Nutrition Diet: How to feed a balanced raw diet?

October 1, 2025 •

5 min read

According to studies reviewed by the Veterinary Information Network, less than half of homemade pet food recipes are nutritionally complete and balanced, highlighting the critical importance of knowing how to feed a balanced raw diet correctly. This guide provides the necessary information to create species-appropriate, nutrient-dense meals for your pet.

Quick Summary

This guide details how to prepare a complete and balanced raw diet for pets, covering proper ratios of meat, bone, and organ meat, safe ingredient selection, and crucial handling procedures.

Key Points

Follow Ideal Ratios: Adhere to specific component ratios like 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat for dogs, adjusting for individual needs.
Rotate Proteins: Feed a variety of protein sources (e.g., beef, chicken, fish) throughout the week to ensure a broad spectrum of nutrients.
Prioritize Safety: Handle raw meat hygienically to prevent bacterial contamination and always supervise your pet when they eat raw edible bones.
Consider Species-Specific Needs: Adjust the diet for cats, who are obligate carnivores, requiring higher protein and specific nutrients like taurine.
Calculate Portions Accurately: Determine the correct daily feeding amount based on your pet's ideal body weight, age, and activity level to maintain a healthy weight.
Supplement Thoughtfully: Only add supplements like fish oil or kelp as needed, and always consult a vet or nutritionist before doing so.
Transition Gradually: Introduce the new raw food slowly over 7-10 days to allow your pet's digestive system to adapt and prevent stomach upset.

Understanding the Raw Feeding Philosophy

Raw feeding for pets aims to mimic the ancestral diet of a carnivore, consisting primarily of uncooked animal products. This approach is based on the idea that a diet free of processed grains and fillers is more biologically appropriate for a dog or cat. Two primary models exist within the raw feeding community: the Prey Model and the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) Model. The Prey Model focuses on feeding whole, raw animal parts in specific ratios to simulate a kill, while the BARF Model includes a small percentage of fruits and vegetables to add fiber and phytonutrients. Both prioritize a foundation of muscle meat, edible bone, and organ meat, which is essential for nutritional completeness.

Core Components and Ideal Ratios

A balanced raw diet is built upon a foundation of specific components in approximate proportions. The most widely cited guideline for dogs is the 80-10-10 ratio, which serves as a practical starting point, though individual needs vary. For cats, a higher protein and lower bone content is more appropriate.

The 80-10-10 Ratio for Dogs

The 80-10-10 ratio breaks down the daily intake for dogs into the following parts:

80% Muscle Meat: The bulk of the diet, muscle meat provides essential protein and amino acids. This can include tougher cuts of beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, and game meats. Rotating protein sources is key to providing a wide array of nutrients.
10% Raw Edible Bone: Soft, raw edible bones are a vital source of calcium and phosphorus, crucial for bone and dental health. Examples include chicken wings, necks, or feet for smaller dogs and duck necks or ribs for larger breeds. Never feed cooked bones, as they can splinter and cause internal damage.
10% Organ Meat: This category provides a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals. It is split further:
- 5% Liver: A powerhouse of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E). Too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, so it's important to stick to this small percentage.
- 5% Other Secreting Organs: This includes kidneys, spleen, and pancreas, which provide other essential nutrients.

Cats: Obligate Carnivores with Specific Needs

Cats, as obligate carnivores, have higher protein needs and a lower tolerance for plant matter. Their diet should be built on similar principles but with crucial adjustments:

The ratio often shifts slightly, with some guidelines suggesting 5-7% edible bone content.
Organ meat is critical, particularly for providing taurine, an essential amino acid that cats cannot produce on their own.
While some raw feeding models include a small amount of pureed vegetables for fiber, a species-appropriate feline diet does not require them.

Beyond the Basic Ratios: Adding Variety and Supplements

For optimal nutrition, a variety of ingredients beyond the core components is beneficial. This includes:

Fish: Oily fish like sardines or mackerel can be added 2-3 times a week to provide essential omega-3 fatty acids, which support joint, skin, and coat health.
Fruits and Vegetables (BARF Model): If following the BARF model, small amounts of pureed fruits and vegetables can be added, up to 10-20% of the total meal. Pureeing helps with digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Eggs: A superfood for dogs, eggs can be added with the shell for extra calcium.
Supplements: While a well-balanced raw diet aims to be complete, supplements like fish oil, kelp, or spirulina may be beneficial depending on your pet's needs. Always consult a vet or pet nutritionist before adding supplements.

Calculating Your Pet's Daily Portion

To determine how much to feed, you'll need to consider your pet's age, weight, and activity level. A common guideline is to feed adult pets 2-3% of their ideal body weight daily.

Adult Dogs: 2-3% of ideal body weight. Active dogs may need closer to 3%, while less active or senior dogs may need closer to 2%.
Puppies: Growing puppies require significantly more food, ranging from 4-10% of their current body weight depending on their age and growth stage.
Cats: Typically require 2-3% of their ideal body weight per day.

Comparing Raw Feeding Models


Feature	Prey Model	BARF Model
Composition	Primarily muscle meat, raw bone, organs to mimic whole prey.	Includes meat, bone, and organs, plus fruits and vegetables.
Plant Matter	None, or minimal (from stomach contents of prey).	Up to 15-20% pureed fruits and vegetables.
Nutritional Focus	Simulates a natural carnivorous diet, emphasizing animal-based nutrients.	Incorporates plant-based nutrients and fiber for additional benefits.
Complexity	Potentially simpler in terms of ingredients, but requires sourcing specific animal parts.	Allows for more variety but adds complexity in balancing plant-based ingredients.
Best For	Purist carnivore approach, often favored by experienced feeders.	Those who want to include plant-based fiber and antioxidants in the diet.

Transitioning to a Raw Diet

Transitioning should be gradual to avoid digestive upset, especially when switching from processed kibble. A common method involves a 7-10 day phase-in:

Days 1-3: Replace 25% of the old food with raw food.
Days 4-6: Increase to a 50/50 mix.
Days 7-10: Transition to 75% raw and 25% old food.
Day 10+: Complete the transition to 100% raw food.

Essential Safety and Handling Procedures

Raw feeding carries risks that must be managed with strict hygiene protocols:

Bacterial Contamination: Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. Practice rigorous hygiene, including separating raw food from human food, sanitizing all surfaces and bowls, and washing hands thoroughly.
Handling Bones: Only feed soft, raw edible bones appropriate for your pet's size. Never feed cooked bones, and always supervise your pet to prevent choking or teeth fractures.
Source High-Quality Ingredients: Source meat from reputable suppliers. Meat intended for human consumption is often handled to be cooked, so sourcing from raw pet food suppliers with higher hygiene standards is often safer.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice

Knowing how to feed a balanced raw diet requires careful planning and a commitment to hygiene, but it can be a highly rewarding approach for your pet's nutrition. Whether you choose a commercially prepared complete raw meal or prepare your own using the 80-10-10 or BARF model, prioritizing balance, variety, and safety is paramount. Always consult with a qualified veterinary nutritionist to ensure your pet is receiving all the nutrients they need, especially for puppies, seniors, or pets with health conditions. A well-formulated diet, created with knowledge and care, is the key to reaping the potential benefits of raw feeding while mitigating the risks.

Visit Perfectly Rawsome for a wealth of raw feeding knowledge and resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The 80-10-10 rule is a common guideline for balancing a raw diet for dogs, consisting of 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ meat (with half of the organ meat being liver).

Raw feeding is generally safe for healthy pets if handled with extreme care. It's crucial to practice strict hygiene to minimize risks of bacterial contamination from pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, which can affect both pets and humans.

Only soft, raw edible bones are safe, such as chicken necks, wings, and feet, or duck necks. Never feed cooked bones, as they are brittle and can splinter, causing internal injury.

The need for fruits and vegetables depends on the raw feeding model. The BARF model includes a small amount (up to 15-20%) for fiber and nutrients, while the Prey Model excludes them. Cats, as obligate carnivores, do not require plant matter.

For adult dogs, a general starting point is to feed 2-3% of their ideal body weight daily, adjusting for activity level. Puppies require more (4-10%) and senior pets may need less. Consult a feeding guide or calculator for precise amounts.

Some owners mix raw and kibble, but it's generally not recommended. A gradual transition period is often more effective, and many raw feeders prefer to keep the two food types separate to avoid digestive issues.

An unbalanced diet can lead to serious health problems, such as nutritional deficiencies affecting bone health, nerve function, and overall development. This is a major concern with homemade diets that lack proper balancing.