Did you know that around 50% of dogs in the UK are obese and the same number have diabetes. As with humans, this is due to high sugar, high carb, low protein diets. But they should be eating meat. A raw diet for dogs – and cats – can improve their health. It’s simple – and obvious – if you think about it.

Mass-produced pet feeds may be quick and convenient, but they come nowhere near to providing the nutritional support of a natural, fresh diet. Pets at home need a balanced diet to maintain their health and thrive in the modern environment, especially in urban areas. Just as our own lifestyles have changed, our pets’ lifestyles have changed too with a complex range of factors now contributing to their wellbeing. Pet owners are finding themselves making regular trips to the vets for help with skin or coat, digestive or behaviour issues that can often be linked back to poor diet.

What is the BARF diet?

BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet) is a complete and fresh raw diet for dogs designed to provide our four-legged friends with a nutritionally balanced diet which consists of raw meat, bones and vegetables while eliminating all processed foods, fillers or grains.

Our recipes follow the BARF diet for dogs

We believe that feeding a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet is the most natural way to provide your dog with all the healthy vitamins, minerals and natural oils they need to keep them in tip-top condition. It can also help them lose excess body fat and improve muscle tone.

Free from artificial colours, preservatives and flavourings, Poppy’s Picnic raw dog food does not contain any cereals, grains or fillers – major causes of allergies. 

We appreciate that the reality of day to day life means that not all of us can or have the time to feed raw 100%. Any fresh raw food is better than none, so even adding a little to a dry or wet food diet will improve your dog’s health and wellbeing. 

The benefits of a BARF diet for dogs

• Healthy gums and teeth

Through the natural teeth cleaning benefits provided from a raw dog food diet, dogs will experience fresh breath, healthy gums, and white teeth.

• Weight maintenance

An all natural, species appropriate, raw diet increases the metabolic rate in dogs. This process allows them to lose unwanted fat and gain a desirable increase in muscle mass. Their physical bodies will also become lean when pairing a raw diet with regular exercise.

• Glossy, soft skin and coat

Skin and coat health is one of the first changes seen when feeding a fresh, raw meat diet for dogs. A balanced raw diet for dogs is free from processed foods, artificial preservatives, additives, and low quality proteins which provides them with the essentials to maintain a thick and shiny coat!

• Stronger immune system

Raw dog food strengthens the immune system. Feeding dogs raw meat provides a natural source of protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients which help fight diseases and future illnesses.

• Smaller, pick-upable poos

Feeding dogs raw meat and changing from a fully processed food diet to 100% fresh raw food will bring some pleasant surprises. Not only will their stools be more solid and compact (making them easier to pick up... we call it Pick-Up-Able Poo!) the odour will be less noxious.

How can I get started with feeding Poppy’s Picnic?

Just as we’re told that fresh food is the healthiest way to eat, the same applies to our four-legged friends. Even just a little boost of fresh food in their lives will make a huge difference and raw feeding can be flexible. Our packs of award-winning Mince and Meatballs are suitable for dogs over 8 weeks of age, and which one you decide to go with may depend on your lifestyle and size of your dog.

Read more here to find out how you can introduce your dog to a Poppy’s Picnic fresh raw food diet

How much should I feed my dog?

How much raw food to feed your dog will depend on their age, weight and activity levels. As a rule, adult dogs being fed a raw-only diet need 2-3% of their body weight every day in food. For example, a dog weighing 10 kg should be fed between 200-300g per day.

Click here to fill out some details about your dogs and have the paw-rithmetic done for you, or alternatively contact our friendly VIP (Very Important Paws) Team who will happily help at 01380716599 or woof@poppyspicnic.co.uk.