{"id":1409,"date":"2025-07-28T19:47:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T19:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/?p=1409"},"modified":"2025-07-28T20:04:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T20:04:27","slug":"barf-complements-alimentaires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/","title":{"rendered":"BARF and food supplements"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Page contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/#_Le_BARF_facile_et_economique\" >\u00a0BARF is easy and economical<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/#Petit_rappel_des_bases\" >A quick reminder of the basics.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/#Les_complements_alimentaires_essentiels\" >Essential dietary supplements<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/#_Les_petits_plus_a_ajouter_de_temps_en_temps\" >\u00a0Little extras to add from time to time<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/barf-complements-alimentaires\/#_En_conclusion_une_alimentation_simple_saine_et_economique\" >\u00a0In conclusion: a simple, healthy and economical diet<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Le_BARF_facile_et_economique\"><\/span>\u00a0BARF is easy and economical<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Feeding your dog a healthy diet without breaking the bank<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1415\" src=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0045.jpg 2040w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>One of the obsessions when talking about feeding your dog a BARF or homemade diet is the fear of an unbalanced diet, unlike kibble, which, thanks to more than fifty years of relentless marketing, is touted as perfectly adjusted to the nanogram.<\/p>\n<p>This is highly debatable, especially since no living being on earth (not even humans!) consumes the perfect dose of micro and macro nutrients at every meal.<\/p>\n<p>Modern research is increasingly demonstrating the importance of live enzymes, particularly for boosting the immune system and preventing autoimmune and cancerous diseases. If these topics interest you, also read our pages <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/lalimentation\/\">Food<\/a><\/span> And <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/\">Health<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>That said, even though by giving a very simple base of carcasses, meat and table scraps one can do just as well (or better) and cheaper than with industrial food, one can still do even better with some fairly economical and effective food supplements.<\/p>\n<p>At a time when we hear so much about animal welfare, the question of psychological well-being induced by a good meal is often forgotten!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1416\" src=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Barf et compl\u00e9ments alimentaires \" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG-20250724-WA0044.jpg 2040w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Petit_rappel_des_bases\"><\/span>A quick reminder of the basics.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>The essential element: a base of fleshy bones.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet, as described in particular by the <a href=\"https:\/\/drianbillinghurst.com\/barf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Ian Billinghurst)<\/a>\u00a0 aims to respect the dog&#039;s natural needs: raw meat, bones, offal... and a little common sense!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1417\" src=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity-300x197.jpg\" alt=\"Barf et compl\u00e9ments alimentaires\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250728_213713_com_android_chrome_ChromeTabbedActivity.jpg 1071w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Regarding quantities:<\/p>\n<p>\u2013 Adult dogs: allow approximately 2 to 3 % of body weight per day.<\/p>\n<p>-Puppies: up to 10 % of their weight at 2 months, gradually decreasing as they grow. You can also read our article <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/sante\/ration-chien\/\">How to adjust a dog&#039;s food ration?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Typical composition of the bowls:<\/p>\n<p>Meat and bones (60-80% of the total bowl weight):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>4 to 5 days per week: chicken carcasses (approximately 25 % of bones and 75 % of meat\/skin).<\/li>\n<li>1 to 2 days per week: chicken thighs or drumsticks, which are richer in meat (80 % muscle, 20 % bone).<\/li>\n<li>1 day per week: a meal based on red meat + offal (liver, heart, kidneys\u2026).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And we don&#039;t hesitate to recycle table scraps (20-40% from the bowl):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cooked or raw vegetables, rice, pasta, stale bread, fruit\u2026 and even a little kibble if needed. There&#039;s no need to be anti-grain; it&#039;s a marketing ploy. Unless there&#039;s an allergy, grains aren&#039;t a problem in themselves if the total amount in the food bowl is below 40%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Les_complements_alimentaires_essentiels\"><\/span>Essential dietary supplements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A few simple additions are enough to balance the diet and boost the dog&#039;s vitality:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Brewer&#039;s yeast (2 to 4 g \/ 30 kg): B vitamins, skin, hair, immunity.<\/li>\n<li>Kelp powder (0.5 to 1 g \/ 30 kg): iodine and trace elements.<\/li>\n<li>Salmon or sardine oil (1 tsp\/day): anti-inflammatory omega-3<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_Les_petits_plus_a_ajouter_de_temps_en_temps\"><\/span>\u00a0Little extras to add from time to time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Not necessarily essential every day, but useful from time to time or if you want to do even better:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Plain yogurt or cottage cheese (a large tablespoon from time to time): intestinal flora.<\/li>\n<li>Organic cider vinegar (1 tsp in the bowl 1 to 2 times a week): digestion, acidity, minerals.<\/li>\n<li>Quality vegetable oil (sunflower, flax, camelina\u2026) (1 tsp in the bowl 1 to 2 times a week): omega-6 or 3 as appropriate.<\/li>\n<li>Raw egg yolk (1 to 2 times\/week): biotin, vitamins A\/D\/E<\/li>\n<li>Shrimp carcasses: Chitin and glucosamine: promote joint health (like green-lipped mussels), useful in active or older dogs, marine minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine.<\/li>\n<li>Crushed eggshell: calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, copper, iron, manganese, strontium \u2014 in very small quantities, but useful.<\/li>\n<li>Green-lipped mussel (1.5 to 3 g \/ 30 kg): joints, flexibility, comfort possible every day<\/li>\n<li>Turmeric + black pepper: mild anti-inflammatory (0.5 to 1 g turmeric\/day) for inflammation, joint pain, intensive training.<\/li>\n<li>Ground pumpkin seeds (1.5 to 2 g \/ 30 kg): zinc, can be consumed daily<\/li>\n<li>Oily fish (sardines, tuna, salmon\u2026): rich in omega-3, vitamin D and highly digestible proteins \u2014 1 to 2 times a week, 30-50g for a 30kg dog.<\/li>\n<li>Cod liver oil: source of vitamins A and D + EPA\/DHA \u2014 1 ml\/10 kg of body weight, 1 time\/week maximum (avoid vitamin A overdose).<\/li>\n<li>Green tea leaves: rich in cell-protective antioxidants (catechins) \u2014 0.5 g\/30 kg, 1 time\/week maximum, well dried.<\/li>\n<li>Herbs (thyme, rosemary, oregano, etc.): digestive, antioxidant and mild antiseptic \u2014 1 to 2 pinches\/day for a 30 kg dog, to be sprinkled on the ration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"_En_conclusion_une_alimentation_simple_saine_et_economique\"><\/span>\u00a0In conclusion: a simple, healthy and economical diet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Feeding your dog raw or fresh food isn&#039;t that complicated.<\/p>\n<p>No need to buy organic bison or acai berries: chicken carcasses, some offal and leftovers, simple supplements and a little common sense are enough.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Let&#039;s remember that dogs have survived alongside humans for over 30,000 years by eating their leftovers, and it&#039;s probably even because of these very leftovers that they gave up their freedom as wolves\u2026 but that&#039;s another story\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-1418\" src=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250719_115127906_edit_730612939731291-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250719_115127906_edit_730612939731291-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250719_115127906_edit_730612939731291-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Screenshot_20250719_115127906_edit_730612939731291.jpg 474w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 10px; margin-top: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #666666; text-align: center;\">\u00a9 2025 \u00c9levage des Crocs V\u00e9ritables<\/span><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 20px;\"><strong>Quick navigation:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 20px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/\">Home<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/en\/le-berger-allemand\/\">The German Shepherd<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/sante\/\">Health<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/selection\/\">Selection<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/vivre-avec-un-berger-allemand\/\">Living with a German Shepherd<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/education-et-dressage\/\">Education and training<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/elevage\/\">Breeding<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/photos-et-videos\/\">Photos<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a> | <a href=\"\/en\/liens-et-bibliographie\/\">Links <\/a> | <em><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><a style=\"color: #339966;\" href=\"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/articles-et-reflexions\/\">Articles and Reflections<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0Le BARF facile et \u00e9conomique Nourrir sainement son chien sans se ruiner Une des obsessions quand on parle de nourrir son chien au Barf ou \u00e0 la ration m\u00e9nag\u00e8re, c&rsquo;est la peur d&rsquo;une alimentation d\u00e9s\u00e9quilibr\u00e9e, contrairement \u00e0 la croquette, qui elle gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 plus de cinquante ans de marketing acharn\u00e9, nous est vant\u00e9e comme parfaitement [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sante"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1409"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1428,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1409\/revisions\/1428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dcv-berger-allemand.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}