Key Components of a Do It Yourself Raw Food Diet.

1. Raw Meat: The BARF diet typically includes a variety of raw meats, such as beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish. The meat provides essential proteins and fats.
2. Raw Meaty Bones: These are important for dental health and provide calcium and phosphorus. Bones should be raw and never cooked, as cooked bones can splinter and pose a choking hazard.
3. Organ Meats: These include the liver, kidneys, and heart, which are rich in vitamins and minerals. A certain percentage of the diet should consist of organ meats to ensure nutritional balance.
4. Vegetables and Fruits: This aspect of the diet provides fibre and various vitamins and minerals. Common choices include carrots, spinach, peas, and apples. However, some proponents suggest that dogs digest vegetables better when they are pureed or lightly cooked.
5. Supplements: Depending on the specific ingredients and the dog’s individual needs, some owners choose to supplement with additional nutrients, such as omega fatty acids, probiotics, or vitamins.

A sample daily ratio might look like this:

• 70-80% Muscle Meat: A mix of different proteins (e.g., 50% chicken, 30% beef).
• 10-15% Organ Meat: E.g., beef liver and chicken hearts.
• 5-10% Raw Meaty Bones: To provide dental benefits and calcium.
• 5-10% Fruits and Vegetables: A mix, e.g., carrots, blueberries, spinach.

As all dogs are different the exact ratios to suit your best friend may vary.

At My Best Friend we stock a great range of all of the bits and bobs needed to give your dog a balanced raw food diet.

Raw Meat and Fish

• Barkin Bistro Just Beef Heart Mince – Beef heart is packed with protein and a set of unique nutrients. Along with essential amino acids that help build muscle, beef heart contains iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. These minerals and trace-minerals are vital for multiple important functions including the oxygen transport throughout your canine’s body, the reduction of oxidative stress, a healthy bone structure and the provision of cell energy.The heart is a very concentrated source of the super-nutrient, CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is necessary for the basic functioning of cells, as well as optimizing the heart’s rhythm. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be lower in some dogs with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, and immune disorders. The heart also contains twice as much collagen and elastin than regular meat, which is important for healthy joints.
• Barkin Bistro Just Chicken Mince – Just Chicken Mince is 100% human-grade quality chicken and bone.  A gentle recipe for happy tummies is perfect for dogs with sensitivities, a single protein meal that is a great option for dogs on exclusion diets. Is packed full of easily digestible nutrients essential to the optimal health of dogs.
• Barkin Bistro Just Duck Mince – Whole duck carcass finely minced giving this product approx. 40-50% bone content. Rich in iron, duck is a lean, easy-to-digest protein, and is a great source of amino acids which help support strong muscles.
• Barkin Bistro Just Mackerel Mince – Mackerel is an excellent source of high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle development, repair, and overall health in dogs. It’s s rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as EPA and DHA), which are beneficial for skin, coat, joint and heart health.
• Barkin Bistro Beef Lips – Raw beef Lips are rich in zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, vitamin B6, iron, and riboflavin.
• Vale Pet Foods Whole Sardines – Adding our whole Sardines to your dog’s raw meals is a great natural way of providing an extra omega 3 and 6 boost, which will help to maintain fantastic skin and coat health
• Vale Pet Foods Whole Mackerel – Adding our whole Mackerel to your dog’s raw meals is a great natural way of providing an extra omega 3 and 6 boost, which will help to maintain fantastic skin and coat health.
• Vale Pet Foods Salomon Chunks – Salmon chunks are super tasty and are a fantastic source of Omega essential fatty acids, for great skin and coat health. They are perfect for adding to your dog’s raw meals.
• Vale Pet Foods Beef Tripe Chunks – Beef Tripe chunks are packed full of important nutrients and are perfect for adding to your dog’s raw meals as an extra delicious nutrient boost.
• Vale Pet Foods Green Beef Tripe – Green tripe is rich in vital nutrients, which will help to prepare your dog’s digestive system for a raw-based diet. Tripe is also often used as an introduction to raw food for newly weaned puppies, as it is incredibly nutritious and will help to strengthen the puppy’s stomach and digestive system before they are introduced to new proteins.
• Vale Pet Foods Beef and Tripe – Beef is protein-rich and highly palatable, and tripe is a fantastic nutrient-dense protein source, that is rich in important Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids and digestive enzyme which all contribute to boosting the immune system, building healthy muscle and decreasing gastrointestinal issues.
• Vale Pet Foods Pork Chunks – Pork chunks are a great addition to your dog’s diet. Not only are they incredibly tasty, but they are also a rich, healthy source of several amino acids and nutrients such as Thiamine, which is especially important for cell function. Our Pork chunks are ideal for DIY raw feeders, or for those who already feed our completes, but want to provide an extra nutrient boost every so often in their dog’s meals.

Raw Meaty Bones

• Barkin Bistro Duck Necks – Duck necks feature a firm yet tender texture that your dog or cat will absolutely adore. These nutritious muscular organs are a great anytime snack.
• Vale Pet Foods Chicken Necks –  Chicken necks are the perfect meaty treat and boredom buster! Chewing on a Chicken neck is fantastic for scraping plaque and tartar off the enamel of the teeth, which in turn improves dental health and results in better breath. Chewing has also been found to provide calming effects, which can help to alleviate anxiety and cure boredom at the same time. Chicken necks are also lean, and naturally high in protein and calcium which makes it a great tasty and healthy option to feed as a treat or with their raw meal.
• Vale Pet Foods Chicken Wings – Chicken wings are deliciously chewy yet crunchy, and are a perfect meaty treat or occasional meal topper. Chewing has been found to provide calming effects which can help to alleviate anxiety and cure boredom at the same time. Chicken wings are also lean and naturally high in glucosamine and chondroitin, which are proven to improve bone and joint health.
• Vale pet Foods Duck Wings – Duck wings are lean and naturally high in protein and calcium which makes them a great tasty and healthy option to feed as an occasional treat or as a raw meal topper.
• Barkin Bistro Marrow Bones -Beef marrow bones are naturally rich in nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, chondroitin, glucosamine and Omega 3 fatty acids to support dog joint health, healthy skin and coat!Chewing beef bones with marrow helps to satisfy your dog’s instinctive urge to chew and reduce boredom, stress and anxiety.
• Naked Dog Lamb Trachea – A  great source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin and essential Omega 3 fats to support anti-inflammation.
• Raw Made Simple – Beef Trachea – Contains cartilage, a natural source of chondroitin, glucosamine and collagen. Chondroitin and glucosamine can help to support good joint health in dogs.
• Barkin Bistro Lamb Ribs – Packed with essential fatty acids and containing quality protein and other nutrients. Lamb Ribs are a great natural teeth cleaner that keep dogs entertained whilst offering a mix of nutrients. Suitable for adult and senior dogs, this complementary product is great for dogs with allergies.

Offal

• Barkin Bistro Just Beef Heart Mince – Beef heart is packed with protein and a set of unique nutrients. Along with essential amino acids that help build muscle, beef heart contains iron, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. These minerals and trace-minerals are vital for multiple important functions including the oxygen transport throughout your canine’s body, the reduction of oxidative stress, a healthy bone structure and the provision of cell energy.The heart is a very concentrated source of the super-nutrient, CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is necessary for the basic functioning of cells, as well as optimizing the heart’s rhythm. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be lower in some dogs with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, cancer, diabetes, and immune disorders. The heart also contains twice as much collagen and elastin than regular meat, which is important for healthy joints.
• Barkin Bistro Just Beef Tripe Mince -Tripe is high in nutrients and essential fats, delicious and full of flavour.  Contains digestive enzymes which do much more than aid in digestion: they purify and cleanse the blood and remove toxins, parasites and fungus. They also improve metabolism, hormonal function and boost the immune system.Green tripe is loaded with Lactobacillus Acidophilus, one of the bacterial ‘good guys’.
• Barkin Bistro Just Lamb Tripe Mince – Tripe is high in nutrients and essential fats, delicious and full of flavour.  Contains digestive enzymes which do much more than aid in digestion: they purify and cleanse the blood and remove toxins, parasites and fungus. They also improve metabolism, hormonal function and boost the immune system.
• Barkin Bistro Just Chicken Hearts – The heart of the chicken is a lean protein that contains fatty acids and vitamin A along with iron and B vitamins. Because they also contain taurine, chicken hearts are good for your dog’s heart. Serve chicken hearts cooked or raw as part of your dog’s dinner or as an occasional snack.
• Barkin Bistro Venison Liver -Venison liver is rich in Vitamin A which supports improved vision and a healthy immune system in dogs.  Venison liver is also high in protein and iron. It is rich in essential minerals like zinc, iron, and selenium. A good option for dogs who may have food sensitivities or allergies to other protein sources such as beef or chicken.