BARF Glossary: Technical Terms Explained Simply

Tripe, RMB, single protein, Ca:P ratio: plenty of technical terms float around raw feeding. Here you find them explained clearly. Just type a term into the search box and the matching explanation jumps out.

35 terms

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins. Some are essential and must be taken in through food.

Animal by-products

The legal term for slaughter by-products. Unproblematic for private purchase to feed your own dog. Where to get meat →

Aujeszky (pseudorabies)

A virus that can occur in raw pork and wild boar. An infection is always fatal for dogs, so never feed pork raw. What is off-limits raw →

BARF

Short for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. It means feeding dogs raw meat, bones, organ meat and a plant share.

BARF calculator

A tool that works out the right daily amount and shares from weight, age and activity. To the calculator →

Bloat (GDV)

A life-threatening emergency where the stomach twists. Large breeds especially are at risk, go to the vet immediately. Signs and prevention →

Bone stool

Pale, very firm stool that points to too high a bone share. A sign to feed fewer bones.

Brewer yeast

A supplement that mainly provides B vitamins.

Calcium-phosphorus ratio (Ca:P)

The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the ration. It should hold slightly more calcium than phosphorus, especially important for puppies. Nutrients →

Cell disruption

Breaking open the plant cell walls by pureeing, steaming or fermenting so the nutrients become available.

Eggshell powder

Finely ground eggshell as a calcium source when only few bones are fed.

Elimination diet

Over several weeks, only one new protein and one new vegetable the dog has never had are fed, to find allergy triggers. Allergy and diet →

Exclusion phase

The phase of the elimination diet in which only the new, unknown ingredients are fed.

Fasting day

A food-free day some owners include to rest the digestive tract. Not for puppies or sick dogs.

Frankenprey

A method where a prey animal is rebuilt from individual parts, that is muscle meat, bones and organ meat in the right ratio, instead of feeding whole animals.

Grinding

Putting meat or bones through a meat grinder. Ground food is especially suitable for dogs that gulp.

Gulper

A dog that swallows its food without proper chewing. Here bones are better given ground or under supervision.

Kelp meal

A natural source of iodine often added in raw feeding.

Meeting requirements

That a ration provides all important nutrients in sufficient amounts. Balanced over the week, not per meal. Nutrients →

Muscle meat

The plain meat without bones and organs, the base of every ration. Heart counts as muscle meat too. Which meat →

Omasum

Another forestomach of ruminants, similar in value to tripe but lower in fat.

Omega-3 and omega-6

Essential fatty acids. A balanced ratio is what matters, omega-3 comes for example from fish and salmon oil.

Organ meat

Organs like liver, kidney, spleen and lung. They are the vitamin and mineral store of the ration and are fed in small amounts. Organ meat in detail →

Plant share

The plant part of the ration, usually around 20 percent, from vegetables and a little fruit.

Prey model

The idea of composing a ration so it roughly matches the make-up of a whole prey animal.

Pureeing

Finely chopping vegetables and fruit so the dog can absorb the nutrients from the plant cells.

Ready BARF and frozen food

Pre-mixed, frozen raw food bought in portions. Handy when there is no source of your own nearby. Sources →

RMB (Raw Meaty Bones)

Bones with meat on them, such as chicken necks. They provide calcium and clean the teeth. Only ever feed raw, never cooked. More on bones →

Salmon oil

Provides omega-3 fatty acids and is often added as a supplement.

Single protein (mono protein)

Food with only one meat and protein source. Helps to spot triggers of intolerances more easily. Intolerance →

Supplements

Targeted additions that close nutrient gaps, for example salmon oil, kelp meal or eggshell powder. Nutrients →

Taurine

An amino acid found among other places in the heart, important for heart and eyes.

Transition

The gradual switch from commercial food to raw food so digestion can adapt calmly. Transition step by step →

Trichinella

Parasites that can occur in wild boar among others. Thorough freezing lowers the risk.

Tripe

The first forestomach of ruminants. Green, uncleaned tripe is very popular with dogs and provides pre-digested plant matter and enzymes. Tripe explained →

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