Although dogs are carnivores, approximately 20-30% of their diet should consist of side dishes, which typically include vegetables, fruits, and grains. Plant-based foods are included in a dog's diet mainly for their content of vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber, which consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and pectin. Unlike herbivores, for whom plant-based food is the mainstay of their diet and who have bacteria in their digestive tracts that produce the enzyme cellulase to break down cellulose, carnivores need fiber primarily to support peristalsis (movement of the intestines). In addition, fiber also provides a mechanical sense of fullness.
However, plant products are poor in vitamin B12, which is found only in animal products, especially liver. Wolves get the plant part of their diet from the intestines of their prey, which chews and partially digests it. Therefore, it is very important that vegetables for dogs and other side dishes are mechanically processed. BARF feeding and the preparation of side dishes simulate the mixture a dog would receive from the intestines of a killed prey. Through mechanical processing, such as grating, grinding, or blending, nutrients become more accessible to the enzymes in the dog's digestive tract, thus increasing their digestibility. Side dishes can be mixed with meat, which prevents the dog from separating the tastier parts, ensuring they receive the necessary vitamins from the side dishes. In addition to mechanical preparation, thermal preparation is also recommended. Boiling inactivates some vitamins, so steaming is a more suitable form of thermal preparation.
Dog food becomes more digestible and has a lower content of harmful substances after thermal preparation. Grains or vegetables rich in starch (e.g., potatoes) gelatinize at higher temperatures, making the starch more usable. You can prepare mechanically and thermally processed side dishes in advance, weigh them, divide them into daily portions, place them in molds or containers, and store them in the freezer for later use. You can learn more about which types of vegetables, fruits, and side dishes are suitable for dogs in our article.
We hope this article has helped you understand why the preparation of vegetables and fruits for dogs is important, and making a BARF diet plan will be easier for you now.
