is anyone trying the BARF diet ?

**fongo** · 12-23-2008, 03:05 AM

i've seen great success with dogs with allergys and general bad temperment

solved both these troubles

but i hear dogs on the barf diet suffer extensive tooth decay?

can anyone confirm or deny?

thanks

p.s and get a lab up ya

**Fallriver** · 12-23-2008, 11:59 AM

Quite the opposite. The grains in kibbles stick to dogs' teeth and that creates tooth decay. The enzymes in the meat and the bones help to keep teeth clean and free of plaque and tartar. The downside is, there is considerable wear to the teeth. My twelve year old who has little nubs left for teeth. The roots wear down wit the teeth though so there is no sensitivity and she functions just fine. One more reason not to feed hard marrow bones, not to mention breakage.

**diabolicalangel** · 12-23-2008, 07:22 PM

Hey FallRiver,

how long has your 12 year old been on the raw diet? And just to clarify, you recommend not feeding marrow bones? (beef, bison, etc?)
Sorry if I am hijacking your thread Fongo.......I just started feeding my lab the raw diet and it is going very well!

**Garth** · 12-23-2008, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by diabolicalangel

Sorry if I am hijacking your thread Fongo.......I just started feeding my lab the raw diet and it is going very well!

Don't apologise. He's just one of those senseless trolls from another forum who's spamming this site with his equally senseless buddies. :ugly:

http://forum.realsurf.com/forum/view...p?f=37&t=15322

**diabolicalangel** · 12-23-2008, 08:13 PM

GarthC I will just start calling you the Troll Eliminator!

I read the post about the 8 week old puppy.......some people will do anything for attention. But my question for FallRiver was for real.

**Garth** · 12-23-2008, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by diabolicalangel

But my question for FallRiver was for real.

Yeah I know it was & she'll give you some damned good advice too. :educated:

**Baloo317** · 12-23-2008, 10:13 PM

Not Dana, but I have read numerous places not to ever feed marrow bones and the like, many a tooth-breaking incident reported.

They're not called "wreck" bones for nothin!

**diabolicalangel** · 12-23-2008, 11:25 PM

Well crap Casey luvs marrow bones but I am glad this came up because going forward I want her to maintain healthy white teeth!
Kate, I fed her a turkey leg tonight and she ate it like a pro. I was a little worried because it is larger weight bearing bone but you had talked in one of your posts about giving Baloo a turkey leg so I thought I would try it out. I am sure Casey would give it a 5 star rating.

**Baloo317** · 12-24-2008, 12:11 AM

I won't go any bigger than turkey with the weight bearing stuff, even though I know folks who have fed lamb/goat weight bearing bones with success, they scare me.

Baloo handles the drumsticks just fine, a lot of it is about knowing your dog and what they can/can't handle.

**diabolicalangel** · 12-24-2008, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by Baloo317

I won't go any bigger than turkey with the weight bearing stuff, even though I know folks who have fed lamb/goat weight bearing bones with success, they scare me.

Baloo handles the drumsticks just fine, a lot of it is about knowing your dog and what they can/can't handle.

Lamb and goat legs seem too big to me as well. Yikes her teeth would probably fall out! The way Casey crunches thru those leg bones with such enthusiasm would have me too scared to try anything bigger. Although I will say that she seems very calculating in her approach to her meals. I think she may have a clue as to what she is doing. Is Baloo this intent on his meal assessment?