Hi all,

In doing my research into Raw diets, I am pretty well convinced that the Prey Model Raw diet is what I will end up feeding, but...

One thing that I found interesting in my research is that a particular vet says that grains or vege material should be part of the diet. His reasoning is that animals like wolves will eat the stomach and entrails first with their content of digested and partly digested plant material. So strictly meat, bones and organs does not truly replicate what would have been eaten in the wild???

Any thoughts on this?

You dont need it, but its okay to feed it. IMO, processed veggies and grains (and meat) are very different than freshly prepared ingredients. 

For example, and this is going to sound weird, my female will swell up, vomit and go nuts if she has cooked or kibbled chicken. BUT, if she eat raw, organic chicken, she is fine. We discovered this by chance when I accidentally dropped some of the floor while preparing it for myself.  

I give mine veggies, but I steam and puree them into a much, mainly because they like them. I give carrots whole and cucumbers cut up.

I see no reason to add grains, as they don't really provide much nutrition for the dog. If you are feeding an adequate amount of meat you will be fine.

Thanks for your response Megan. 

I believe that dogs get very little nutrition from grains and vege, unless they are steamed and pureed as you do. I would imagine that these partly digested non meat foods in the prey's stomach would be similar in that they can be used as nutrition and part of a normal carnivore's diet. 

I find this subject fascinating and possibly differs from the ardent Prey Model Raw Diet.

I know a woman who occasionally gives her pack whole carcasses and they don't eat the entrails, never have. I don't see a point in adding vege or grain, so long as the diet is balanced.

I refuse to feed entrails - todays animals can eat all kinds of horrible things.

It is very interesting indeed.

Normally in the wild, carnivores will choose the richest part of the prey (usually the guts and organs) as first choice and the Alpha gets first pick of these. 

Bears in Kamchatka for instance, will often eat berries when other foods are scarce, then moving onto flesh and finally onto just the brains and guts of fish and also cracking mussels out of the shells for increased calories per volume. 

I certainly don't have the answers to the specifics of PMRD, but I am very interested in the science and theory:)

This is actually something that is heavily debated which I am sure you must have found in your research. There is plenty of evidence showing that dogs actually do not eat the stomach or it's contents, yet you will also find evidence of dogs who do. I personally side with the camp that believes dogs do not eat the stomach contents, I feel there is much more evidence supporting this than the other side of the argument. With that said, PMR diets do not require the addition of veggies or grains but in most cases I'm sure their inclusion will be of no detriment to the dog. But I consider it useless  to the dog nutrition-wise so why bother unless the dog has a weight issue and you want it to feel fuller on less useable filler. Now in a BARF diet a veggie paste is essential, but between the two I consider the PMR diet more biologically appropriate.

Thanks Val,

I didn't really want to go BARF, and what you say makes sense. I will keep the odd bit of rabbit food for a snack treat  rather than part of the diet.