Raw Feeding
Feeding Fresh & Raw
Feeding your dog or cat fresh, unprocessed foods is a simple way to boost their health, vitality, and overall well-being. Pets are meant to thrive on real ingredients — not foods full of fillers, heat-processed kibble, or artificial ingredients. Fresh foods, including meats, bones, and organs, along with some fruit and veggies, provide natural nutrients in their most easily digestible form, supporting strong muscles, better digestion, healthier skin and coat, and long-term wellness.
A diet based on fresh or raw ingredients emphasises whole foods that closely mimic what dogs and cats would naturally eat. Whether you follow a balanced BARF approach, a straightforward Prey Model diet, or include raw meaty bones for dental health and enrichment, the aim remains the same: to nourish your dog with real food that supports their body the way nature intended.
Below, you’ll find some basic information on raw feeding and tips for providing a species-appropriate diet for both dogs and cats.
The Benefits of Raw Feeding
- Healthier skin & shinier coats – Fresh ingredients and natural oils support soft, glossy coats.
- Cleaner teeth & fresher breath – Raw bones help reduce plaque and keep teeth strong.
- More energy – Real, unprocessed proteins boost vitality.
- Easier digestion – Fresh foods are gentle on the tummy and easy to absorb.
- Fewer sensitivities – Simple ingredients lower the risk of reactions.
- Stronger immune health – Natural nutrients support overall well-being.
- Smaller, firmer stools – Many pets produce less odorous, more manageable stools.
- Healthy weight – Raw feeding helps maintain lean muscle and a balanced body condition.
- Better joint comfort – Collagen and healthy fats support mobility.
- Mental enrichment – Chewing raw bones satisfies instinct and reduces stress.
Feeding Bones
Raw meaty bones are a valuable part of a balanced raw diet for both dogs and cats. They help keep teeth clean, gums healthy, and supply essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and overall well-being. Chewing also provides mental stimulation, eases stress and satisfies the natural urge to chew (or gnaw) — helping to reduce boredom and unwanted behaviour.
Bone Feeding Guidelines:
- Never feed cooked bones — they can splinter and cause serious injury or blockages.
- Choose the right size and type — match bones to your pet’s size, breed, and chewing style.
- Always supervise — watch your pet while they’re chewing to ensure safety.
- Meaty bones (soft, edible, with meat attached) are safe to consume and form part of their diet.
- Recreational bones (large, hard, weight-bearing bones) are not meant to be eaten — they’re best for enrichment and dental cleaning but can break teeth if chewed too aggressively.
Raw Feeding for Dogs
Raw feeding is about going back to basics, fresh, unprocessed foods without grains, fillers, chemicals, or preservatives. It’s a simple, natural way to give your dog the nutrition they were designed to thrive on.
There are two main approaches:
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food): A balanced mix of meat, bones, organs, and small amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Prey Model (PMR): a diet focusing on Meat, Bone, and Organs — mimicking what a dog would have eaten in the wild, using only animal parts without plant matter such as fruit or vegetables.
Both methods aim to give your dog wholesome, fresh, whole foods that are biologically suitable and support good health, vitality, and longevity.
The BARF Diet for Dogs
(Biologically Appropriate Raw Food)
A balanced BARF diet mimics what your dog or cat would naturally eat in the wild — a nourishing mix of muscle meat, bones, organs, and a small amount of plant matter. By choosing BARF, you’re feeding your pet fresh, wholesome ingredients that align closely with their ancestral diet.
This natural approach supports improved dental health, better digestion, more energy, and overall vitality. With the right balance of nutrients, BARF delivers everything your pet needs in its most natural form.
Typical Ratios for a Balanced BARF Diet
For Dogs (by weight)
70% Muscle Meat – Lean cuts, heart, tongue, gizzards
10% Raw Meaty Bones – Chicken wings, necks, lamb ribs (edible bones only)
10% Organ Meat – 50% liver, 50% other organs
10% Fruits & Vegetables – Lightly pulped or blended for easier digestion
Why Choose the BARF Diet?
BARF isn’t just about raw food — it’s about returning to a diet nature intended: fresh, unprocessed, and nutrient-rich.
Benefits include:
Mimics the ancestral diet – Provides the food dogs and cats are biologically designed to eat
Gentle on digestion – No fillers, preservatives, or heavy grains
Healthy skin & coat – Natural fats and amino acids promote a glossy, itch-free coat
Dental health – Chewing bones helps keep teeth clean and gums strong
Increased vitality – High-quality protein builds lean muscle and fuels activity
Reduced allergies & sensitivities – Simple, natural ingredients minimise reactions
In short: BARF delivers the nutrition your pet needs in the form they instinctively crave — fresh, raw, and real.
The Prey Diet for Dogs
The Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet is a natural way to feed dogs, based on what wild dogs and wolves eat. This diet does not include processed foods or plants. Instead, it uses meat, bone and organs from animals as the main food source.
A simple PMR mix is made up of:
80% muscle meat – This includes regular meat, fat for energy, and provides protein, amino acids, and important vitamins.
10% raw edible bone – Soft, raw bones give dogs calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients. The amount may need to be adjusted depending on your dog’s needs, but 10% is a good starting point.
5% liver – Liver is important for vitamin A and other vitamins. If your dog is sensitive to organs, you can try feeding as little as 2% liver and still provide vitamin A support.
5% other organs – a mix of other Organs, like the kidney, lung, heart or spleen, provides a great mix of minerals and vitamins. You can feed a bit more or less to suit your dog’s nutritional needs.
PMR diets usually don’t include fibre, but adding 2-3% of animal-based fibre (like fur or feathers from rabbit feet, kangaroo ears, or poultry heads) can aid with digestion and colon health. Make sure to count the meat and bone that come with these furry ingredients.
Extra Feeding Tips
Variety is key – Rotate proteins (Kangaroo, chicken, beef, lamb, fish, etc.) to cover all nutrients.
No cooked bones – They can splinter and cause injury.
Boost nutrition – Add omega-3s (fish oil) and probiotics for extra support.
Transition slowly – Introduce new foods over 7–12 days to avoid digestive upset.
Raw Feeding for Cats
A raw food diet for cats is made up of fresh, uncooked ingredients that closely resemble what felines would naturally eat in the wild. As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on animal-based proteins and fats, with the right balance of muscle meat, organs, and edible bone.
The goal is to provide a species-appropriate diet that supports healthy digestion, strong muscles, and overall vitality — without the fillers, additives, or heavy processing found in many commercial cat foods.
Raw Feeding Options for Cats
Cat owners generally follow one of two main raw feeding styles: BARF or Prey Model Raw (PMR). Both aim to give cats a diet closer to what they’d naturally eat in the wild — just prepared in a safe, convenient way at home.
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food)
The BARF approach includes raw meat, bones, and organs, along with small amounts of fruits, vegetables, and supplements.
It’s designed to mimic a natural diet while also adding plant-based nutrients and extra support where needed.
Typical BARF ingredients for cats:
- Muscle meat – Kangaroo, chicken, turkey, rabbit, beef, etc.
- Organs – liver, kidney, heart for essential vitamins and minerals
- Raw edible bones – whole or ground, for calcium and phosphorus
- Extras – eggs, fish oil, and small portions of safe vegetables or herbs
Prey Model Raw (PMR)
The Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet offers a natural way to feed cats by mimicking what wild felines eat. This diet avoids processed foods and plants, relying instead on meat, bones, and organs from animals as the primary food source.
The common ratio for cats is:
- 80% Muscle meat
- 10% Raw edible bone
- 5% Liver
- 5% Other organs
This approach relies on variety over time to cover all nutritional needs, using different animal proteins like Kangaroo, chicken, goat, beef, lamb, and turkey.
Which is best?
The choice often comes down to personal preference, your cat’s tolerance, and the availability of ingredients. Whichever you choose, always use fresh, quality ingredients and ensure correct ratios to allow for balance, and transition new proteins and ingredients gradually.
Product Disclaimer – Pet Food Products
Southern Raw Pet Meats provides raw pet foods & dehydrated pet treats intended for animal consumption only. Our raw products are made from fresh, natural ingredients; However, like all raw animal products, you must handle them safely and follow proper food handling practices.
Handling & Storage:
- Always keep raw pet food frozen or refrigerated as directed.
- Thaw in the refrigerator and use within the recommended time frame.
- Wash hands, utensils, and food preparation surfaces thoroughly after handling.
For further storage recommendations, see the ‘’Storage & Shelf Life’’ notes.
Feeding Guidance:
Our foods are formulated as a complementary product to support a balanced raw feeding approach. Individual pets have unique dietary needs. Factors such as age, weight, breed, activity level, and health conditions can greatly affect their nutritional requirements.
Always introduce new foods gradually and watch how your pet responds.
The information and guidance on this website are based on personal experience, research, and education. It is for general advice only and should never replace professional veterinary care.
Feeding ratios and portion sizes are broad recommendations, not customised formulas. Information regarding feeding styles and portion sizes is intended as suggestions and a guide and is not tailored to the specific needs of any individual pet. While we aim to ensure accuracy, we are not veterinarians or certified animal nutritionists.
For personalised advice, or if your pet has special dietary or health needs, please consult a qualified veterinarian or animal nutritionist before making any significant changes to their diet.
Important:
Southern Raw Pet Meats does not provide medical advice or claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition for pets. Feeding a raw pet food diet is a person’s choice made at the owner’s discretion and responsibility.
By choosing to feed our products, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with handling and feeding our pet food products.