A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing the best food for our furry friends is super important, and the cost definitely plays a big part in that decision. Dry kibble has been a go-to for a long time because it’s easy on the wallet, but more and more pet parents are exploring raw food diets, especially with all the amazing health benefits they can offer. So, let’s dive into the costs of both, shall we?
Core Principles of PMR
- Mimicking Wild Diets: PMR aims to replicate the diet of a pet's wild ancestors by feeding whole prey or approximating the natural proportions of meat, bone, and organs.
- Whole Prey or Franken-Prey: While feeding whole prey is the ideal, PMR can also be practiced by using appropriately proportioned raw ingredients, often called "Franken-Prey".
- Focus on Meat, Bones, and Organs: PMR prioritizes these three components, which are considered the most crucial for carnivores.
- Diversity is Key: Rotating different types of meat, bones, and organs is recommended to provide a wide range of nutrients.
- No Vegetables or Fruit: Unlike some other raw feeding approaches, PMR does not include vegetables or fruit as they are not typically found in the stomach contents of prey animals.
Ratios and Percentages
The basic PMR ratio is 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bones, and 10% secreting organs, with half of the organ portion being liver.
Benefits of PMR
- Alignment with Natural Diet: PMR is designed to be close to what a pet would eat in the wild, potentially leading to improved digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Improved Dental Health: Raw meaty bones help to clean teeth and gums.
- Shiny Coat and Overall Vitality: Some pet owners report improvements in coat health and general well-being.
- Potential for Behavioral Satisfaction: The act of chewing on raw bones can be mentally stimulating for pets.