WHAT I LEARNED FROM DR IAN BILLINGHURST ABOUT DOG NUTRITION
As a dog owner, I want to do what’s best for my four-legged friends. When I had questions about the kind of diet, I was feeding my dogs and what could be done better was when I discovered Dr Ian Billinghurst and his Barf Diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). I will explain why Dr Billinghurst shifted my thinking about how to feed my dogs.
The Barf Diet Explained
Dr Billinghurst developed the Barf Diet in the early 1990’s based on the notion that animals should eat what nature intended them to eat, which is raw food. The Barf Diet stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. It consists of a combination of raw meaty bones like chicken necks and wings, fruit and vegetables, offal, eggs, dairy products like yogurt or kefir, and some grains. This diet mimics the natural diet wild dogs would have eaten in the wild; it is rich in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals that are essential for good health.
Why The Barf Diet Is Important
Dr Billinghurst believes that commercial dog food diets are not suited to our canine companions because they contain too many carbohydrates and processed ingredients. He argues that these diets can lead to long-term health issues such as obesity, allergies and skin problems due to their lack of nutrients. On the other hand, a balanced raw food diet provides all the necessary nutrients your dog needs while avoiding any potential allergens or fillers found in kibble or canned foods. Additionally, since there is no cooking involved with the Barf Diet it preserves all of its nutritional value unlike cooked foods which can lose some nutrition in the process of being cooked..
This Quote from Dr Ian Billinghurst Cemented my Thoughts
“Since the early 1990’s, this revolutionary feeding program for pet dogs and cats has swept Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Europe and North America. The seemingly miraculous improvements in health that have accompanied this epidemic of raw feeding have outstripped the expectations of even its most vocal supporters.”
After learning more about Dr Ian Billingshurst's approach to feeding our canine companions it made me realize how important it is for us as pet owners to research different dietary options for our furry family members. A balanced raw food diet such as the one proposed by Dr Billinghurst can provide ALL of the necessary nutrients your pup needs while avoiding potential allergens or fillers found in traditional kibble or canned foods. Ultimately we need to do what is best for our pup's health so I suggest you research more about The Barf Diet before making any decisions regarding your pup's nutrition!
For me I found reading his book "Give Your Dog A Bone" was the start of good health for my dogs. Get yourself a copy of the book today. You will not regret it.