The BARF diet is a raw feeding approach for dogs built around uncooked meat, edible bones, organs, and small amounts of fruits and vegetables. The acronym stands for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” (sometimes “Bones and Raw Food”), and the concept was popularized by Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst, who argued that dogs thrive on meals that mimic what their wild ancestors ate rather than processed, grain-based kibble. It remains one of the most popular and most debated ways to feed a dog.
What Goes Into a BARF Meal
A standard BARF diet follows a roughly consistent ratio of ingredients. The widely used breakdown looks like this:
- Muscle meat (70%): The protein foundation, providing amino acids and water-soluble vitamins. This includes chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, or other animal proteins.
- Raw edible bone (10%): Soft, consumable bones that supply calcium and phosphorus. Think chicken necks, wings, and feet for small dogs, or turkey necks and chicken leg quarters for larger breeds.
- Liver (5%): A concentrated source of vitamin A and other essential vitamins.
- Other organs (5%): Kidney, spleen, or similar secreting organs that add minerals and vitamins not found in muscle meat alone.
- Vegetables (7%): Leafy greens, squash, or other produce that contribute fiber and beneficial plant compounds.
- Seeds and nuts (2%): Small additions like pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for fatty acids and minerals.
- Fruit (1%): Kept minimal because of sugar content, but included for antioxidants.
These percentages are guidelines, not rigid rules. Individual dogs may need adjustments based on size, activity level, age, and health conditions.
How BARF Differs From Other Raw Diets
BARF is not the only raw feeding philosophy. The other well-known approach, the Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet, aims to replicate a whole prey animal and excludes plant matter entirely. PMR feeders use only meat, bone, and organs, arguing that dogs have no biological need for vegetables or fruit. BARF takes a broader view, incorporating produce, eggs, dairy in small amounts, oils, nuts, and herbs alongside the raw animal components. In practice, “BARF” has become a catch-all term that many people use to describe any raw feeding approach, even when their method doesn’t match Billinghurst’s original framework.
What Owners Report Seeing
Dog owners who switch to BARF feeding commonly describe shinier coats, healthier skin, smaller and firmer stools, improved energy levels, and cleaner teeth. Many of these observations are consistent across raw feeding communities, and the smaller stool volume makes intuitive sense: raw diets contain less filler and fiber than most kibbles, so less material passes through undigested. The dental benefits likely come from the mechanical action of chewing raw meaty bones, which can scrape plaque from teeth in a way that processed food does not.
That said, most of these benefits come from owner reports rather than controlled clinical trials. Large-scale studies comparing long-term health outcomes in raw-fed versus kibble-fed dogs are still limited, which is one reason the veterinary community remains cautious.
The Bacterial Risk Is Real
The biggest concern with any raw diet is pathogen contamination, and the data here is clear. Surveys of commercial raw pet foods in North America have found Salmonella in 7% to 21% of samples tested, depending on the study. By comparison, just 0.2% of conventionally processed dog food samples tested positive for Salmonella in one large U.S. survey. A Dutch study of 35 frozen raw pet food products found Listeria in 54% of samples, a dangerous strain of E. coli in 23%, and Salmonella in 20%.
These pathogens don’t just threaten your dog. In one Canadian study, 80% of raw chicken-based pet food samples contained Salmonella, and 30% of the dogs eating that food were shedding the bacteria in their feces. That means family members, especially young children, elderly adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system, face exposure risk from handling food, touching contaminated surfaces, or simply being licked by a raw-fed dog.
Both the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association discourage feeding raw or undercooked animal-source protein to pets, citing the risk to both animal and human health. The AVMA’s position specifically supports diets processed in ways that reduce or eliminate pathogenic contaminants.
Nutritional Balance Is Hard to Get Right
Feeding raw meat does not automatically mean feeding a complete diet. A Texas A&M University study examining homemade dog diets found that the vast majority lacked essential nutrients, and researchers noted that fewer than 6% were likely nutritionally complete. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is a frequent problem: raw meat is high in phosphorus but low in calcium, and without enough edible bone or supplementation, that imbalance can soften bones over time, a condition sometimes called “rubber jaw.” It can also damage the kidneys.
Other common shortfalls in DIY raw diets include zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, and certain B vitamins. Commercial raw foods formulated to meet nutritional standards reduce this risk, but homemade BARF meals prepared without guidance from a veterinary nutritionist are prone to gaps that may not show symptoms for months or even years.
Edible Bones vs. Recreational Bones
The bone component of BARF feeding causes understandable worry, but there’s an important distinction between edible bones and recreational bones. Edible bones are soft, flexible bones that a dog can fully chew and swallow as part of a meal. Chicken necks, chicken wings, duck feet, and rabbit bones all fall into this category. Recreational bones are larger, harder bones (like beef marrow bones) meant for chewing but not for full consumption. Dogs gnaw on them but shouldn’t eat them entirely.
Cooked bones of any kind are dangerous. Cooking removes moisture and changes the bone’s structure, making it brittle and far more likely to splinter into sharp fragments that can puncture the digestive tract. Bleached or processed bones sold in pet stores carry the same risk. Raw edible bones, by contrast, are pliable enough to crush between a dog’s teeth without shattering. Still, supervision during bone meals is important, particularly when a dog is new to raw feeding and hasn’t yet learned to chew thoroughly.
How to Transition From Kibble
Switching a dog from kibble to raw is best done gradually, starting with bland, lean ingredients that are easy to digest. Most raw feeding guides recommend beginning with a simplified version of the BARF ratio: 70% lean muscle meat, 10% edible bone, and 20% vegetables, with no organs yet.
Chicken is the most commonly recommended starter protein because it’s lean, widely available, and gentle on the stomach. Turkey works similarly. Dogs with poultry allergies can start with lean pork instead. For the bone component, chicken necks and wings suit small to medium dogs, while chicken leg quarters (skin removed) or turkey necks work for larger breeds. Domesticated rabbit, with its soft and fully edible bones, is a good option for small dogs that struggle with poultry bones.
The idea is to let your dog’s digestive system adapt before introducing richer foods. Red meat, organ meats, and fattier proteins get added in stages over several weeks. Introducing too many new ingredients at once commonly causes diarrhea and stomach upset, so patience matters. Many dogs show some digestive adjustment during the first week or two regardless, which typically resolves as the gut flora shifts.
Safe Handling Practices
If you choose to feed raw, the FDA recommends treating your dog’s food with the same caution you’d use handling raw chicken for your own dinner. Freeze raw meat until you’re ready to use it, and thaw it in the refrigerator or microwave, never on the counter. Keep raw pet food separate from human food in the fridge. Don’t rinse raw meat, because the splashing spreads bacteria to surrounding surfaces.
After handling raw food, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Clean all surfaces, bowls, utensils, and cutting boards first with hot soapy water, then disinfect with a solution of one tablespoon of bleach per quart of water. Cover and refrigerate any uneaten food immediately, or throw it away. And because raw-fed dogs can shed bacteria in their saliva, avoid letting your dog lick your face, particularly right after a meal.