meatpoint.io calculator — advanced settings
So, what can I change and why?
If you haven’t used the meatpoint.io calculator before, start by reading the article ‘BARF diet calculator for cats — getting started with meatpoint.io’. You might also be interested in the article: ‘meatpoint.io calculator — custom ingredients’
You’ve already used the wizard to create a pet profile, put together a set of supplements and tried out your first recipes, but you’d like to do more. Pet owners using the meatpoint.io calculator can adjust key elements of the mix’s calculations.
Please note that most of your pet’s dietary settings are saved in their profile, so it’s best to adjust them there.
🫀 Offal content
Firstly, you can control the amount of offal. In my previous article, I suggested starting with 30% offal. The amount of offal has a certain effect on the quality and consistency of your pet’s stools. You should observe how often and in what way your dog or cat defecates, as well as what the stool looks like when fresh (in the case of cats, this is somewhat more difficult as it dries out quickly in the litter tray).
In the case of cats, we want them to have a bowel movement at least every 2–3 days, although ideally this should be every day or every other day. The cat should pass stools without difficulty, and the stools should be in 1–2 pieces, long and firm, but not too hard. If the stools are pellet-like or the cat has trouble passing them and it takes a long time, with the cat straining hard, it is essential to increase the amount of offal (and/or add vegetables, but more on that later).
🐟 Omega-3, EPA and DHA levels
Another parameter that can be adjusted is the level of EPA and DHA. These are omega-3 fatty acids, and we use them in BARF to balance out the omega-6 fatty acids that the animal gets from the meat. Omega-3 fatty acids have a positive effect on coat quality, help reduce inflammation, and support kidney function. They are particularly important for older animals. The default omega level is ‘Optimal’. This level meets the omega requirements of most dogs and cats, tailored to the animal’s species. If necessary, you can change the level to ‘High’, in which case the amount of omega-3 fatty acids added according to the recipe will be significantly higher.
🥦 Vegetables
Vegetables — given the large number of older cats and those previously fed poor-quality food, i.e. containing grains and other fillers — you have the option of adding vegetables to your cat’s diet. We add vegetables to stimulate peristalsis, increase stool volume, provide fibre and improve the regulation of the gut flora.
Once we’ve found the optimal amount of offal, most pets won’t have any problems with their stools and, as a result, won’t need any vegetables added to their diet. However, if the poo is too hard despite increasing offal to 40% of the meat content, if your pet poos less frequently than every other day, or if you can see that passing stools is difficult for them, it is worth considering adding vegetables.
For cats, we only use cooked vegetables. It is also important that they are chopped into small pieces.
When it comes to dogs, you can afford to include a higher percentage of plant-based ingredients in their diet. You can also add fruit, but only in limited quantities due to its fructose content (i.e. a high glycaemic index, whereas dogs have no need for carbohydrates).
💧 Moisture content of the mixture
The moisture content of the mixture calculated by meatpoint.io is 75%, but remember that if your pets prefer moister food, you can always add more water. If you want to increase the moisture content more precisely, you can do so using additional ingredients, but I cover this in another article — ‘meapoint.io calculator — custom ingredients’, which is the next step in mastering all the features available in the calculator.
I’m sure that after reading these articles, you’ll have some ideas on how to prepare your next BARF meal, one that’s better suited to your pet’s needs and will help them feel their best 🐱🐶.
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Remember that if you have any questions or technical issues with the calculator, you will surely find assistance in our Facebook group (English posts are welcome!). We encourage you to join it, as well as to follow our social media channels, where you will find a wealth of useful knowledge :)
You can also contact us directly at support@meatpoint.io
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