Many pet owners are hesitant to start their pets on a Biologically Approved Raw Food or BARF diet. However, it is easy after you do enough research and consultations. There are many BARF dog food diets sold in Singapore that you can try. Here are five rules you should follow when you begin the raw food journey of your pet.
Rule #1 ─ Ensure the Fat and Protein are Balanced
Meat is the primary diet of your pet. Purchase meat at the grocery store or from a butcher. Ensure that the BARF dog food diet you purchase in Singapore contains a fat level between 10% and 20%, including any added oils.
The amino acids in protein are crucial for energy and the assembly of tissues in your dog. Fat is a high-energy source. The production of hormones and fat-soluble vitamins use fat. Fat has twice as many calories as protein, pound per pound. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are not required; your dog will be OK without them.
Fat contains many calories and does not contain any vitamins or minerals. A diet that is too high in fat will present you with a challenge. Their vitamins and minerals will be stripped of too much fat and result in a nutritionally incomplete diet. It is even more crucial to give the right fat amount to puppies and senior dogs who need more nutrients.
On the other hand, a fat content of less than ten per cent can result in dry, itchy skin on your dogs. It is best to stay within the ten to twenty per cent range when purchasing your choice BARF dog food from a Singapore manufacturer.
Rule #2 ─ Provide the Correct Amounts of Calcium and Minerals
The bone should account for 10% to 15% of their overall diet. Additionally, puppies require at least 12% up to 15% bone.
Minerals are crucial factors included in BARF dog food by reputable Singapore manufacturers. These minerals fire all of the metabolic processes in their body. Many things can go wrong if your dog is missing minerals. Bone is about 65% minerals and includes phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and calcium.
On the other hand, puppies need at least 12% up to 15% of bone in their diet to support their skeletal growth and development of adult teeth. Meaty bones with many small bones and joints are the safest choice for your dog.
If your dog is too small to consume bone or you have a dog who struggles to crunch through bone, you can give a bone substitute. Many pet owners that are raw feeders use eggshell powder. However, it is missing magnesium and is not the best choice for puppies or any diet that contains more than 10% fat. Bone meal is the best bone replacement in BARF raw dog food diets by Singapore manufacturers you trust.
Rule #3 ─ Include Some Organ Meat
The liver should account for 10% of the diet. On the other hand, the heart should account for 5% of the diet. These organs are critical. You should also attempt to obtain kidney, pancreas, spleen, lung, eyes, brain, sweetbread, and green tripe. If your dog tolerates it, it can make up 5% to 10% of its food.
The liver should make up around 10% of the BARF diet of your pets. It will provide them with most of their vitamins (like vitamins B and C) and several minerals such as copper and folate. The most common error raw feeders make is merely adding liver. There are several other organs you should feed your dog, and your mission is to find as many of them as possible.
Here are other organs you can add to your BARF dog food diet from Singapore meat shops:
- Heart – It is a significant source of Taurine.
- Kidney, Pancreas, Spleen – These organ meats are rich in enzymes and should make up 5% of their diet.
- Lung, Brain, Eyes, Sweetbread, and Green Tripe – These are rich in omega-6 fats and should also make up about 5% of their diet.
Rule #4 ─ It is Best to Add Fruits and Vegetables
If you can afford it, go organic. Broccoli, kale, and especially broccoli sprouts are high in cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory compounds. Blueberries are especially beneficial for the brain and neurological system, while cranberries are helpful for the bladder and kidneys, but most berries are good.
All fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols, which are bioactive chemicals that have a role in health and immunological function. It has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Polyphenol aids in the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses and neurological disorders.
Polyphenols found in fruits, berries, and vegetables are beneficial to the healthy bacteria in your dog’s intestines. Short-chain fatty acids, which are byproducts of bacteria consuming these plants, are primarily responsible for their immunological advantages. It is vital to note that these beneficial polyphenols can only be found in plants and not in animals.
Most veterinarians suggest giving dog treats made of fruits from Singapore grocery stores to pet owners. It is an all-natural yet still tasty alternative for your dog.
Rule #5 ─ Complete All Nutrients
Many raw diets lack two essential nutrients: vitamin D and Manganese. Feed entire raw fish, egg yolks, vitamin D-rich mushrooms, or green-lipped mussels to increase vitamin D levels. Green-lipped mussels, oysters, and seafood will also raise manganese levels.
Here are a few ways you can give your dog its much-needed macronutrients.
Vitamin D
Because your dog cannot produce vitamin D from sunlight in the same way that you can, he must rely on his diet to do so. The issue is that many food animals are kept indoors and may be vitamin D deficient. As a result, vitamin D should be in their raw diet.
Here are some vitamin D-rich foods you can include on their BARF dog food diet from Singapore grocery stores:
- Mushrooms – Mushrooms, like mammals, may produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.
- Egg Yolks – Yolks from pastured chickens grown in the sun and fed a nutritious diet are high in vitamin D. You can feed eggs up to three times each week.
- Mussels – Green-lipped mussels and other mussel species provide a high vitamin D concentration.
- Fish – Fatty fishes like salmon, sardines, mackerel, and cod liver oil are high in vitamin D. However, this is not my preferred source. Fish is not sustainable and includes heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs.
Manganese
Manganese is a trace mineral that is crucial to metabolic activities in the body. It also aids the detoxification of dangerous free radicals. Find a BARF dog food manufacturer in Singapore that includes the right amount of Manganese in their food. If you are not cautious, manganese insufficiency is prevalent in raw-fed dogs.
Manganese deficiency in dogs commonly manifests as weakening ligaments and connective tissue. It can lead to joint problems such as cruciate rupture. Manganese may be found in spinach, although mussels are the highest source, followed by oysters and seafood.
Feed Them a Balanced Meal
Fidelis Meats is Singapore’s first and only specialized butchery for pets. They offer the best raw dog or cat food Singapore pet owners can buy, making all products in small batches to ensure their freshness and quality. Fidelis Meats do not believe in bulking out your pet’s diet with unnecessary and inexpensive fillers such as starches and veggies. They would never sacrifice quality for cheap, and the quality of our products will speak for itself.
Choose Fidelis Meats when ordering pet food online in Singapore. They produce the best raw dog and cat food for a well-balanced diet. For more information visit www.fidelismeats.com.sg.