The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Raw Feeding for Dogs

Raw feeding can feel like learning a new language. You hear terms like "PMR," "BARF," "80/10/10," and "Organ Secreting," and it's easy to get overwhelmed. This guide is your translator. We'll strip away the complexity and give you the foundational blueprint to start feeding your dog fresh, real food today.

What Exactly IS Raw Feeding?

At its simplest, raw feeding is mimicking what your dog's ancestors (grey wolves) would eat in the wild. Dogs are facultative carnivores. Their teeth, jaws, and digestive tracts are designed to tear meat and crunch bone, not grind corn and wheat.

The Kibble vs. Raw Comparison

Commercial Kibble

High carbohydrate content (40-60%)
Cooked at high heat (destroys nutrients)
Synthetic vitamins sprayed on
Low moisture (dehydrating)

Raw Diet (PMR)

Zero to low carbohydrates
Raw & living enzymes intact
Natural bioavailable vitamins
High moisture (kidney support)

The Golden Rule: 80/10/10

To ensure your dog gets every nutrient they need without using supplements, we follow the "Prey Model" ratio. Imagine a rabbit. If you took it apart, it would be roughly:

80% Muscle Meat

10% Bone

10% Organ

Visual representation of the Prey Model Raw ratio

1. Muscle Meat (80%)

This is the foundation. It provides protein, amino acids, and water-soluble vitamins. Examples: Lean ground beef, chicken quarters, turkey thigh, pork loin, lamb chunks, and importantly, Heart (heart is biologically a muscle!).

2. Edible Bone (10%)

Crucial for calcium. Without bone, your dog will have loose stools and calcium deficiencies. IMPORTANT: Never feed cooked bones. Cooked bones splinter and can pierce the stomach. Only feed raw, non-weight-bearing bones like:

✓ Chicken Wings/Feet
✓ Duck Necks
✓ Rabbit Ribs
✓ Turkey Necks (Large dogs)

3. Secreting Organs (10%)

The multivitamin. You must split this into 5% Liver and 5% Other Secreting Organ.

Liver: The highest source of Vitamin A.
Other: Kidney (Selenium), Spleen (Iron), Pancreas (Digestive Enzymes).

The Transition Timeline

Do not switch "Cold Turkey". Your dog's gut microbiome needs time to adjust from processing starch to processing meat.

Days 1 - 3: Protein Only

Start with one bland protein (Chicken or Turkey). Feed ONLY muscle meat and bone (80/10 ratio). No organs yet.

Days 4 - 7: Introduce Liver

If stools are firm, add Liver slowly. Start with a sliver and work up to the full 5% requirement.

Days 8 - 10: The Second Organ

Introduce your kidney/spleen. Watch for loose stools (organs are rich!).

Day 10+: Variety

Now start introducing Red Meat (Beef/Pork). Aim for 3-4 different proteins over a month to fill nutritional gaps.