{"id":13280,"date":"2021-09-29T00:17:08","date_gmt":"2021-09-29T07:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shibashake.com\/dog\/?p=13280"},"modified":"2021-09-29T00:17:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-29T07:17:08","slug":"barf-why-i-feed-my-shiba-inu-dog-raw-diet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shibashake.com\/dog\/barf-why-i-feed-my-shiba-inu-dog-raw-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"BARF – Why I Feed My Shiba Inu a Raw Diet"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThis is a guest post written by Alisa, human companion to a rescue Shiba Inu named Kuma.<\/a> Copyright \u00a9 Alisa and Kuma. <\/p>\n

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Disclaimer:<\/b> Pet nutrition is a complicated topic with many grey zones and contradicting information from experts. Even pet nutrition organizations such as the NRC (National Research Council), AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control), and FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) all have different guidelines, which disagree on what constitutes a complete and balanced diet. There is no consensus on what guideline is best or \u201cright\u201d for each individual pet. Therefore, the statement \u201ccomplete and balanced\u201d should be taken with a grain of salt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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BARF, Raw Feeding, Raw Diet<\/h2>\n

B.A.R.F. stands for Biologically Accurate Raw Food. This is a model of raw feeding that mimics what dog ancestors (wolves) eat in the wild. Wolves are primarily carnivores that eat whole prey, but have been observed to eat plant matter such as grasses and berries<\/a> in small quantities. The BARF model for adult dogs<\/b> consists of 70% raw meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 5% liver, 5% second secreting organ, and 10% plant matter. NOTE: this is a general guideline, and it is totally okay to deviate from it based on an individual dog\u2019s needs.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Shiba
BARF \u2013 Why I Feed My Shiba Inu a Raw Diet<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

There are many reasons for and against raw feeding. The main argument for commercial pet food (dry and wet dog food), is that manufacturers need to adhere to nutritional and safety guidelines in their region in order to bring their products to market. Therefore, it is better to feed nutritionally balanced commercial pet food instead of unbalanced raw food. Commercial pet food is convenient and cost-effective. There are many brands on the market to choose from, and some have scientific research and backing.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the raw pet food market is less regulated. The main driver for a raw diet is the focus on feeding whole foods that offer better nutritional value (bioavailability) compared to the byproducts and supplements commonly used in commercial pet food manufacturing. In addition, some dogs have food allergies or intolerances, and it can be difficult to determine exactly which ingredient is the culprit when a pet food contains so many ingredients. Raw feeding means having full control of all the ingredients so that we may easily eliminate or replace\u00a0 as needed. The tradeoff is the time, money, and effort needed\u00a0 to ensure that the raw food is nutritionally balanced. Raw food is also difficult to travel with, and therefore not suitable for all lifestyles. Note that veterinary associations and public health agencies discourage raw diets due to the risk of pathogens in raw meat that may cause illness in dogs, cats, and humans. Here are links to the stance of several North American agencies:<\/p>\n

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  1. AVMA<\/a> (American Veterinary Medical Association)<\/li>\n
  2. AAHA<\/a> (American Animal Hospital Association)<\/li>\n
  3. CVMA<\/a> (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)<\/li>\n
  4. PHAC<\/a> (Public Health Agency of Canada)<\/li>\n
  5. CDC<\/a> (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"An
    A nutritionally balanced dog diet makes a Shiba Inu happy, healthy, and wise.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
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    Why I Feed My Shiba Inu a Raw Diet<\/h2>\n
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    1. It is accessible to me and I am willing to put in the extra time to research, source, and prepare raw food.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. I dislike the use of synthetic supplements and preservatives in commercial pet food. There have been recalls of commercial pet food due to excessive levels of supplements<\/a> causing toxicity in dogs, leading to kidney failure and death.\u00a0<\/li>\n
    3. Shiba Inus are a basal dog breed and more genetically related to wolves compared to many modern domesticated dogs. I personally believe feeding Shibas a raw diet makes sense.<\/li>\n
    4. Food allergies usually manifest after prolonged exposure to one brand, type, or form of food. Doing a rotation of various proteins reduces the chance of developing food allergies. Feeding whole foods makes it easy to identify and remove\/replace individual ingredients causing allergies<\/li>\n
    5. A raw diet is low in carbohydrates, which is excellent for weight control. While dogs can digest carbohydrates, it is not a biological requirement according to the nutritional guidelines. A low carbohydrate diet is also great for dogs with diabetes, as it will reduce the amount of insulin required for the body to process the glucose. I would know this, because I am a diabetic-in-remission myself, all thanks to a low carbohydrate diet.<\/li>\n

       
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      \"With
      Kuma\u2019s stools are very small and do not smell bad. They are small enough that we use puppy\/small breed poop bags to reduce plastic waste.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/p>\n
    6. Animal-based whole foods have high bioavailability. There are also no filler ingredients so stools are smaller and less smelly.<\/li>\n

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    7. Raw meaty bones help keep teeth clean. The act of pulling bits of meat, gristle, and cartilage off the bone is similar to what brushing and flossing do for human teeth.<\/li>\n

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      Kuma has clean teeth and his breath does not smell. We do not brush his teeth or rely on commercial teeth cleaning chews.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<\/ol>\n
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      How to Calculate\u00a0 Raw Food for Adult Dogs<\/h2>\n

      The amount of food a dog needs will depend on age, activity level, and whether they need to gain or lose weight. The average adult dog<\/b> should be fed 2-3% of their body weight<\/b> each day. A dog that is very active or works all day can be fed 3-4% of their weight, while an overweight and sedentary dog may only need to be fed 1.5-2%. It is totally okay to deviate slightly from day to day, and adjust based on the individual dog\u2019s needs. If the dog is gaining or losing weight, the amount they eat will also need to be recalculated and adjusted frequently.<\/p>\n

      \"Shiba
      Kuma gets slightly more food on days we go out on long hikes together.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

      Kuma is a neutered young adult dog weighing 12kg. His vet says he is at a healthy weight, and we should maintain it. He is moderately active, so we feed 2.5% of his weight daily to maintain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      12000g x 0.025 = 300g total weight of food to feed each day<\/p>\n

      300 x 0.70 = 210g meat
      \n300 x 0.10 = 30g bone
      \n300 x 0.05 = 15g liver
      \n300 x 0.05 = 15g second secreting organ
      \n300 x 0.10 = 30g plant matter<\/p>\n

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      Examples of Kuma\u2019s breakfasts and dinners.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

      I also weigh and record each portion of food in a notebook when feeding Kuma. This is an optional step, but I do it as a precaution in case Kuma ever gets sick and the vet asks what\/when he was fed.<\/p>\n

      A whole day of food for Kuma looks something like this:<\/p>\n