If you own a Frenchie, you better know that they are prone to allergies when feed improperly. In that case, the BARF diet will be the right option for your French Bulldog with allergies. Make sure this raw diet includes fresh and high-quality ingredients for your dog’s overall well-being. Most dog owners are unsure about feeding this “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” or “Bones and Raw Food” diet for their French bulldogs. Normally dogs are not allowed to eat a raw diet that includes muscle meat, edible bones, liver, vegetables, and fruits. Therefore, dog owners either go for dry kibble or canned dog food. It’s important to note that the BARF diet is safe, can be cheaper, and full of nutrition for your French Bulldog. However, it’s important to always consult with your vet first before choosing any diet.

What is the BARF diet for French Bulldogs?

BAFT diet stands for “Biological Appropriate Raw Food” and was founded by nutritionist and veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst. French bulldog ancestors used to eat raw foods before they were domesticated. They were fond of eating raw meat, bones, fresh fruits, and vegetables. If we go deeper into this Bones and Raw Food diet, it is enriched with proteins, containing a moderate amount of fat and a slight amount of carbohydrates. If you are willing to serve a BART diet to your French bulldog, you have to make a raw diet plan to get all the nutrients and supplements based on their size. You can try our Raw Food Calculator to help create a diet plan for your Frenchie.

Is the BARF diet good for French Bulldogs?

BAFT is an appropriate diet for your French Bulldog as it contains whole raw foods that this dog breed’s wild ancestors ate. This natural diet is very healthy, containing essential nutrients for the superior health of your dog. A good thing about this raw diet is that it does not contain any preservatives, and also your French bulldog is saved from the side effects of eating canned food. If your French Bulldog suffers from allergies, it is a good idea to feed a BAFT diet to your Frenchie.

Is the BARF diet beneficial for puppies?

Puppies have more nutritional needs than adult dogs. You can introduce the BART diet to your puppy when he is 8 to 12 weeks old. The BARF diet ingredients’ percentage is the same for puppies as for adults but ensure that your puppy has enough calcium and phosphorus intake for healthy bone development. Puppies show positive behavior when they are served raw food. So, feeding the BARF diet to your French Bulldog puppy is safe and healthy.

How much raw diet should I feed my French Bulldog?

You have to prepare your dog’s BAFT diet by considering its age, weight, and energy level. The French bulldog that weighs 25 lbs can begin with 1/2 pound of a raw diet. The natural diet should include 25% to 75% raw meat and meat bones, organ meat, and fresh vegetables and fruits to fulfill the remaining percentage. It will help to discuss the desired portion of the raw diet that will suit your French bulldog with your vet.

BARF diet ingredients’ percentage:

The following are the recommended BARF diet percentages for an adult dog.

Muscle meat	70%
Raw edible bones	10%
Vegetables	7%
Organ meat	5%
Liver	5%
Fruits	3%

How much BARF food should I feed my dog?

Raw food is served to a dog by considering its age, weight, and health condition. Keeping all the BART diet ingredients appropriate will help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Using the BARF diet you can feed your adult Frenchie approximately 2-3 percent of it’s body weight per meal. If your dog is more active and energetic, can you adjust the diet portion accordingly? It is a misconception that French Bulldogs cannot have a raw diet. Always serve raw meat and raw edible bones to your Frenchie and avoid cooked bones at any cost. Again, it is important that your dog has a healthy and nutritious diet.

How to introduce a BARF diet to your dog?

Most dog owners are afraid of introducing a BARF diet to their dogs. When deciding to implement a BARF diet, always begin with gradual steps. Carefully note how your French Bulldog reacts to this raw food diet. Your Frenchie can take time to adjust to this new diet, and that’s quite normal. It’s a good idea to have your dog fast for a half-day whenever introducing a new diet to your dog. If your dog is doing well with this BARF diet, gradually increase the amounts until you achieve the recommended diet ratio. Carefully monitor your dog’s behavior. If you notice loose stools, discontinue the diet and get your vet’s opinion.

How to prepare the BARF diet food for your Frenchie?

You can grind both the raw meat and the meaty bones when preparing the meal. Make sure to steam or slightly cook raw vegetables, including carrots, cucumbers, celery, green beans, pumpkin, etc. Otherwise, they will cause choking hazards. You can also add pasta, raw eggs, lentils, or rice to supplement the BARF diet. Carefully mix the appropriate percentage of all the BARF ingredients for your dog. Remember that a raw diet has little shelf life, so always prepare the food fresh and avoid storing it for a long time.

Benefits of BARF diet for your Frenchie:

It improves digestion and reduces gastric issues.
It is good to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy shiny.
It is free from preservatives providing more health benefits to your dog.
It maintains oral hygiene and removes plaque and tartar.
It helps to keep your dog stronger and maintain a healthy weight.
It boosts immunity and energy levels in dogs.
The variety of ingredients in this diet keeps your dog pleased.
Your dogs will have smaller stools after using this diet.

Drawbacks of a BARF diet for dogs:

A raw diet has a greater risk of food poisoning in dogs due to harmful bacteria.
Your dog may suffer from diarrhea when you switch to a barf diet.
Dogs may experience nutritional deficiencies when feeding on a barf diet.
Avoid using cooked meat bones because they can be broken down into sharp shards damaging the dog’s internal organs.
Whole meat bones can cause choking hazards in dogs.
Preparing raw food diet is expensive and time-consuming.
Dogs with a weak immune system have a greater risk of getting a bacterial infection.

Final thought:

The barf diet has lots of benefits for your French bulldog. When you introduce a BAFF diet to your Frenchie, always remember to begin with a small amount and monitor your dog. Raw food diets are full of nutritions when it is fresh. Ensure this natural diet is nutritionally balanced by carefully mixing the recommended ingredients’ percentages for a healthy body and strong immune system. Keep in mind that your dog may experience an upset stomach and allergies when served a BAFF diet.

If you’re still not sure about a raw diet and want to maintain a dry food diet please check out our dry food calculator.