BARF raw diet for dogs: what are the real benefits, what are the real risks?
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The BARF diet (raw meat and bones) appeals with its promise of a return to "natural" feeding, but veterinary literature urges caution on several specific points. All our comparisons are gathered in the dog food section.
Contents · 6 sections
What does the leading veterinary review say?
A review by Freeman, Chandler, Hamper and Weeth, published in 2013 in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, examined the claimed benefits and documented risks of raw diets for dogs and cats (see the study). The authors conclude that no health benefit is solidly demonstrated by controlled trials, while bacterial risks and nutritional imbalances are, by contrast, well documented.
Is the bacterial risk confirmed in practice?
A Dutch study by van Bree et al., published in 2018 in Veterinary Record, analyzed commercial BARF rations and detected pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella, shiga-toxin-producing E. coli, Listeria) as well as parasites in a notable share of the samples tested (see the study). The risk affects the dog as well as the humans in the household, particularly children and immunocompromised people, through handling bowls and raw meat.
What are the key nutritional pitfalls?
- Calcium-phosphorus balance: a poorly formulated home ration risks deficiencies or excesses affecting bone growth, particularly risky in a growing puppy.
- Raw vs cooked bones: raw meaty bones are generally better tolerated than cooked bones, which splinter into sharp fragments.
- Veterinary follow-up: any switch to BARF is best validated by a veterinary nutritionist, the only one able to check the full balance of the ration over time.
Is BARF suitable for every dog?
No: a growing puppy, a frail senior dog or an immunocompromised animal face a higher risk from any imbalance or contamination. A well-formulated commercial wet food remains a nutritionally simpler option to get right.
What budget should you expect?
A quality BARF diet, fresh meat and supplements included, generally costs between 60 and 120 € per month for a medium-sized dog, often more than an equivalent premium commercial diet.
Frequently asked questions
Does BARF really improve coat and digestion?
Some owners report this, but no controlled trial systematically confirms this benefit according to the 2013 review cited above.
Does freezing the meat remove the bacterial risk?
Freezing reduces certain parasites but does not kill all pathogenic bacteria; strict food-handling hygiene remains essential.
Does BARF need a vitamin supplement?
In the large majority of cases yes, since meat alone doesn't cover a dog's calcium, vitamin and trace-element needs. Find all our guides on the dog hub.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.