I'm transitioning my male GSD to a BARF diet, with an emphasis on green tripe. One cheap source of raw meat is pork--pork necks, for instance, are only $.89/pound.

But I worry about trichinosis. A couple of web sources state that you should "freeze pork less than 6 inches thick for 20 days at 5 degrees F to kill any worms." Another source states that it's fairly rare in dogs. Most of the scare-statements seem to come from anti-BARF sites.

Can any of the more experienced BARF feeders here comment? Do you feed pork? Should I avoid pork? How cold is the typical freezer? Do you know of any cases of trichinosis in dogs fed on BARF?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Dave,
I am not sure about freezing to kill trichanosis, the only sure method I know of is cooking. I do know that very little trichanosis is found in the U.S. pork supply anymore. Most of it comes from poorer countries. There are some cases of it that turn up in humans in this area. The people all seem to have gotten it in Mexico. It has been a long time since I studied this disease so I don't remember how the pigs get it in the first place. You should be able to find information about it on any decent web browser.

I personally do not feed pork to my dogs, but I know many others who do without any problems. Although, some dogs have choked and I know of one dying (from choking) on a pork bone. (They tend to be smaller in size.) The breeds more suceptable to this seem to be the shorter nosed dogs (bullmastiff, boxer etc).

I also recommend green tripe but not as your main source of protein. When I first started out feeding BARF, I used mostly tripe. In my expereince (and others) it does not contain enough protein for dogs. This does not mean that you should not feed it! It has a ton of 'good' things in it as well. I tend to use it once a week mixed in with veggies. I especially like using tripe for puppies! It is full of digestive enzymes that help them break down food etc. I also use it in larger chunks for my dogs to gnaw on. It is great for cleaning teeth and exercising the jaw!!!! Course, I do tend to give them the chunks in the warmer months where they can have it outside!

I don't feed exclusively raw. I feed California Natural and I add a raw egg and some raw chopmeat occasionally. Of the people that I know who use the BARF diet, I don't think raw pork is high on their list. Besides, between feeding raw turkey and chicken along with raw ground beef, I don't see raw pork as a necessary ingredient worth taking a chance. Risk, reward seems disproportionate. Unless someone could blow me away with some kind of benifit to feeding raw pork, why take a chance.

I wouldn't worry about feeding raw pork. After all, chicken carries salmonella and beef has its own parasites. Dogs fed a raw diet have the enzymes to digest this without getting sick, unlike us humans.
I feed pork and pork bones and have had no problems.
A lot of people keep applying concepts of raw meat that will make humans sick to dogs. This simply is not the case.

One reason I'm transitioning to completely raw is that my GSD appears intolerant of grains. Even Innova makes his stools loose. And I can't talk to my vet; she's not a fan of raw diets.

I agree with lanegirl in one sense. Why worry about it? But my take is more like, if trichinosis is the cause for someone to worry that much about it, there is nothing so benificial(other than price I suppose) about raw pork that would cause me to make it a necessity in my dogs raw diet. Might as well stick to the chicken,turkey,beef etc. However, if some are feeding raw pork with no problems, then more power to you! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Another question, for those suspicious of pork. Is there any reason to go beyond chicken backs and necks for the bones part of the diet? Any reason, for instance, to include beef bones, or lamb bones (I mean the kind that can be eaten, not just gnawed)?

Once again, I don't know for sure about this. But it would seem to me that there is a good reason why chicken and turkey bones are at the top of the list of most who feed a BARF diet. As I said earlier, I am not a full fledged BARFer.(except maybe after a rough sat night!LOL) I'm like a sponge, yearning to absorb knowlege!LOL. Someone educate me please. Is trichinosis something that a dog cannot handle, unlike other bacteria which they can? I have heard BARFer's tell people not to feed raw pork. I am not trying to be controversial. I think raw diets are a good thing. Any one else feed raw pork regularly? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Almost all types of meat and bones are acceptable in a raw diet. Things to consider are: chicken /turkey necks , backs, wings and carcases are close to the 'right' ratio of meat to bone. Another reason that they are preferable is because they are most often butchered very young. Animals that are butched later in life contain more toxins in the bones.

Here is some information on specific meats:

Beef: Beef contains a higher level of of protein than chicken, lamb or pork. It usually has less fat and therefore less energy than other meats, which does mean that it contributes less to obesity. Beef is very low in calcium. IT has good levels of iron and zinc. It contains small amounts of the B vitamins (1, 2 & 3) but very little of any of the others. Dogs fed mostly beef, seem to have more health problems than when lamb or chicken is fed. THis may be due to a lack of essential fatty acids.

Sheep or lamb: lamb is very fatty. Fat can make up to 30-40% of what you feed. It usually supplies more essential fatty acids than beef. Zinc varies in sheep meat from 2%-10%. If your dog has a zinc deficiency, the shank and neck chops are your best choice. Dogs with skin problems from a dry food often do better on lamb than beef. Calcium levels are a bit higher in lamb than in beef. Sheep meat particularily if it is on the bone is a valuable food.. This includes shanks, breasts, chops, legs, shoulders, ribs necks, pelvis, backbone etc.

Chicken: the best all around meat for dogs. (fed on bone or ground with bones) It can be the fattiest meat fed to dogs. THey are an important source of essential fatty acids. It has higher cholesterol levels than beef. Protein is lower than in beef, lamb or pork. Compared to other meats chicken is much higher in vit A, but still does not have enough to satisfy all your dogs requirements. IT has adequate levels of B vitamins.

Pork: Pork is an excellent meat for dogs having a good balance of essential fatty acids, good quality protein which is high in essential fatty acids. Pork contains virutally no vit A.

Things to remember. All meat you feed should go through an inspection process!!! As your dog ages, the white meats are far more healthy for dogs than red meats. Red meats are more associated with more degenerative conditions such as arthritis. You should also be feeding offal from a variety of sources.

Dogs should eat a variety of meats, not just one source!!!

Bones

Beef: beef bones may be the 'older' bones and they will probably be harder, there may be more toxins and because they are harder may break dogs teeth. Bottom line, try to fed bones from younger animals.

Lamb: they can be very fatty , which can be good, although to be avoided in instances where it is 'hard' on the dog. (or cut the fat off) Lamb bones come from a young animal. THe bones are soft with few toxins. Hydatids are not a problem if you purchase the bones from a butcher.

Chicken: in terms of nutritional quality , safety, thier contribution to dental and therefore general health, easy availablity and their cheapness these would have to be the 'best' choice. Chicken meat also does not contain hyatids (type of tape worm)

I could find nothing on trichinosis in any of my raw books (and I have lots of them), so I would ocnclude that it is not a concern!

The above is taken from Dr. Billinghursts book, Give your dog a bone.

Anyone feeding a raw diet should purchase this book or others on the topic.