What is the Frankenprey Diet?
The Frankenprey diet is a style of raw pet food preparation that falls under the umbrella of the Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet. The name 'Frankenprey' is a playful nod to the idea of creating a “monster” or, in this case, a nutritionally complete meal, from a variety of different animal parts. Unlike feeding an entire, intact prey animal, the Frankenprey approach involves sourcing individual components—such as muscle meat, raw edible bones, and secreting organs—and combining them according to specific ratios. This method provides pet owners with more control over the ingredients and can be more practical and less daunting than handling whole carcasses. The primary goal is to provide a diet that is as close as possible to what a carnivorous animal would eat in the wild, without the need for supplementation with plant matter.
The Foundational Ratios
The Frankenprey diet is built upon a simple set of ratios designed to mimic the composition of a small prey animal. The most common guideline is the 80/10/10 ratio, which stands for:
- 80% Muscle Meat: This forms the bulk of the diet and includes various cuts of muscle, fat, and sinew. Heart meat and gizzards are also considered muscle meat due to their high taurine content.
- 10% Raw Edible Bone: Raw, non-weight-bearing bones, like those found in chicken necks, wings, and feet, provide essential calcium and phosphorus.
- 10% Organs: This portion is further broken down to ensure proper nutrition. It consists of two sub-parts: 5% Liver and 5% Other Secreting Organs (such as kidney, spleen, or pancreas).
For dogs, an additional 0-5% of animal-based insoluble fiber, such as fur or feathers, is sometimes recommended to promote digestive health, mimicking the fiber found in a wild prey animal's digestive tract.
Creating a Balanced Frankenprey Meal Plan
Achieving nutritional balance in a Frankenprey diet requires consistency and variety. Pet owners often plan meals on a weekly rather than daily basis to ensure all ratio requirements are met over time. Variety is crucial, as different protein sources contain unique nutrient profiles. A balanced weekly menu might include a mix of chicken, beef, turkey, and rabbit. For example:
- Monday & Thursday: Chicken wings (bone-in) for the bone component and muscle meat.
- Tuesday & Friday: Boneless beef chunks and a mix of liver and kidney.
- Wednesday & Saturday: Turkey necks and boneless rabbit meat.
- Sunday: A meal composed of boneless meat and the remaining organ meats to hit the weekly ratio.
Careful sourcing of ingredients is essential. Many practitioners of the Frankenprey diet use human-grade meat from grocery stores or butchers, ensuring better quality control.
Frankenprey vs. Whole Prey Feeding
| Feature | Frankenprey Diet | Whole Prey Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Source of ingredients | Individual parts (muscle meat, bones, organs) purchased from suppliers or stores. | Entire, intact animal carcasses (e.g., mice, rabbits, quail). |
| Sourcing Difficulty | Generally easier to find and purchase, less emotionally challenging for owners. | Can be harder to source, and handling intact carcasses may be unappealing for some. |
| Nutritional Composition | Ratios (e.g., 80/10/10) must be carefully calculated and balanced by the owner over time. | Considered naturally balanced since the animal is fed in its entirety. |
| Psychological Benefits | Offers mental and physical stimulation through chewing on raw meaty bones. | Provides the most natural and enriching feeding experience for the animal. |
| Digestive Support | Animal-based fiber (fur/feathers) may need to be added to replicate what is found in whole prey. | Includes natural fiber from fur and feathers, which aids digestion. |
| Risk of Imbalance | Higher risk if ratios are not strictly followed and variety is insufficient. | Lower risk of imbalance, as the whole animal provides all necessary nutrients. |
Assembling a Balanced Frankenprey Diet
To minimize the risk of nutritional deficiencies, variety in protein sources is crucial. Incorporating red meats like beef, lamb, and goat alongside poultry is important for providing a wider array of vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins and iron. Heart meat is particularly valuable for its high taurine content, a critical amino acid for cats. While the diet minimizes supplementation, adding high-quality fish oil for Omega-3 fatty acids is often recommended, as farmed animal meat typically has an imbalanced Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio. This level of customization and control over every single ingredient is one of the main appeals of the Frankenprey method for dedicated raw feeders.
Potential Risks and Considerations
The Frankenprey diet, like all raw feeding, comes with potential risks that owners must mitigate. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discourages feeding raw or undercooked animal proteins due to the risk of bacterial pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli, which can harm both pets and humans. Careful handling, proper sanitation, and using human-grade ingredients are vital precautions. Nutrient imbalance is another significant risk, especially if owners do not consistently adhere to the correct ratios. Calcium and phosphorus ratios are particularly important, and mistakes can lead to serious health issues, especially in growing animals. Owners must also be aware of the risk of choking or dental injury from bones, especially if they are too large or dense for the animal to safely consume. Consulting with a veterinary nutritionist before transitioning to or formulating a Frankenprey diet is strongly advised to ensure the diet is nutritionally complete and balanced for your pet's specific needs.
Who is the Frankenprey Diet For?
The Frankenprey diet is best suited for experienced and dedicated pet owners who are willing to commit significant time and research to their pet's nutrition. It appeals to those who want full control over their pet's diet, from sourcing to preparation, and those who have pets with sensitivities to certain ingredients found in commercial pet foods. For the average pet owner, or those with less time to dedicate to meal planning and preparation, commercially prepared and tested raw diets may be a safer and more convenient alternative.
Conclusion
Ultimately, what is the Frankenprey diet is a highly specific, DIY approach to feeding pets a raw, species-appropriate diet. By combining different animal parts in specific ratios, it aims to replicate the nutritional completeness of a whole prey animal. While it offers potential benefits like improved dental health and control over ingredients, it requires extensive knowledge, careful planning, and strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent nutritional imbalances and health risks. For those committed to the process and working with expert guidance, it can be a rewarding way to provide a natural diet. For newcomers, thorough research and professional consultation are indispensable. For further guidance on raw feeding, you can explore resources like Perfectly Rawsome's Prey Model Raw guide.
