Raw Diets: The Prey Model

Raw Diets: The Prey Model

Have you ever watched a puppy play? They’re full of energy, joy, and curiosity! Just like kids, puppies need good food to grow up strong and healthy. We all want our furry friends to feel their best, right? Sometimes, grown-ups think about what dogs ate way, way before dog food in bags existed. They ate what they found in nature!

This idea led to something called a “raw diet” for dogs. It’s like giving your dog food that’s very close to what their wild cousins, like wolves, would eat. One popular way to feed a raw diet is called the Prey Model. It’s all about giving dogs parts of animals – like muscle meat, bones, and organs – that are raw, just as they would be in nature.

At Puppy Heaven, we care deeply about every puppy’s health and happiness. Learning about different ways to feed your dog can help you make the best choices for your little companion. Let’s explore the Prey Model diet and what makes it special!

What is the Prey Model Diet for Dogs?

Imagine a wild dog or wolf. When they hunt, they eat the whole animal – or at least big parts of it. They don’t cook it, and they don’t add fruits or veggies to it. The Prey Model diet tries to copy this exactly. It means feeding your dog raw meat, raw bones, and raw organs from different animals.

It’s not just a random mix of meat. It follows a special rule: the diet should look like a whole animal. This usually means a certain percentage of muscle meat, a certain percentage of raw bones, and a certain percentage of organs. Think of it like a puzzle where each piece is important for your dog’s health!

This way of eating aims to give dogs all the natural nutrients they need without anything extra. It’s often chosen by people who believe it’s the most natural way to feed a dog, helping them stay strong and healthy, just like their ancestors.

Why Do Some People Choose Raw Food for Their Puppies and Dogs?

Many grown-ups who feed their dogs a Prey Model diet say they see amazing changes! Here are some things they often notice:

• Shiny, Healthy Coats: Their dog’s fur often looks super soft and shiny, almost like they’ve been to a doggy salon!
• Cleaner Teeth: Chewing on raw bones can be like a natural toothbrush, helping to keep their teeth sparkling clean and strong. This means fewer trips to the doggy dentist for cleaning!
• More Energy and Playfulness: Dogs often seem to have more pep in their step, playing more and feeling more lively. This is great for active breeds like Beagles or even energetic small breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
• Smaller, Firmer Poops: This might sound a little funny, but it’s a big deal! It means their bodies are using almost all the food, so there’s less waste.
• Better Digestion: Some people find their dogs have fewer tummy troubles when eating raw.
• Stronger Muscles: Good nutrition helps build strong, healthy muscles, which is especially important for growing all breeds of puppies.
• Closer to Nature: It feels good to feed your dog food that is natural and pure, just like nature intended for them.

Imagine your little Corgi puppy or a playful French Bulldog puppy feeling this good every day! It makes sense why many dog lovers are interested in this kind of diet.

What Goes Into a Prey Model Meal?

This isn’t about throwing your dog a steak every day! It’s about a careful balance of different parts of an animal. Here are the main things you’ll find in a Prey Model diet:

1. Muscle Meat (About 80%)

This is the biggest part of the diet. It’s the meaty bits you’d normally eat yourself, like chicken thighs, beef chunks, or lamb stew meat. It provides lots of protein, energy, and important fats. It’s the fuel that helps your dog run, jump, and play!

• Examples: Chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, duck, venison. Make sure it’s raw and plain, with no spices or sauces.
• You can find wonderful designer breed puppies and purebred puppies at Puppy Heaven, and providing them with quality nutrition like muscle meat is a great way to support their growth.

2. Raw Edible Bones (About 10%)

This is where it gets interesting! We’re talking about raw bones that are soft enough for a dog to crunch up and eat completely. These bones are super important because they provide calcium and phosphorus, which are like building blocks for strong bones in your dog’s body. They also help clean teeth!

• Important: NEVER feed cooked bones! Cooked bones become brittle and can splinter, which is very dangerous for dogs.
• Examples of safe raw edible bones: Chicken necks, chicken wings, duck necks, quail. For bigger dogs, turkey necks might work.
• Always supervise your dog when they’re eating bones to make sure they chew them properly and safely.

3. Organs (About 10% – 5% Liver, 5% Other Secreting Organs)

Okay, this might sound a little strange to us, but for dogs, organs are like super-powered vitamin pills! They are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that muscle meat and bones don’t have enough of. Liver is especially important, and then other organs like kidney, spleen, pancreas, or even brain.

• Liver: This is a must-have! It’s full of Vitamin A and many other good things.
• Other Secreting Organs: Kidney, spleen, pancreas. These are like tiny treasure chests of nutrition.
• Examples: Chicken liver, beef kidney, lamb spleen.
• It’s important not to feed too much organ meat, especially liver, because it’s so rich in vitamins. A small amount goes a long way!

What’s NOT usually in a strict Prey Model diet? Fruits, vegetables, grains (like rice or corn), dairy, or supplements that aren’t specifically for a raw diet. The idea is that the whole animal provides everything your dog needs.

Important Safety Tips for Raw Feeding

Feeding raw means handling raw meat, so it’s super important to be careful and clean, just like when your grown-up cooks chicken for dinner. Here are some key safety tips:

• Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling raw meat, just like you would before eating!
• Clean Bowls and Surfaces: Make sure your dog’s food bowl is cleaned after every meal. Use hot, soapy water to wash any surfaces, cutting boards, or utensils that touched the raw meat.
• Keep Meat Cold: Store raw meat in the freezer or refrigerator, away from your own food. Thaw it safely in the fridge, not on the counter.
• Safe Sourcing: Get your meat from trusted places, like a good butcher or pet supply stores that sell raw pet food.
• NEVER Feed Cooked Bones: We said it before, but it’s worth saying again! Cooked bones are brittle and dangerous.
• Supervise Your Dog: Especially when they are eating bones, always watch your dog to make sure they chew safely and don’t try to swallow big pieces whole.
• Balance Over Time: It’s okay if one meal isn’t perfectly balanced, but over a week or two, your dog should get all the right amounts of meat, bone, and organs.
• Talk to a Professional: Before starting any new diet, especially a raw one, it’s a really good idea to talk to a veterinarian or a pet nutritionist who knows a lot about raw feeding. They can help you make a plan that’s just right for your unique teacup or toy puppy or any puppy breed you choose.

How Much to Feed Your Puppy or Dog?

The amount of food your dog needs depends on many things: how old they are, how big they are, how much they play, and if they’re growing. Puppies need more food for their size than adult dogs because they are growing so fast!

A common starting point for adults is to feed about 2-3% of their ideal body weight each day. For example, if your adult dog weighs 20 pounds, you might feed them about 0.4 to 0.6 pounds (which is roughly 6.4 to 9.6 ounces) of food per day. But this is just a starting point, and you’ll adjust based on how your dog looks and feels.

Puppies need much more! Because they are growing rapidly, puppies might need to eat about 2-3% of their *expected* adult weight, or even 5-10% of their *current* body weight, split into a few smaller meals throughout the day. It’s crucial for puppies to get enough calories and nutrients for proper development. For breeds like Teacup Toy Chihuahuas, who are very small, even a tiny bit more food makes a big difference.

Always watch your puppy’s body shape. If they look too skinny, feed a little more. If they start looking a bit chubby, feed a little less. Just like humans, every dog is different!

A Sample Prey Model Meal Plan for a Week

Here’s an example of what a week of Prey Model meals might look like. Remember, this is just an example! You’d adjust the amounts based on your dog’s specific needs, size, and energy level. It’s also important to use different types of animals over time for a variety of nutrients.

As you can see, the liver is included almost every day because it’s so important! The other organs rotate to provide a wide range of vitamins and minerals. And switching up the main protein (chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, duck, pork) helps ensure a balanced intake of nutrients over time. For more general puppy care tips, visit Puppy Heaven.

Puppies and the Prey Model Diet

Can little puppies eat a raw Prey Model diet? Yes, many people successfully raise happy, healthy puppies on raw food! In fact, some believe it gives puppies a fantastic start in life. Puppies need a lot of energy and good nutrition to grow their bones, muscles, and brains. A carefully balanced raw diet can provide all of that.

If you’re considering a raw diet for a young puppy, it’s even more important to work with an expert. They can help you make sure your tiny Teacup or Toy puppy, or your growing Corgi, gets exactly what they need. You might start with very finely ground meat and bone for very young puppies, gradually moving to bigger chunks as they grow teeth and get bigger.

Finding the perfect puppy is an exciting journey, and Puppy Heaven offers many Havapoo puppies for sale, Havanese puppies, Cockapoo puppies, and many more. No matter what breed you choose, providing them with the right diet is key to their long-term health and happiness. You can see all our available puppies here, including those coming soon!

Things to Remember Before Starting a Raw Diet

Switching to a raw diet is a big decision, and it’s not something to jump into without thought. Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

• It’s a Commitment: Raw feeding takes time and planning. You’ll need to buy and store different kinds of meat and organs.
• Not Just Any Raw Meat: Remember the balance! It’s not just feeding your dog a bowl of ground beef. It needs the right amounts of muscle, bone, and organs.
• Hygiene is Key: Being super clean with raw meat is important for both your family and your puppy.
• Listen to Your Dog: Every dog is unique. Pay attention to how your dog looks, acts, and digests the food.
• Professional Advice: Always, always, always talk to a trusted veterinarian or a raw feeding expert before you start. They can help you understand if it’s the right choice for your dog and how to do it safely and correctly.

For parents looking for healthy puppies, whether it’s a Mini Doodle or a Toy puppy, understanding their nutritional needs is a vital part of responsible pet ownership. At Puppy Heaven, we want to make sure every puppy goes to a home where they will be loved and cared for with the best possible attention to their health.

Bringing it Home: Healthy Puppies from Puppy Heaven

No matter what diet you choose for your furry family member, the most important thing is to give them a healthy, happy life. A good diet, plenty of exercise, lots of love, and regular visits to the vet are all important parts of caring for your puppy.

At Puppy Heaven, we are dedicated to providing healthy, happy puppies. We believe that a well-nourished puppy is a happy puppy, ready to bring joy and laughter into your home. Whether you are interested in a tiny Teacup puppy, a playful Standard puppy, or one of our charming Toy Doodles, we are here to help you find the perfect match.

Exploring options like the Prey Model raw diet is a way to ensure your puppy gets the very best. It’s about providing food that helps them thrive, giving them the energy to play fetch, learn new tricks, and snuggle up with you on the couch. A healthy diet contributes to a happy puppy, and a happy puppy makes for a happy family!

Thank you for learning about the Prey Model raw diet. We hope this information helps you make informed choices for your beloved companion. You can explore all the adorable puppies we have available for sale or browse specific breeds like our sweet Bichon Frise puppies, intelligent Boston Terrier puppies, charming Cavachon puppies, delightful Cavapoo puppies, and many more, all waiting for their forever homes at Puppy Heaven!