Introduction To Prey Model Raw Diet Feeding Plan

A raw diet for your puppy is simple – it contains raw meat, organs and bones. (Not all bones are edible, and we’ll go over that with you later in this post.) But its simplicity doesn’t go as far as picking up a few packages from the meat counter at your grocery store. There’s a bit more to it.

For one thing, buying meat at the grocery is expensive! You know that’s true, from feeding just your family. It’s no wonder some families have lots of casseroles. However, humans are omnivores, meaning our bodies can use fruits and vegetables in addition to meats. Dogs are carnivores. But they need more than just muscle meat.

In the wild, canines are hunters. Consider the wolf. He doesn’t wait for a forest ranger to fill his food bowl with kibble. No, he goes out and brings down a deer or an antelope, then dines on it for a few days. He eats everything except the antlers. Every. Thing. Meat, stomach, tongue, hide, fur, intestines, the whole animal. Plus, he eats different kinds of animals, including rabbits and wild birds (and their eggs, shells and all). And the wolf is healthy, in spite of never visiting the vet.

Look in your dog’s mouth — carefully. His teeth are sharp and pointy (even the molars), perfectly suited to rip and tear his food. His jaws open wide, able to accommodate large pieces such as a hip bone. This is important since your dog uses his molars to gnaw and grind up those bones.

So, from a casual observation of any potential prey animal, we can see it’s mostly muscle meat, including the heart. About 80%, in fact. The framework of bones supporting those muscles makes up about 10% of the animal. And the internal organs – spleen, lungs, brain, stomach and the rest – are the remaining 10%. The Prey Model Raw Diet is based on this ratio.

• 80-85% muscle meat
• 10-15% raw bones
• 5-10% offal (internal organs)

Provide this nutrition for your dog by feeding whole animals or mixing parts of different animals. Frozen pre-packaged meal plans are available, so you won’t have to trap and kill your dog’s food unless you just want to. Vary the kind of meats to give your dog as complete a nutritional profile as possible over time.

The Prey Model Raw Diet does NOT include:

• Processed foods, like kibbles
• Meat by-products
• Fruits or vegetables

As previously discussed, a dog’s teeth are sharp for tearing, not flat for grinding. Grains, fruits and vegetables are rarely eaten by canines in the wild. Meat by-products is the term used for everything except the meat, rendered and cooked so there’s no remaining nutritional value anyway. Learn more about what’s allowed by the Association of American Feed Control here. And be sure to read the labels on your own food too!

Muscle Meat

The greatest part of the raw diet is muscle meat. Because this meat is raw, it provides essential amino acids and vitamins. Also raw meat gives a healthier satiety (the feeling of a full stomach). Your puppy is satisfied because his tummy is full of good protein rather than fillers. As good as muscle meat is, however, feed more variety to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

Raw Edible Bones

Raw bones are full of important nutrients. They contain minerals, such as calcium, phosphate, and magnesium; and vitamin D, which is crucial for proper absorption of those minerals. The bone content of your dog’s diet will also help determine whether his stools are firm. Most families start at 10% of the diet and adjust as needed. Here is a great explanation of the best types of raw meaty bones to feed your puppy, and what kinds of bones to avoid. Never feed cooked bones!

Liver

Liver is a storehouse of essential vitamins and nutrients! It’s a great source of vitamin A, as well as many water soluble vitamins. Feed liver at about 5% of your puppy’s diet. But limit the amount of liver to avoid the possibility of vitamin A toxicity.

Other Organs

Pancreas, kidney and spleen provide additional water soluble vitamins. These organs should be about 5% of your dog’s diet.

Animal Based Fiber

As we know, soluble fiber is important for colon and microbiome health. Your dog’s best source of fiber is a small amount (2-5%) of skin, fur, feathers, feet and other non-meaty, non-bone parts.

Green Tripe

The stomach and contents of a ruminant (cud-chewing) animal is a pungent, yet integral, part of your dog’s diet. It carries essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 (in optimal proportions), digestive enzymes and protein. Tripe is particularly good if your dog has gut health issues. But even if your puppy is healthy, he’ll benefit from all this natural goodness.

We’ve been using prey model raw feeding for years and we’re sold on the health benefits to our dogs and puppies. Take a look at the vibrant health and boundless energy of our stud dogs, especially Jack, the purebred Poodle, and you’ll see what we mean.

Feeding raw and leaving out the kibble, fillers and fruits & veggies is simple. Your dog’s raw diet can be frozen into portions of the perfect size. Eggs can be refrigerated as normal. Storage is easy, and more secure from insects and pests than bags of dry dog food. And the frozen portions won’t go stale.

The suppliers in this Raw Feeding group service raw feeders in the United States. Click on a company’s name to visit their website for more information about raw food companies.

https://www.rawfeedingadviceandsupport.com/usa-meat-suppliers

As an alternative, if there’s a full-service butcher shop in your area that offers many different varieties of meats, talk with the butcher about your raw feeding needs. Frequently you can find goat, rabbit, fish and other convenient fresh sources that may suit your situation.