they get pure energy. It is good for them to have a certain percentage of fat content in their food. But you gotta make sure its raw. We humans don't eat raw fats cos we can't stand the texture and taste thats why we cook it.
But keep in mind that cooked fats are carcinogenic(cancerous), thus you see quiet a number of dogs in vets suffering from cancer.

You can feed rice. There is no harm in small amount. Just that you will notice the larger amount in terms of stools as rice is not properly digested by their tummies. I know some of my aunts who still add rice to their barf, as they just feel that the furbabies are not getting enough to eat.
Its perfectly normal to think this way.

Anyway a dog's taste in food is very different from human. I can only wonder who tastes the commercially manufactured food and tells the manufacturers if there is not enough chicken or if it needs more taste. I can only pity that person lo.

It has come to our attention that one established commercial pet food company is addressing BARF in their Myths and Facts page. We don't know how many more are doing the same though.
This shows that (and in our opinion) raw feeding is catching up in this region and it is impactful enough to their business that they are doing something about it. Bashing/ bad-mouthing something without proof is something not nice to do la.

We wish to highlight them right here.

The following are excepts from a prominent commercial pet food company which has 5 food brands in Malaysia,
P***** O*E, P***** P*O P**N, P***** F***Y F***T, P***** A**O, P***** FR**K**S

Myth 5: BARF (Raw Food) is better than dry food
Fact 5:

Raw food diets
• Usually are not complete and balanced
• Risk of infection and contamination-Salmonella is very dangerous to both pets and humans and can be found in the stools of pets.
• Bones can get stuck in your pets mouth

Our comment: I wish to state here that there is no proof/facts/studies to support this as they have done with their Myth No. 7.

Myth 6: Cooking destroys enzymes and nutrients
Fact 6: Cooking is beneficial.
Cooking:

• Changes the digestibility of nutrients
• Alters structure of amino acids
• Breaks down non-nutritional factors to increase digestibility
• Kills bacteria and parasites

Dogs manufacture their own enzymes needed to digest food and utilize nutrients like protein. Also manufacturers of high quality pet foods maintain safety margins built into formulations. Any nutritional loss in PRO PLAN® during cooking and storage is accounted for and will always be added back to ensure high quality in our pet food.

Our comment: What is the purpose of destroying the naturally occuring nutrients and later adding them back later in the process? To make sure the food is able to be kept for 24-36 months?


Myth 7: Corn causes allergies
Fact 7:
10 different studies, representing 253 dogs
Roundebush, Guilford , Shanely(2000) Adverse Reactions to Food, Small Animal Clinic Nutrition (4th edition)

• Beef, dairy products and wheat account for 65% of all reported cases of food allergies
• Chicken, egg, lamb and soy account for 25% of all reported cases of food allergies
• Only 6 confirmed (2.4%) cases of allergies to corn

Our comment: Representing 253 dogs, ONLY? I think one single pet shop has supplied food to more dogs in a month. I rest my case.

Sourced from: http://www.p*****.com.my/DogCare/caredog_article2.html

This post has been edited by teddycuddlybear: Dec 18 2009, 05:28 PM