Muscle Meat

Muscle meat should make up a total of 80% of your pets diet. This can be in the form of ground proteins or whole proteins. Muscle meat supplies protein and fat, which in turn supply energy for your pet. It also contains water, vitamins, minerals and all the essential amino acids necessary for dogs and cats of all ages, including growing, pregnant, lactating females, and of course active and not so active pets. Protein supplies amino acids, which help build hair, skin, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage and are a very important part of your pet's diet. It also plays a key role in producing hormones and enzymes that help to regulate daily basic functions. Muscle meat is low in sodium and high in potassium which is good news for pets with heart problems. Proteins with the highest potassium levels are pork while chicken has the lowest. That makes pork a great all around meat for pets with heart problems. Beef, lamb, chicken, and pork are all very low in calcium and moderately low in magnesium this means they are great for pets prone to bladder stones. The lack of minerals and calcium in muscle meat alone is why it is important to also feed bonea in your pet's diet.

Heart is considered a muscle and not an organ and is a very important part of your pet's diet. Beef heart contains selenium, phosphorus and zinc, along with essential amino acids that help build muscle, store energy and boost stamina and endurance. It also contains twice as much collagen and elastin than regular meat which is important for healthy joints. It is an excellent source of protein, B vitamins and iron. It contains some essential fatty acids and vitamin A. It contains a great level of taurine, which is a very important food for the heart and is also a VERY important part of a raw fed cat's diet.

Bones

Bones are living tissue composed of living cells because of this they are a complex source of a wide variety of nutrients. They contain minerals, which are embedded in protein, fat and fat soluble vitamins.  They are a great source of calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, zinc, and manganese. The central part of most bones contain marrow, which is a highly nutritious source of blood forming elements. They also provide natural antioxidants, including enzymes. Pets fed bone rarely suffer from indigestion or diarrhea. Bones play a similar role to fiber which helps remove toxins promoting bowel health. Pet's fed bones are long lived healthy animals that seem to be particularly free of degenerative diseases. Common bones can include chicken backs, chicken wings, turkey necks, pork necks, ox tails, lamb necks and beef necks just to name a few. If you are feeding meaty parts you can feed them alone, if your choices are bonier (such as chicken backs) then you will need to add meat or heart to correct the ratios. You are trying to replicate whole prey so look at what you're feeding and visualize the actual bone content, you are aiming for 10%. Never feed cooked bones of any type they become harder and very dangerous as they can splinter and pierce the stomach or intestines. Raw bones are soft enough to bend and digest easily. Dogs have highly acidic stomachs which are perfect for digesting raw bones. Avoid weight bearing bones like leg and knuckle bones of larger animals such as beef as well as vertebrae. These bones are dense and can fracture or break teeth. All bones should be supervised during feeding and remember NEVER cook bones.

Organs/Green Tripe

In the wild, wolves eat the stomach content and organs of the animals they prey upon. Internal organs form an important part of their diet. Modern domesticated dogs have similar requirements and these are often not met when fed a kibble based diet. Dogs consuming a raw based diet have superior health and although organs are important they are not required in large amounts and should not make up more than 10% of your dogs diet liver being about 3-5% of that ratio.

Liver is one product that has a vast range of importance. It is the most concentrated source of vitamin A and should be fed in very small amounts on a regular basis. Natural vitamin A works to aid digestion, keeps sex organs/reproductive organs healthy and is a powerful antioxidant. Liver is also a great source of folic acid, B vitamins, especially vitamin B12, which helps with fatigue, mental ability and nerve health as well as preventing anemia. Liver also contains one of the best, most usable sources of iron. Iron is necessary for many functions including the formation of hemoglobin, brain development and function, regulation of body temperature, muscle activity and metabolism. It also contains vitamins D,E and K is an excellent source of zinc, maganese, selenium and vitamin C. It provides a source of good quality protein and both essential fatty acids, omega 3 and 6. While liver is highly nutritious its precious nutrients are very much affected by heat so never cook it or the digestive enzymes and nutrients will be lost.

Tripe is the edible lining and accompanying contents of a cow or lamb's stomach. It must be unbleached and unprocessed. It contains a very diverse profile of living nutrients such as enzymes, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, probiotics and helps aid in digestion. It has a great calcium/phosphorus ratio. Green tripe is loaded with Lactobacillus Acidophilus which has been known to treat and prevent diarrhea and GI infections, aids digestion, treat chronic constipation, symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, enhance the immune system. Tripe has a distinct smell that we humans find almost unbearable, but with time you will see that the icky parts of tripe are far outweighed by the gloriously good health and vitality for your pet.