Consultation

My name is Hajnalka Sajdik, I am an agricultural engineer and one of the owners of Pacsi BARF Pet Food Store. I graduated from Gödöllő University of Agricultural Sciences (now Szent István University) in 2002, specializing in pig and small animal breeding and feed science. I took courses on the anatomy, physiology, health, and nutrition of dogs in cooperation with the University of Veterinary Medicine. I wrote my thesis on rabbit husbandry, and part of my research was conducted at Olívia Kft.

My passion for dogs began in my childhood. Previously, I met breeders who fed puppies with raw meat, cottage cheese, and eggs after weaning instead of commercial food, and they reported that the puppies were much healthier and stronger. In Hungary, commercial dog food became widespread in the 1990s; before that, dogs were fed natural foods. 

I first encountered BARF feeding and the term BARF because of my dog Marcipán. Marci had persistent diarrhea since he was a puppy. After the third course of antibiotics, it was discovered that he had giardiasis. He received the appropriate treatments and probiotics, but the previous antibiotic treatments had destroyed his gut flora, and he was not eating well. We couldn’t find suitable commercial food that he liked, so I decided to create a proper diet for him. I tried to determine the nutritional needs of dogs, but I could not find adequate help from either literature or veterinarians. After extensive research, I finally found information in BARF literature that, combined with my previous knowledge, provided enough information. We switched to BARF feeding, and miraculously, Marci's digestive issues disappeared, and he finally started eating eagerly. His condition improved, his coat became shinier, and he became more energetic and happier. 

In March 2019, we opened Kecskemét's first store specializing in BARF feeding. Our goal is to introduce pet owners to this feeding method and provide them with knowledge to navigate the various feeding options and consciously choose the most suitable one for their dogs or cats.

Dogs and cats belong to the order of Carnivora (carnivores), and their digestive systems are primarily adapted to process meat and animal-based diets. Their digestive tract is shorter, their stomachs are proportionally larger relative to their body weight, and their stomach acid is ten times stronger than that of humans. Dogs have slightly adapted to human food over millennia and can partially digest carbohydrates and starches, but cats are obligate carnivores. 

In the past 60 years, commercial dog food has shortened the lifespan of dogs, leading to an increase in health problems, including obesity, allergies, cancer, and joint disorders. Many commercial foods contain large amounts of plant by-products and high-temperature processed, low-quality meat and bone meal, with high carbohydrate and starch content. As a result, pets do not receive adequate quality and quantity of nutrients, which either pass through their bodies undigested or cause problems. Based on the natural dietary needs of dogs and cats, the BARF diet returns to feeding raw meat and bones, preventing diseases and contributing to a long and healthy life.

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