Hey, fellow pet lovers!

Today’s post is sticking with my current focus on raw feeding and is very similar to Tuesday’s post that talked all about BARF, Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding or Bones and Raw Food. However, today we will be focusing on the other main model of raw feeding for our canine and feline friends and that is the Prey Model Raw (PMR) method.

There are two main models of raw feeding and these are

• Prey Model Raw (PMR) or Whole Prey Model.

• BARF Model (Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding or Bones and Raw food).

In today’s post, I am going to talk about

• What a Prey Model Raw diet is?

• How to feed a Prey Model Raw diet to our canine and feline friends.

• What the differences between a Prey Model Raw and BARF diet are?

• And lastly, mention some of the many benefits of feeding our companion animals with a species-appropriate diet. 

A lot of you guys will already know that all my girls are fed a raw diet and I think that feeding our pets a species-appropriate diet is the best way to ensure they live a happy and healthy life, with many years by our side.

So let’s jump straight in and learn how to start your pet on a Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet!

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Prey Model Raw (PMR) Diet

Prey Model Raw is the other main method of raw feeding and this model is way more strict than the BARF approach and there are a few differences to mention in the post. One thing I dislike about the PMR method is that I have found it can be a bit difficult to get hold of enough whole prey to solely feed your pet following this model for the whole month and only my girl Nia really eats whole prey regularly, Lily and the Pooss completely refuse!!

The ethos of this model is to attempt to resemble what our pet’s ancestors would eat in the wild, which we know is whole prey. If you haven’t guessed already this is when you feed your pet the whole animal.

An example of this is feeding a whole Rabbit, Pheasant or Squirrel.

This is the perfect model since we as raw feeders are ultimately trying to mimic what our pet’s ancestors would eat in the wild. For our domesticated cats otherwise know as Felis catus their ancestors are thought to be Felis sylvestris lybica, the African Wild Cat and for our dogs Canis lupus familiaris their ancestors are the Grey Wolf.

There is no doubt in my opinion that providing our companion animals with a diet that is easy for them to digest, is suited to their genetic makeup and is as close to what they would be eating in the wild is the smarter option, rather than feeding them an overly processed commercial diet filled with a myriad of nasty ingredients. Feeding a Prey Model Raw or BARF diet is the best approach for ensuring our beloved pets live a happy and healthy life.

Now we know a little bit about the Prey Model Raw diet let’s learn how to feed our furry friends following this raw feeding model.

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How to feed a Prey Model Raw diet to our canine and feline friends?

Just like feeding the BARF method of raw feeding, a Prey Model Raw diet is also super easy to get your head around. All you need to do to start your furry friend on a raw diet is work out how much you need to feed your pet each day, source your pet’s raw food and then prepare it. Firstly to work out how much they should be eating each day it is super simple and If you have read last weeks post then you will already know how to do this.

So a lot of people worry and get really stressed out when they are first starting or even considering raw feeding because they aren’t sure how much they need to feed their pet.

The truth is it is so simple!

The basic percentages for feeding your pet is worked out in relation to their ideal expected body weight.

You should feed your pet 2-3% of their ideal expected body weight per day. 

My girl Nia’s ideal body weight is about 15/16 kilos.

1% of 15 kilos is 150 grams x 2 is a total of 300 grams a day.

1% of 16 kilos is 160 grams x 3 is a total of 480 grams a day. 

Therefore she gets between 300 and 480 grams a day, it all depends on how much exercise she has done and also how lean or plump she is looking.

For the Prey Model Raw method of raw feeding, you will feed your pet

• 80% Muscle Meat

• 10% Raw meaty bones

• 10% Organs & Offal (5% of this must consist of liver!)

This is what a PMR feeder would give their pet following this method.

This is what you would feed your pooch or feline friend if you started them on a Prey Model Raw diet and just like BARF, it is super simple. Just like I mentioned in my previous BARF post you really don’t have to get too caught up on the feeding percentages. However, do loosely follow these percentages when first starting out and if you need to increase or decrease your pet’s bone or their muscle meat intake then do so.

Just ensure your pet is getting a mixture of everything they require such as raw edible meaty bones to provide them with all their calcium and phosphorus needs, enough organ meat and always feed them 5% liver. Organ meat is like multivitamins for our pets and is an essential part of any raw food diet. And lastly, watch your pets fat intake, never really feed more than 10% or more of their overall diet.

As long as you provide your pet with a varied diet of

• Fresh Muscle Meat.

• Raw Edible Meaty Bones.

• Organ Meat and 5% of this must be liver!!

• Feed fish once a week.

• Lastly, Adjust accordingly and keep a close eye on your pet’s stools.

Most people assume raw feeders know everything from the get go but the truth is you learn as you go, adjust accordingly and as odd as this sounds start looking at your pet’s stools to give you an indicator if your feeding too much or to little bone, or if you need to increase or decrease your pet’s organ intake.

If you are interested in starting your pet on a raw diet then you should certainly get this great little book Honey’s Natural Feeding Handbook for Dogs. It does focus on the BARF approach but will be a great induction to raw feeding. After reading this post you should check out my previous book review above, to learn more.

To order this informative little handbook which has been so useful over the course of my raw feeding adventure, simply follow the link below.

Honey’s Natural Feeding Handbook for Dogs

*By purchasing through this link you are supporting epoch.pet as we get a small amount of commission, with no extra cost to you. This money helps keep the blog up and running and allows us to purchase pet products to review on our site. I only ever review products that my girls have tried and tested and that I think are great!

Now we know how to feed our pets a Prey Model Raw diet, we can move on and find out what the differences between a PMR and BARF diet are?

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What the differences between a Prey Model Raw and BARF diet are?

There are a few small differences between a Prey Model Raw and BARF diet and that is because the Prey Model Raw method of raw feeding excludes

• Vegetables.

• Fruits.

• All dairy.

• And limits supplementation.

This model is the strictest out of the two and a true Prey Model Raw feeder thinks that their pet does not need to eat any of the above and their diet should solely consist of whole prey.

However, some PMR feeders do supplement with Omega-3 fatty acids, as standard commercial proteins such as intensely reared chickens have been fed a diet of high grains which results in much lower Omega-3 fatty acids being present than a high welfare bird or wild prey.

Even though this model focuses on feeding whole prey there are two different approaches a Prey Model Raw feeder can take when feeding this model.

Your options are:

• Feeding strictly just whole prey.

• Or Franken Prey feeding.

We know what feeding strictly whole prey is but what is Franken Prey feeding?

Well, this is when PMR feeders piece together different proteins to reach the required ratios of whole prey. This is an easier way of feeding the Prey Model Raw method as not everyone can get their hands on whole prey with feathers and innards still intact.

An example of this is a Prey Model Raw feeder feeding their pet a whole duck or chicken from the supermarket and giving them offal and maybe some rabbit pelt on the side to mimic feeding whole prey.

My Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Nia loves eating whole prey, her favourite being a squirrel or whole rabbit. However, my Border Terrier Lily is far too fussy to even humour the idea of eating whole prey!! I think this model is great if you can get a constant supply of whole prey and even Franken Prey feeding is a more convenient way of feeding your pet following the Prey Model Raw method.

• Feeding Percentages are slightly different.

The second difference to mention is that feeding percentages differ slightly from the BARF model of raw feeding and that is because of what we talked about above since a PMR feeder does not give their pet any veg, fruit or dairy and limits supplementation.

If you were going to feed your pet following the BARF model of raw feeding then the percentages would look like this

• 70% Muscle Meat.

• 10% Raw Meaty Bones.

• 10% Organ Meat (5% of this must consist of liver!)

•  10% fruit, veg or dairy such as kefia, goats milk or other appropriate diary sources, not cows products. 

Now we know how to feed our pets a Prey Model Raw diet, what the differences between a PMR and BARF diet are? It is time to move on and find out why we should feed our pet PMR diet?

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Why feed your pet a Prey Model Raw Diet?

There are so many benefits to raw feeding and the pet lovers that regularly come to the blog and read my raw feeding content should know a fair few of them by now, but I want to talk about some of the many benefits of feeding our pets a Prey Model Raw Diet.

• It is the most simple and effective method out of the two for ensuring your pet is getting everything they require on a raw diet.

I would say this is the main selling point for me, the fact that all you have to do is find the correct weighing whole prey then stick it down for your furry friend to enjoy. There is no worrying about giving your pet the correct ratios because everything is already perfectly balanced.

• It is quick and easy and will save you time.

One of my favourite things about feeding a Prey Model Raw diet is how simple it is, all you have to do is make sure you are feeding the correct weighing whole prey and you’re sorted.

Whereas when feeding the BARF method it is a lot more time-consuming if you choose to make your pet’s meals following the DIY BARF approach.

• Mimics our pets natural diet.

By feeding your pet the Prey Model Raw method of raw feeding you are providing them with a diet that mimics what their ancestors would eat. Your pooch is a domesticated wolf and shares a whopping 98.8% of its genetic makeup with a Grey Wolf, therefore the only real difference between the two is their temperament and appearance, their digestive systems are the same.

By feeding your dog using this model of raw feeding you are providing them with a diet they are built to eat and is more suited to their genetic makeup. To learn more read my post on Can dogs eat raw meat?

For our feline friends, the same can be said and they are certainly meant to be consuming a raw diet. maybe even more so than their canine counterparts and that is because cats are an obligate carnivore and must eat a diet of raw meat and whole prey to ensure they get all their nutritional requirements.

To learn more about raw feeding a cat then check out my previous post on Raw Feeding for cats: the basics!

• Raw feeding provides your pet with all their nutritional requirements.

Raw feeding is one of the best feeding methods for ensuring that your pet is getting all of their nutritional requirements to stay strong and healthy.

By feeding a diet of fresh produce and a mixture of various fresh muscle meats, raw edible meaty bones and organ meat such as liver or kidney, you are providing your pet with a diverse range of foods to support a varied and healthy gut microbiome.

• Your pet will have more energy on a Raw diet.

My gorgeous girls Nia and Lily, rocking their Xdog Weight and Fitness Vests at the Park 🙂 

My girls are so energetic and for the most part they always have been, literally Lily has a never-ending supply of energy and since getting the girls their Xdog Weight and Fitness Vests their energy levels and stamina seems to be increasing each week.

When you feed your pet a raw diet that is easy for them to digest and can help their body perform at it’s best, then your pet will have way more energy than if they were eating a normal commercial diet of canned wet food or dry kibble.

• Eliminating health conditions that could arise from a food intolerance or Sensitivities.

Something that a lot of pet owners talk about and have issues with is their pets suffering from various skin conditions or ailments relating from food sensitivities. Commercial pet foods are filled with numerous fillers, grains and nasty ingredients which don’t do our innocent pets any good.

By feeding your pet an all natural diet you are eliminating negative health conditions that come with feeding an overly processed commercial diet and know everything that is going into your pet’s food.

• Healthy teeth and gums.

When you raw feed your pet some of their diet consists of raw edible meaty bones and these are nature’s toothbrushes for our furry friends. My girl’s teeth are wonderfully clean and we have not had a dental problem with them at all, they are both still young dogs but with barely a mark on their pearly whites, we are expecting it to stay this way into their senior years.

Despite the clever marketing, dental sticks are not the best or the healthiest way to ensure your pooches teeth stay clean. Most are actually filled with some nasty fillers, preservatives and harmful ingredients, so sticking with natures ways are much better!

• Strengthened immune system.

Your pet will have a strengthened immune system by feeding them an all natural diet and in turn be a healthier and happier pet. This will mean fewer vet trips and more money you can spend on making your pets life better.

There are a few drawbacks when it comes to feeding a Prey Model Raw diet but these can be easily solved and shouldn’t put you off feeding a PMR diet.

• It can be a bit messy.

The main problem with feeding a Prey Model Raw diet is that is can be a bit messy when feeding inside your home. Since your feeding, a whole animal that still has all its guts and unfortunately faeces inside this can result in some of those innards going all over your kitchen floor.

However, this can be solved easily by feeding outside in your garden or by purchasing an extra-large feeding mat. You can also gut the animal and give your pet the desired organ meats only or buy whole gutted animals and feed separate organ meats such as liver and kidney to make up for the deficit.

• It isn’t a good method for fussy pets.

I have both extremes with my girls, Nia is pretty much willing to eat anything and turns her nose up at very little. Whereas Lily the youngest out of the two is about as fussy as it gets and won’t consider eating whole prey. If we are lucky she will occasionally eat some rabbit pelt, a rabbit-ear or a chick if she’s feeling adventures but that’s as far as she will go.

So this method of raw feeding for fussy pets is not the best.

• It can be hard to get hold of enough whole prey to solely just feed your pet using this method.

Unless you’re a farmer or hunter it can be difficult to get hold of enough whole prey to feed your pet for the month.

We order our raw food from Scruffles Pet Supplies, Durham Animal Feeds, or Paleo Ridge and some months there isn’t a lot of whole prey on offer which limits how much we can feed. Therefore, this is quite a drawback when it comes to feeding a Prey Model Raw diet.

To learn more about raw feeding check out my some of my previous posts

• Raw Feeding for dogs: the basics!
• Raw Feeding for cats: the basics!
• Benefits of Feeding a BARF or PMR diet.
• And to learn about raw feeding percentages for puppies head over to epoch.pet’s Raw Feeding Percentages page.

If you are currently a raw feeder then why don’t you check out some of my raw feeding friendly treat recipes as we have

• Homemade Dehydrated Turkey Jerky, treat recipe.
• Homemade Dehydrated Liver Treats.
• Homemade Dehydrated Kidney Treats.

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I hope you all liked learning about the Prey Model Raw (PMR) method of raw feeding and share this post if you found it useful so others can learn all about raw feeding for our furry friends too. Prey Model Raw is a great raw feeding method and I would say my girl Nia eats a lot more whole prey than minces or chunks. Whereas Lily and the Pooss won’t even humour the idea of eating whole prey, so it certainly isn’t for everyone.

However, I think we can all agree that feeding our companion animals a diet that is suited to their genetic makeup is the best approach for keeping them strong and healthy and having them by our side for as long as possible.

To learn about the other model of raw feeding, BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Or Bones and Raw Food) then simply head over to our Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding page or check out last weeks post BARF, Biologically Appropriate Raw Feeding or Bones and Raw Food and if you do decide to start your pet on a raw diet do let me know.

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Weekly posts every Tuesday and Saturday!