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When I first brought Hamish home, I fed him dry kibble and some canned food. I noticed he seemed to have some persistent health problems - eye infections, parasites, etc. It seemed his immune system really needed a boost. I talked to Mary at Sophie’s Pet Palace on Commercial Drive, who is very knowledgeable about pet nutrition and diet. She recommended the bones and raw food diet, better known as “B.A.R.F.” I admit I was hesitant at first for a few reasons, one of them being cost. B.A.R.F. can be significantly more expensive than dry dog food. The second thing that I worried about was whether feeding raw food to a dog was actually safe. I did a lot of research before deciding to try the B.A.R.F. diet. I also consulted with Hamish’s vet, Dr. Janice Crook at the Mosquito Creek Veterinary Clinic.

I decided to give it a try and have never looked back. Hamish’s health improved so drastically in the few weeks following the introduction of raw food. No more eye infections, no more parasites, his coat was glossier and his teeth were shiny and white. Although the raw food can be more expensive, I believe the health benefits will save money on vet care in the future — sort of like a long-term investment. Now that B.A.R.F. diet has increased in popularity, bulk ordering is possible and the savings are significant (cheaper than kibble, some claim).

Now, the B.A.R.F. diet isn’t for every dog. If, for whatever reason you’ve decided the raw food diet isn’t for your pooch, the most important thing to consider when purchasing dog food is the quality of the ingredients. Choose a food that lists human grade meat and no by-products at the top of the ingredient list (no beaks and hooves, please!) Also check to see that there is limited use of fillers. You may want to do some research into where the food is manufactured — some countries have stricter regulations than others about what is considered ‘by-product’ (I have even read about road kill and destroyed animals from the pound being used in kibble).

Feeding your dog a high quality dog food will protect your pet’s health and happiness.

Bone appetit!