How do I know that my dog's meal is balanced?
Understanding Nutritional Analysis in Raw Feeding
Occasionally, I receive requests for a nutritional analysis of the raw blends I offer. While I understand the reasoning behind this question, it often stems from misinformation promoted by the kibble industry and conventional veterinary guidance—the idea that without a label how do you know your food is "complete," how do you ensure proper nutrition.
However, you don’t need a label from a company to confirm that you’re providing your dog with a nutritionally complete diet. Consider this: Would you request a nutritional analysis for the chicken breasts or broccoli you buy at the grocery store to feed your family? Likely not, because you understand that a balanced diet is achieved through variety—incorporating different proteins, vegetables, and whole foods over time. The same principle applies to raw feeding.
That being said, labels can be reassuring, especially when transitioning from kibble to raw, as they provide a sense of certainty that a dog is receiving all necessary nutrients. This is important for beginners who may still be learning the fundamentals of raw feeding. Unfortunately, I often hear of people simply placing a boneless chicken breast in their dog’s bowl and assuming they are providing a complete diet—which is far from balanced.
Additionally, some argue that "any reputable company should have a guaranteed analysis." While this may hold true for commercially available raw blends sold in pet stores, many of these products do not adhere to proper Prey Model Raw (PMR) ratios of muscle meat, bone, and organ. In these cases, verifying nutrient content is essential to ensure dietary completeness.
Rather than relying solely on labels, it is crucial to research and develop a solid understanding of what a balanced raw diet truly means—especially within the framework of Prey Model Raw. By focusing on whole foods and proper ratios, pet owners can confidently provide their dogs with a natural, species-appropriate diet that supports optimal health and longevity.
Dogs, cats, and other domestic carnivores obtain ALL of the vitamins and minerals they need from a PMR (Prey Model Raw) diet. In order to achieve optimum nutrition and balance you should provide:
At least 3-4 proteins. Most of them being red meat such as beef, bison, elk, lamb, goat, venison etc.
At least 2-3 sources of liver. Rotated and fed at 5%.
At least 2-3 sources of other secreting organs such as kidney, spleen, pancreas etc. Also rotated and fed at 5%.
Muscular "organs", especially heart, tongue and tripe (these organs are considered a muscle meat when considering PMR feeding)
Raw meaty bones. Fed at 10-20% depending on your dogs needs.
Wild Caught Oily Fish
Eggs
The Complexity of Nutrition in a Raw Diet
A raw diet is fundamentally different from a processed, starch-based diet, and as such, nutrient requirements cannot be directly extrapolated from NRC (National Research Council) guidelines. Unlike synthetic formulations, raw feeding is rooted in whole food synergy, where vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds work in harmony to support optimal health.
Micronutrients in whole foods do not function in isolation; they exist within a highly complex, interdependent system, where absorption, bioavailability, and efficacy are influenced by their natural form and accompanying cofactors. This intricate balance is something that modern nutritional science has yet to fully replicate, reinforcing the importance of feeding species-appropriate, biologically optimized nutrition rather than relying on artificial fortification.
Simply put, our rudimentary understanding of nutrition cannot outmatch the precision of nature. The raw diet is not just about meeting isolated nutrient targets—it is about honoring the evolutionary blueprint of our pets, providing them with the natural, whole-food nourishment their bodies are designed to thrive on.
Below we’ll go over these essential nutrients as well as others and where they can be found in a raw (PMR) diet.
*Please note this is not an exhaustive list. This is compiled to give you reassurance that feeding a PMR diet is sufficient in nutrients for your companion.*
Manganese: is an essential trace element that is naturally present in many foods. Manganese is needed to produce energy, metabolize protein, and to make fatty acids. It can be found in meat, poultry, green tripe, especially in mussels such as Green Lipped Mussels and of course whole prey.
Zinc: a mineral that’s important for strong immune function, healing wounds, and to support normal growth can be found in:
Whole Prey
Secreting organs such as liver and kidney.
Muscular organs like heart, gizzards, tongue and green tripe.
Muscle Meat (especially from lamb, beef, pork, and turkey)
Eggs
Oysters
Sardines
Salmon
Vitamin E: a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant protecting cells from the damage caused by free radicals can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Kidney
Brain
Heart (pork and lamb)
Eggs
Sardines
Green Lipped Mussels
Establishing vitamin E requirements is complicated because the body stores both vitamin E and selenium. A number of studies to establish requirements for both nutrients have underestimated the requirements by failing to account for their augmentation from body stores as well as experimental dietary concentrations. For all classes of dogs, 50 IU of vitamin E is recommended per kg (22.7 IU per lb) of diet. The need for supplementation of vitamin E depends on the requirement of individuals, how food is processed and the amount of available vitamin E in food sources. If diets have relatively large quantities of meat, fat, organs, and eggs, plenty of vitamin E will be provided.
Vitamin D: helps to maintain the health of bones and teeth. Supports the health of the immune system, brain, and nervous system is found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Kidney
Eggs
Sardines
Salmon
Atlantic mackerel
Iodine: a mineral that’s important for proper thyroid function.
Seafood such as sardines are rich in Iodine
Eggs
Kelp*
*While kelp may not be “species appropriate” there is an exception to the rule as due to soil depletion in some countries it can be essential in making up for missing nutrients such as Iodine. However, we would not recommend giving kelp to those that have thyroid issues nor over using it as a supplement.
According to Dr. Judy Morgan…. “excessive iodine supplementation can result in the overproduction of the T4 and T3 in dogs and cats, which triggers unintended cascading effects: in dogs, the immune system may wind up attacking the thyroid gland (producing excessive amounts of thyroglobulin autoantibody) which end up suppressing thyroid levels and causing the very hypothyroidism it was meant to prevent; whereas in cats, the overdosing can result in overt hyperthyroidism.”
Eicosapentaenoic & Docosahexaenoic Acid (EPA+DHA): Essential Omega 3 fatty acids that are important for healthy brain and heart function and also helps reduce inflammation. Oily fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel and herring are packed with these important parts of the diet as well as GLM (green lipped mussels).
Other nutrients and where they can be found:
*Remember this is just a short list compiled for reassurance. There are a number of proteins and organs that provide key nutrients as well*
Vitamins
Vitamin A: is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in many foods. Vitamin A is important for normal vision, the immune system, and reproduction. Vitamin A can found in:
Whole Prey
Chicken
Pork
Fish
Eggs
Liver
Kidney
Brain
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): is essential for glucose metabolism, and it plays a key role in nerve, muscle, and heart function. Vitamin B1 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Poultry such as chicken and turkey
Red meat like beef, pork, lamb and goat
Rabbit
Liver
Eggs
Fish
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): is crucial for breaking down food components, absorbing other nutrients, and maintaining tissues. Vitamin B2 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Poultry
Red meat
Rabbit
Fish
Eggs
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): important for supporting functions in the digestive system, skin and nervous system. Vitamin B3 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Fish
Eggs
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): is needed to synthesize coenzyme-A, as well as to synthesize and metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Vitamin B5 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): is needed to produce hydrochloric acid. Aids in absorption of fats, and protein. Vitamin B6 can be found in:
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Vitamin B9 (Folate, Folic Acid): is necessary for the production of red blood cells, for the synthesis of DNA, and also helps with tissue growth and cell function. Vitamin B9 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Is important for protecting the nervous system, aids in digestion, and improves concentration. Can also help with anemia. Vitamin B12 can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Heart
Kidney
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): As mentioned above dogs can synthesize their own Vit C. However it is good for enhancing immunity and also aids in production of anti-stress hormones. Vitamin C can be found in:
Liver
Kidney
Heart
Fish
Vitamin K: promotes healthy liver function as well as helps in the formation of bones. Vitamin K can be found in:
Whole Prey
Liver
Fish
Eggs
Minerals
Calcium: protects bones and teeth. Helps maintain regular heartbeat and prevents muscle cramping. Calcium is found in:
Whole Prey
RMB's (Raw Meaty Bones)
Poultry
Red meat
Fish
Eggs
Copper: protects against anemia and is needed for healthy bones and joints. Also converts iron into hemoglobin. Copper can be found in:
Whole Prey
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Iron: is important for the production of hemoglobin as well as being essential for metabolism. Iron can be found in:
Whole Prey
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Magnesium: is important for many processes in the body, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and making protein, bone, and DNA. Magnesium can be found in:
Whole Prey
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Phosphorus: is important for teeth and bone formation. Is also good for normal heart rhythm and kidney function. Phosphorus can be found in:
Whole Prey
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
Selenium: helps to regulate thyroid hormones as well as protects the immune system. Selenium can be found in:
Whole Prey
Rabbit
Poultry
Red meat
Eggs
Fish
For more information on Prey Model Raw visit https://www.rawfeedingadviceandsupport.com/ (they also have a Facebook group) this is an amazing resource for all things Prey Model.
*source- Raw Feeding Advice and Support