French Bulldog Raw Diet

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You’ve probably heard of a “raw diet” for your dog…

Is it a fad? Too good to be true? Or does it live up to the hype?

There has been a lot of controversy between both dog owners and veterinarians over raw diets, and it should be mentioned that both the American Animal Hospital Association and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) officially recommend against raw diets. Regardless, many dog owners and veterinarians claim feeding your dog a raw diet has numerous advantages.

What is a Raw Diet?

Raw diets, as you can assume from the name, are dog food diets consisting of mainly raw food.

Your typical raw diet probably has a few of these ingredients in it

• Muscle meat
• Bones
• Organ meats
• Raw eggs
• Vegetables
• Fruit
• Seeds and Nuts
• Dairy

Not much different from what us humans eat, is it? Besides the raw meat, it’s just a few of your typical whole foods.

BARF Diet Meaning

The BARF diet is the most popular raw diet for French Bulldogs.

Despite its off putting name, the acronym BARF typically stands for these two simple phrases:

BARF — Biologically Appropriate Raw Food

or

BARF — Bones And Raw Food

Benefits of a Raw Food Diet

• Shinier coat
• Healthier skin
• Stronger bones & muscles
• Cleaner teeth
• A raw diet helps maintain a healthy weight– it’s harder to overeat with a raw diet
• Increased energy
• Smaller stools

Downsides of a Raw Food Diet

• Handling of raw food poses health risk to both dogs and humans
• Whole bones can be a choking hazard
• Preparing a raw meal for your dog is time consuming & expensive, however, there are ready-made raw foods available to buy from the store (or online!).
• There is a possibility of adverse reactions to a raw diet such as diarrhea and gastrointestinal inflammation
• Not recommended for dogs with a weakened immune system as they are at higher risk of a bacterial infection from the raw food

Tips on How to Feed your Frenchie a Raw Diet

Transitioning from Dry Food to Raw

• You should switch the food gradually over a period from 3-14 days (average 7 days)
• If your Frenchie’s stomach gets upset, it’s probably a sign that you’re switching their food too fast– slow down!
• Older dogs can benefit from added probiotics and digestive enzymes (ask your vet!)

Best Raw Dog Food Brands

These are some popular brands that sell ready-to-eat raw food.

• Instinct
• Stella & Chewy’s
• Orijen
• Primal
• Stewart

Sources

What To Expect When Switching Your Dog To A Raw Diet