Essential Components and Nutritional Considerations in Raw Canine Diets
As awareness of species-appropriate feeding grows among canine guardians and health professionals, many individuals new to raw feeding seek clarity around one foundational question: What does a raw diet actually consist of? While responses vary depending on philosophy, region, and formulation methodology, nutritionally sound raw diets are grounded in anatomical, physiological, and evolutionary principles.
This article provides an overview of the primary constituents of a biologically appropriate raw diet for dogs, with the “ratio diet” formula as a basis. The ratio diet is based on current knowledge in comparative nutrition, evolutionary biology, and species appropriate nutrition.
1. Skeletal Muscle Tissue (Boneless Meat)
Skeletal muscle tissue represents the primary source of protein and fat in a raw diet and should form a substantial proportion of the caloric intake. Though commonly referred to as “muscle meat,” this category encompasses more than lean, boneless cuts. It also includes:
Trim cuts containing connective tissue and intermuscular fat
Adipose tissue, which contributes to energy density and palatability
Muscular organs such as:
Heart (a rich source of taurine and coenzyme Q10)
Tongue and lung (high in iron and B-complex vitamins)
Gizzards (muscular digestive organs in poultry)
Green tripe (unprocessed ruminant stomach, containing digestive enzymes and probiotic organisms)
These tissues contribute essential amino acids, lipids, and micronutrients including iron, zinc, and B-vitamins. Importantly, they also provide mechanical and biochemical substrates that support normal digestive function and metabolic integrity.
2. Edible Raw Bone or Calcium-Based Alternatives
In the wild, canids consume the entire carcass of prey animals, including bones. In the domestic context, raw edible bones serve as a primary source of:
Calcium and phosphorus (in approximately a 2:1 ratio)
Magnesium, zinc, manganese, and trace minerals
Collagen and marrow lipids
Only raw, non-weight-bearing bones from small prey animals (e.g., poultry, rabbit) are considered appropriate for regular consumption. Bones from large animals may pose risks due to density and fracture potential.
For animals unable to tolerate whole bones, nutritionally equivalent alternatives must be provided. These include:
Grass-fed bone meal
Finely ground eggshell (requires balanced phosphorus)
Calcium citrate or carbonate, used under veterinary or nutritional guidance
Maintaining an appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio—generally between 1:1 and 2:1—is critical for skeletal development, neuromuscular function, and long-term metabolic health. When adding bones to a ratio diet, the bone content (excluding the meat, skin or fur) is approximately 10% of the meal for adult dogs.
3. Secreting Organs (Viscera)
Secreting organs are indispensable in raw feeding due to their unique and highly concentrated nutrient profiles. They provide compounds often absent or insufficient in muscle tissue, including:
Preformed vitamin A (retinol)
Copper, zinc, iron, and selenium
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins D and K
Enzymes and co-factors essential for cellular function
The liver is typically the most nutrient-dense organ and should make up approximately 5% of the total diet. A second secreting organ (e.g., kidney, spleen, pancreas) should also comprise ~5%, though this can be adjusted based on specific nutritional goals or life stage requirements.
Regular rotation and appropriate portioning of organ meats are essential to avoid excesses (e.g., hypervitaminosis A) and to help meet NRC-referenced micronutrient needs.
4. Non-Digestible Matter (Fur, Feathers, or Plant Material)
In wild feeding behaviours, canids consume entire prey animals, including skin, hair, feathers, and viscera. These components act as a source of:
Insoluble fibre, supporting gastrointestinal transit
Chitin and keratin, which may modulate immune function and microbial populations
Prebiotic substrates for hindgut fermentation
In domesticated raw diets, roughage can be provided via:
Fur-on prey parts (e.g., rabbit ears, feathered poultry heads)
Plant-based alternatives, including puréed or lightly steamed vegetables (e.g., leafy greens, pumpkin, carrots), soluble and insoluble fibres (psyllium, flaxseed, chicory, yucca, slippery elm)
Although the inclusion of plant matter is not inherently “natural” in the evolutionary sense, it can provide antioxidant compounds, fermentable fibre, and micronutrient diversity when thoughtfully applied.
5. Nutritional Supplementation
Even thoughtfully constructed raw diets may fall short of meeting all essential nutrient targets, particularly when compared to the detailed recommendations outlined in standards such as the NRC (2006), AAFCO, or FEDIAF. This shortfall is not due to a flaw in the raw feeding philosophy itself, but rather reflects the practical limitations of modern food sourcing, as well as the challenges of replicating whole-prey nutrient distribution with butchered and commercially available cuts.
Several critical nutrients are commonly deficient or marginal in raw diets, particularly when variety is limited, the diet lacks fish or lean red meats, incorrect or insufficient organs are fed, puppies are being fed, a diet is restricted due to food intolerance or when whole prey is not being fed regularly. These include:
Vitamin E – This fat-soluble antioxidant is required to protect polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) from peroxidation within the body. Raw-fed dogs often consume higher levels of omega-3 fats (e.g., from oily fish), increasing the need for vitamin E. However, vitamin E is easily degraded in storage and is present only in low quantities in raw animal products, especially those from grain-free, pasture-raised, or wild sources.
Vitamin D – Unlike humans, dogs cannot synthesize sufficient vitamin D3 through skin exposure to sunlight. In nature, canids acquire vitamin D primarily from consuming the livers and fatty tissues of prey species. However, domestic raw diets often underrepresent these organs, or the prey animals themselves may have low vitamin D content due to confinement or grain-based feeding.
Iodine – A critical element for thyroid hormone synthesis, iodine is abundant in the thyroid glands of prey species and in marine foods. Because commercial raw feeders rarely include whole heads or thyroid tissue (due to safety concerns), and because inland-raised prey animals are often iodine deficient, raw diets commonly require the addition of iodine from carefully dosed kelp or iodine salts to meet safe and adequate intake levels.
Zinc, Copper, and Manganese – These trace minerals are involved in enzymatic activity, antioxidant defence, connective tissue formation, and immune regulation. In wild prey, they are present in bones, organ tissues (especially liver), fur, and connective tissues. In modern raw diets, these parts are often limited, selectively trimmed, or absent altogether. Additionally, nutrient competition (e.g., excess calcium impeding zinc absorption) can create functional deficiencies even when these minerals are present in modest amounts.
EPA and DHA (Omega-3 Fatty Acids) – While wild prey contains a balanced fatty acid profile, modern meat (especially from grain-fed livestock) is often low in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in domestic raw diets can become disproportionately high without the deliberate inclusion of oily fish or marine oils, increasing the need for supplemental EPA and DHA.
In sum, nutritional gaps in raw diets are largely the result of sourcing limitations, selective butchering, and altered nutrient profiles in modern farmed animals, rather than raw feeding itself being inherently inadequate. Appropriate supplementation allows raw diets to meet the complete nutritional needs of dogs—especially during growth, reproduction, and periods of metabolic stress—without compromising the benefits of fresh, species-appropriate food.
Conclusion
A nutritionally sound raw canine diet is a multi-component system, not merely the provision of raw meat and bones. It must be designed to reflect the physiological demands of the species while accounting for the realities of domestication, modern food availability, and individual health considerations.
When formulated appropriately, raw diets can provide superior nutrient bioavailability, reduced dietary toxins, and support for immune, skeletal, digestive, and cognitive health. However, this approach requires careful attention to nutrient balance, diversity of ingredients, and evidence-based supplementation. A ratio diet is often the first place pet guardians start when it comes to feeding their dog a home made raw diet. From this foundation, a diet built to align with NRC and FEDIAF nutritional guidelines can be made.