The 80/10/10 raw food model (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% secreting organs) is one of the most popular starting points for raw feeders. It mimics the composition of a whole prey animal, and while it's a fantastic foundation, it's not a complete diet. When I first learned that an 80/10/10 diet wasn't balanced, it made sense because most people appeared to be feeding a modified whole prey diet, referred to as FrankenPrey. By focusing on the 80/10/10, we were forgetting that the diet we were feeding lacked key components of prey animals: brains, eyeballs, guts, and fur. By excluding these from a raw diet, we were creating deficiencies.
Let’s dive into why—and more importantly, how to fix it using real, whole foods.
Why 80/10/10 Falls Short
The 80/10/10 model is rumored to have been developed during a conversation discussing the make-up of a prey animal. As a result, this model oversimplifies a complex nutritional picture and may not have been intended to be followed as religiously as it is today. Wild predators consume a diverse array of whole animals, including fur, feathers, blood, glands, brains, eyes, and stomach contents—none of which are typically included in a home-prepared 80/10/10 diet. As a result, several key nutrients are missing or deficient.
Nutrients Found in Prey Animal "Extras"
The following are animal parts that raw feeders may struggle to source or feed (due to the ick factor), along with the nutritional benefits for dogs.
Prey Part | Major Nutrients | Major Health Contributions |
|---|---|---|
Eyeballs | Vitamin A, DHA, Zinc, Taurine, Collagen | Vision, brain health, skin/joint health |
Brains | DHA, B12, Phosphatidylcholine, Selenium | Brain function, nerve support, hormone balance |
Guts | Manganese, Vitamin K2, enzymes, B vitamins | Digestion, joint health, immune function |
Fur | Insoluble fiber, keratin, trace minerals | Gut cleansing, detoxification, connective tissue support, hair/skin health |
Feathers | Insoluble fiber, keratin, sulfur-containing amino acids (like cysteine and methionine) | Gut cleansing, detoxification, hair/skin health |
Common Nutrient Deficiencies in 80/10/10 Diets (and How to Fix Them)
Nutrient | Why It’s Lacking | Whole Food Fixes | Potential Health Issues |
|---|
Vitamin E | Lacking in most raw meats | Salmon, sardines, pasture-raised eggs, raw sunflower seeds, almonds (sparingly) | Muscle weakness, vision impairment, poor reproductive health |
Manganese | Low in muscle meats and most organs | Mussels, green tripe, spinach, pumpkin seeds | Joint degeneration, poor ligament and tendon health |
Iodine | Not present in land-based meats | Kelp (small amounts) | Hypothyroidism, lethargy, poor coat quality |
Zinc | Often low unless variety of organs is fed | Oysters, beef liver, pumpkin seeds, duck | Poor wound healing, skin issues, dull coat |
Vitamin D | Bone deformities, muscle weakness, and immune dysfunction | Pasture-raised eggs, oily fish (sardines, mackerel), cod liver oil | Bone deformities, muscle weakness, immune dysfunction |
Vitamin A | Only present in sufficient amounts in liver | Beef liver (1-2x/week), cod liver oil (small doses) | Eye problems, poor immunity, skin issues |
Copper | Often missing unless feeding specific organs like liver | Beef liver, oysters, sunflower seeds | Anemia, bone abnormalities, neurological issues |
Choline | Low in raw meat unless brain and eggs are included | Pasture-raised eggs, organ meats, sardines | Fatty liver, neurological disorders |
Selenium | Inconsistent in meats; soil-dependent | Brazil nuts (tiny amounts), sardines, eggs | Muscle weakness, immune issues |
Folate (B9) | Lacking unless leafy greens or tripe are added | Spinach, beef liver, green tripe | Anemia, birth defects, poor cell regeneration |
Magnesium | Often low in meaty diets | Pumpkin seeds, spinach, mackerel | Muscle tremors, heart irregularities, weakness |
Bonus: Other Often-Missing Elements
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA & DHA): Rare unless feeding oily fish: add sardines, mackerel, or fish oil
Fiber: Not technically a “deficiency,” but raw diets often lack it: add ground flaxseed, chia seeds, or steamed/fermented veggies
Phytochemicals & Antioxidants: Absent in meat-only diets: add berries, spinach, broccoli, turmeric, or other fresh herbs
What Health Issues Can Result?
If not corrected, an 80/10/10 diet can eventually cause chronic issues such as:
Dull coat, itchy skin, frequent infections: zinc, EFA, or vitamin E deficiency
Poor vision or night blindness: vitamin A or E deficiency
Low energy, anemia, muscle wasting: vitamin B12, copper, or iron deficiency
Joint instability or early arthritis: manganese or zinc deficiency
Poor immune response: selenium, zinc, and vitamin D deficiency
Thyroid dysfunction: iodine deficiency
Fatty liver disease: choline deficiency
How to Improve an 80/10/10 Diet with Whole Foods
When the topic of balance and ratio diets is broached, there will always be people who can point to dogs that have thrived on an 80/10/10 diet. I'm unable to explain why this is the case. Based on my research and courses, changing the proteins regularly is not enough to cover every deficiency in a ratio diet. The more I learned about canine nutrition, the more cautious I became about my dogs' diet.
And as much as I believe that "balance" varies depending on the dog, I also think it's essential to do my best for my dogs today to avoid potential health issues down the line. I don't plan to discard the 80/10/10 model; instead, I've refined the diet by adding additional foods to the mix. Of course, the amount and frequency depend on the dog and the meal.
Raw eggs– for choline, selenium, and vitamin D
Oily fish – sardines, mackerel, or smelt for omega-3s and vitamin D
Green tripe – for manganese, enzymes, and probiotics
Beef liver – vitamin A, copper, folate
Kelp or seaweed (tiny daily pinch) – natural iodine source
Pumpkin or chia seeds – for magnesium, fiber, and zinc
Leafy greens & cruciferous veggies (pureed or blanched) – antioxidants, folate, fiber
Berries (blueberries, raspberries) – rich in antioxidants
How I Corrected the 80/10/10 Model
The 80/10/10 diet is a great starting point, but dogs need more than muscle meat, bone, and liver to thrive. Without strategic additions, your dog may develop nutrient gaps that could lead to long-term health consequences. This information is not intended to deter people from raw feeding or to complicate the process.
By thoughtfully incorporating a wider range of whole, species-appropriate foods, you can build a more complete and biologically balanced raw diet, without relying on synthetic supplements. I do this by using a base mix. Because I'm adding a base mix to an 80/10/10 blend, I don't follow the instructions on the bag; instead, I use less of the base mix and add other whole foods, such as canned boiled oysters, chia or hemp seeds, and other foods, depending on the recipe.
The more I delved into the topic of canine nutrition, the more I became convinced that homemade raw diets often overlook several essential nutritional components, unless you're feeding whole prey (such as whole rabbits, quail, or fish). Without these nutrients:
Dogs may lack critical fatty acids, enzymes, and fibers.
Dogs may show gut health issues over time.
Joint, brain, skin, and immune health can gradually decline without these essential, yet often overlooked, components.
Using Animal Diet Formulator software and working with a professional canine nutritionist can help dog owners refine their recipes to ensure their nutritional requirements are being met. There are also affordable online courses that empower pet parents.