Benefits of BARF nutrition for active dogs

When feeding on this principle, dogs receive natural products - various raw meat, fish, vegetables, berries, fruits. In other words, the BARF diet replicates as much as possible the natural diet that the ancestors of dogs who actively lived in freedom ate. In order to survive, they had to be active every day and ready to hunt.

Why should active dogs receive raw, uncooked meat? The answer is simple - during heat treatment, the beneficial proteins and amino acids contained in raw meat are broken down, destroying a large part of its nutritional properties.

Meat is an excellent food for active dogs. Dogs can survive without carbohydrates, but they cannot survive without protein and fat. Muscle meat is a first-class protein, as it contains all the beneficial amino acids necessary for working and sporting dogs. Why should owners of active dogs prefer animal proteins obtained from meat? They are easier to digest and more biologically suitable for the dog's body. High-class proteins ensure the restoration of tissues destroyed during physical exertion. Studies have also shown that dogs become more resistant to trauma and injuries when they receive the right amount of well-absorbed proteins, and if they cannot be avoided, they heal and recover faster.

Meat is also rich in fat. Fat is an easily digestible and well-absorbed source of energy for dogs. The energy needed for endurance is mainly obtained during aerobic metabolism, and good quality fat is essential for this process. One gram of fat provides twice as much energy as one gram of protein. So, simply put, fat is a concentrated fuel for working and exercising dogs, using essential free fatty acids as an efficient source of energy for muscles. Fat also stimulates mitochondrial growth and improves aerobic performance - these are some of the key indicators of dog endurance. By getting more fat, the body begins to save glycogen, thus avoiding fatigue caused by glycogen depletion.

Calcium, magnesium and potassium are minerals that active dogs need to get enough of. During exercise, metabolic acidosis caused by lactic acidosis, or in other words, "acidification" of the muscles, dogs can lose a large part of these minerals. Feeding a balanced BARF diet ensures the necessary amount of these minerals.

Glucosamine supports hard-working dog joints. It is a building block for joint cartilage and its regeneration. Dogs fed a BARF diet get a sufficient amount of glucosamine from the bone meat in the food.

Working and sporting dogs, who are exposed to physically demanding activities every day, are at higher risk of injuries and stress. Proper nutrition helps the digestive system function efficiently, so the immune system can focus on its main protective function. In the case of improper nutrition, the immune system has to fight against poorly digestible proteins that cause allergic reactions, disrupt digestion or simply require a lot of effort to be properly absorbed.

And finally, dogs fed the BARF diet defecate much less frequently. This is also important for a working or athletic dog.