Unfortunately, very occasionally, some dogs do contract salmonella, and it can be fatal. You've just got to use your common sense, I wouldn't feed mine meat that smelt bad, particularly from a supermarket type source, where you've got exactly the type of situation that could lead to build up of salmonella or similar.

Always ensure beef mince has been frozen before feeding, the majority of food mine get is frozen in any case, but with beef mince it can carry a fatal bacteria - I'm rubbish at remembering the exact names.

I've had two old rescues convert across to BARF, they were incredibly fussy about every other food, but love raw. The only thing I find is they don't tolerate raw offal as well as a younger dog that's used to the diet, so that has to be cooked.

For veg, try mixing in something tasty, it does actually carry a lot of useful vitamins and minerals - the idea of BARF, unlike a complete diet, is that the nutrition is derived from the food over several days rather than in one sitting. So the more variety of sources of nutrients, the better, try not to rely on too much root veg which they do find appetising, but mix in pulses and leafy veg. Again, the old rescue girls haven't found veg as appetising as the younger dogs that have been on it all their lives, but will eat it, particularly when mixed with something like a bit of raw egg, or a bit of boiled rice. Indie and Tau eat any raw veg you give them, in fact the little rotters nick anything I grow in the garden if they can!!!

Tinned fish is good for omega 3's, although make sure you don't buy it in brine, tomato sauce is fine, although if you're feeding to an oldie you need to avoid too much acidic food, so sunflower oil or spring water would be better.

You can pretty much buy BARF food ready to go now, as Billysboymamma said, just google and you'll find some good sites.