Maranui products are based around the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (BARF).

The aim of BARF is to maximize the health, longevity and reproductive capacity of pets and by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. To do this properly, cats and dogs need to be fed a diet that they have evolved to eat. Simply put, a BARF diet mimics the diet that a wild cat or dog would get in a natural environment by using the whole raw foodstuffs that we have available to us.

In the wild, cats and dogs would consume whole carcasses, effectively 'borrowing' the proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and trace elements from their captured prey. There are no supplements, no additives, no cereals, no fillers, no stabilisers in a wild rabbit, mouse or other prey, yet cats and dogs have evolved through the ages and survived to be our treasured companions to this day.

The grains and cereals in many commercial dry cat and dog biscuits contain carbohydrate, which when broken down form sugars. These in turn cause the build up of plaque and tartar, just as sugar laden sweets and fizzy drink cause that furry feeling to build up on our teeth. The bacteria in plaque is the cause of the all too common 'dog breath'. If left untreated further problems of diseased teeth and gums and periodontal disease can arise.

Teeth are cleaned and polished when ripping and tearing through carcasses (or large raw meaty bones). Carnivores clean their teeth as they eat.Ripping and tearing meat from bones also has other benefits for cats and dogs. It takes time and requires effort. Food is consumed slower and is not 'wolfed' down. Jaw, neck and chest muscles strengthen through exercise.

To put it another way, think about how you feel after eating processed foods packed with flavours, colours, stabilizers and preservatives, many of which are abundant in junk food. A diet of sweets, fizzy drinks, chips, take-aways, etc often leaves us feeling lethargic and malnourished, often leading to health issues such as obesity. Our equivalent barf diet would therefore be based around the well known healthy food pyramid by which we would naturally gain the nutrients our bodies require for optimum health.

Feeding your Pets

Cats and dogs are different.

According to scientists, cats are considered to be carnivores and dogs omnivores. Both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters, borrowing their nutrients form the prey they capture. But there is a difference, the cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes animal derived tissue in some form. Many of the nutrients the cat requires to survive are obtained from a diet of captured prey. Cats for example, process little or no enzymes that will break down the plant-produced carotenoids. They require preformed active Vitamin A (that is, Vitamin A that already has been converted from carotenoids to its active form by some other creature such as a mouse or rabbit). This is a prime example showing why cats need to eat some other animal in order to "borrow" preformed nutrients.

Dogs, however, are able to survive on plant material alone; they do not have to consume meat. But always keep in mind that dogs do best, and by nature, are primarily meat-eaters. Just because by definition they are omnivores (can digest and utilize plant and animal food sources) does not mean that plant material alone makes a good source of nutrition for the dog. Far too many dogs have been undernourished by cheap grain-based dog foods. Grain-based cat foods are even worse!

So a good way to think of it is that cats are carnivores, dogs are omnivores, but they both have evolved as hunters of other animals in keeping with their nature as meat-eaters. They need to be fed a diet they have evolved to eat.

Portion sizes

The amount to feed your pet varies depending on its age, level of activity and the environment that it lives in. As a basic guide the portion size should be approximately 2 per cent of its body weight per day. Just as athletes have different nutritional requirements to the average person, highly active pets, such as working dogs, will require more food than a more passive pet such as a lap dog. Food intake needs to be monitored and adjusted as required to keep your pet at an optimal healthy weight.

 Some manufacturers of processed petfoods suggest higher feeding quantities. When fed a processed food diet your pet may need to eat more in order to gain the nutrients it requires. Unfortunately this may lead to issues such as obesity in pets, increased stool volume and poor dental hygiene amongst other health problems.

Dental Hygiene

There are a number of products on the market that suggest they can aid in your pets dental hygiene.

These range from products that help freshen breath to specially shaped ‘dental’ biscuits. I can't remember the last time I cleaned my teeth by eating a cracker! The theory is that crunching commercial dry food and the friction created on the teeth when biting will reduce plaque and the build up of tartar. In reality, a dry food has been proven to have only marginal tartar fighting properties. The hard baked biscuits when crunched and moistened with saliva, are more inclined to leave a starchy build up around teeth and actually promote plaque growth.

The grains and cereals in many commercial dry cat and dog biscuits contain starches (a carbohydrate), which when broken down form sugars. These in turn cause the build up of plaque and tartar, just as sugar laden sweets and fizzy drink cause that furry feeling to build up on our teeth. The bacteria in plaque is the cause of the all too common 'dog breath'. If left untreated further problems of diseased teeth and gums and periodontal disease can arise.

Nature combats dental disease with a proper diet. An all prey based diet, that is high in natural protein will keep reduce the level of plaque and tartar that forms on your pet's teeth. The absence of carbohydrates, which are broken down by enzymes in the saliva, inhibit plaque causing bacteria growth. Any plaque that does accumulate will be wiped away by the biting and shearing motion as the teeth tear through flesh and fur.

Feeding bones

For many years, feeding bones to dogs has long been a debated and contentious issue between pet owners and veterinarians.

The inherent dangers have been well publicised, and so have the many health benefits that chewing on a hearty bone provides mans best friend. As with all things in life there are risks, but there are far greater risks in life than feeding raw bone to your dog. There are greater chances of your dog dying from cancer, getting hit by a car or poisoning.

Dogs for many thousands of years have been gnawing on bones. It's an inherent activity that is central to their natural behavior. Chewing on bones not only stimulates the muscles in the jaw, but develops them, making them stronger. With their powerful jaws and strong teeth, dogs are able to crush the bone into amounts that are easily swallowed. The acid in the stomach partially breaks down the bone and releases the beneficial calcium and phosphorus to strengthen and maintain it's own bones. The waste is easily passed.

If you give your dog a smoked bone as a treat, we recommend that the bone be too big for the dog and that you should supervise the dog the first couple of times