What does 80 10 10 mean dog food
Understanding 80-10-10 Raw Dog Food: A Comprehensive Guide
The 80-10-10 raw dog food diet is a popular choice for pet owners due to its numerous health benefits when balanced and implemented correctly. Its specific ratio of nutrients is designed to mimic a dogs natural ancestral diet, emulating the whole prey animal. Here we explain exactly what goes into the diet, and why it has become such a popular choice in recent years.
Arguably the most desirable reason to feed your dog this diet is the many nutritional benefits it offers for organs, muscles, digestion, dental, and the immune system. The avoidance of fillers and additives also makes it an excellent choice for pets, with the diet instead focused on high-quality unprocessed protein sources.
What is 80-10-10 raw dog food? What are the nutritional benefits?
80-10-10 raw dog food refers to the specific feeding ratio, which is designed of three primary components: 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organs. It has no grains, fillers or vegetables.
Each of the three ratios is important in giving dogs a natural, well-rounded, and tasty diet. The ratios are loosely based on the amount your pet may instinctively hunt and eat if they were in the wild. Use our raw food calculator to help with the amount of food your dog needs.
Muscle Meat
The main bulk of this diet is muscle meat. This typically includes a variety of animal protein such as heart, cheek, trachea, lung and breast that can be adjusted to preferences. Most owners use a combination of chicken, lamb, beef, fish or turkey protein.
Why is this important?
- Key protein source with a strong focus on meat of the highest quality, having a good unprocessed protein source supports with your dogs overall muscle development
- Increased energy many dogs will see an improvement in energy and stamina
- Amino acids muscle meat provides amino acids which help build and repair body tissue
Bone
Raw meaty bones such as wings, ribs, legs, necks, backs (usually chicken, duck or turkey) are another key ingredient of the 80-10-10 diet.
Why is this important?
- Healthy teeth and gums allowing your dog to safely chew on bones provides a natural way for them to clear tarte and reduce plaque build-up, leaving them with healthier teeth and gums.
- Calcium & phosphorus bones are an excellent source of calcium and phosphorous, which are an essential aspect of ensuring a healthy bone structure and your dog grows
- Supports digestion ground up bones support a dogs healthy digestion as well as regulating your pets stool consistency.
Secreting Organs
The last part of the diet includes secreting animal organs like liver, spleens, pancreas and kidneys.
Why is this important?
- Essential vitamins & minerals organs provide a huge range of essential vitamins and minerals for your dog. These include Vitamins A, B, D as well as copper and iron, which all aid many bodily functions, namely the immune system and blood health.
- Omega-3 and Enzymes Omega-3 fatty acids and Enzymes are important for keeping your pets skin healthy and coat shiny, as well as supporting their metabolic processes.
Raw Dog Food Supplies are passionate about offering the highest quality food to provide your dog with the best nutrition. Shop our range of trusted 80-10-10 complete food bundles here
Is the 80-10-10 diet suitable for every dog?
It is important to note that the 80-10-10 raw food diet provides a good general guideline for dogs, it may not suit all individual dogs requirements. It is important to consult your Vet to discuss factors that may influence how your dog might respond to a change in diet such as age, breed, health conditions and overall activity level.
The introduction of raw food is a worthwhile option to be considered for your dog, due to many health benefits explained above. It is a good idea to slowly introduce raw food to your pets diet and monitor the impact and any changes in physical health or behaviour.
Order our complete raw food
Raw Dog Food Supplies stock a wide range of raw food if you are looking to feed your dog an 80-10-10 diet. We use only fresh, premium ingredients, from locally sourced British meat that is frozen to maintain freshness.
We are pleased to deliver nationwide for our customers convenient, and our subscribe and save option also saves you 5% off the total cost. Choose your selected 12 pack of complete food here.
For further information and advice on how to begin your raw food journey, please get in touch with our helpful team today.
What is an 80:10:10 diet?
What is an 80:10:10 diet?
An 80:10:10 diet is a perfect raw diet that is broken down into 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% offal and 5% liver. This ensures your dog is getting all the nutrition required from their raw food.
Why do we feed in this ratio?
In the wild, dogs hunt down their own food sources and rely on their hunting skills to make sure they eat every day. The 80:10:10 diet represents the ratio of a prey animal if a dog were to eat the entire thing. Ideally, if they had just eaten their prey they would get the 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% offal and 5% liver, containing all the vitamins and minerals they need.
This way of eating is more natural for them; therefore, it is easy on the digestive system because this is the food they were built to consume.
At Dragonfly, we offer a range of complete raw food that contains the 80:10:10 ratio. OurManifold Valley Meats Meaty Dinneris a popular choice for a lot of customers because it contains the right ratio of contents whilst providing a simple and tasty way to feed their dog. We also offera range of Raw FoodVariety Boxes,which are the perfect option if you raw feed your dog or want to start. You can choose a variety of flavours for eitherand get a mixture of different meats (proteins), meaning they are suitable for every dog (even the fussy eaters).
Remember, if you decide you want to change your dogs diet to raw food, make sure you introduce new proteins slowly and look out for any changes in your dogs health (skin, weight, and activity level) to indicate that something maybe isnt working for them. If changes do start to be noticeable, then rethink what you have been feeding them and try something different. Remember what works for one dog might not work for another. We deal with raw feeders every day from beginners to experienced raw feeders and we are always available to answer your questions and help you on your way.
With Woofs and Wags,
Laura, Dolly & Reggie
Raw Feeding: How to Balance an 80:10:10
At My Pet Nutritionist we are all about feeding your dogs the freshest, most natural diets, whether thats raw feeding, or cooked food; this article explains how to balance a raw diet properly. We will also discuss the nutrients which are commonly lacking in a raw diet.
Feed a Variety of Proteins
Feeding a variety of proteins (meats) is a huge part of balancing your dogs raw diet. Of course, if your dog is suffering with allergies, and is either on an elimination diet, or limited to a few proteins, this is fine as its the best you can do! If your dog is not known to suffer with itchiness or allergies, then feeding as many proteins as possible in your dogs rotation, is very beneficial. This can be over the course of a week to a month.
Different proteins offer different nutrient profiles, which means feeding a variety gives a broader intake of micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Lets take a look at what some of the popular options provide!
- Chicken: provides high amounts of Vitamin B3 and B12, Selenium, Zinc, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Biotin.
- Turkey: rich in Vitamin B6 and B12, Choline, Selenium, Magnesium, and Phosphorus.
- Beef: great source of Iron, Vitamins B2, B3,B6 and B12, Magnesium, Calcium, Copper, and Zinc.
- Lamb: Source of Iron, Vitamins B3 and B12, Selenium, and Phosphorus.
- Duck: Great source of Iron, Selenium and Vitamins B3, B12 and C.
- Pork: High in various B Vitamins, Zinc, Iron and Phosphorus.
- Venison: provides Zinc, Phosphorus, Iron, Selenium, a variety of B Vitamins, as well as a small amount of Vitamin E.
- Rabbit: high in Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Magnesium.
- Goat: source of Calcium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Magnesium.
- Salmon: high in Vitamins A, B6, B12 and D, Iodine, Copper, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sodium.
There are other options also available, including a variety of other fish products. We will touch on some fish products in the next section!
Add in Some Omegas
Omegas are essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6 are the important ones! Omega 3 is anti-inflammatory, whereas omega 6 is inflammatory. Our pets meat based diets are naturally high in omega 6, so its important to get plenty of omega 3 into the diet!
Cell membranes are partly formed by omegas, and heart and brain health are largely down to omega content in the diet, as well as puppy development, joint and skin health, and weight management. Lets discuss the different types of omega!
Heres where the words get long thankfully we abbreviate them!
Omega-3 Fatty Acids CANNOT be produced by the body as they are polyunsaturated. There are three Omega-3 fats:
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): found in fatty fish and fish oils, as well as many algal oils. Helps reduce inflammation.
- Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA): found in flaxseed oil and chia seeds. For a non-plant based form, oysters can be added in. Aids heart and immune health.
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): found in fatty fish , fish oils and algae oils, and eggs. Aids brain health and development.
Omega-3 is ANTI-INFLAMMATORY.
Omega-6 Fatty Acids are polyunsaturated and also include three different acids the body can only produce 2 of these.
- Linolenic Acid (LA): found in sunflower oil and corn. Cannot be produced by the body.
- Gamma-linolenic Acid (GLA): found in Hempseed oil, borage oil, and Evening Primrose oil. This is the only Omega-6 which is not inflammatory its great for control of hormones.
- Arachidonic Acid (ARA): found in meat and poultry, particularly farmed.
Omega-6 is INFLAMMATORY (apart from GLA).
Sources of omega 3 include:
- Fatty fish: raw sprats, sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring and trout, tinned sardines or mackerel.
- Fish oils: Krill Oil, sardine oil, mackerel oil, herring oil.
- Raw eggs: (EPA and DHA)
- Green Lipped Mussels and Oil (EPA and DHA)
- Phytoplankton (EPA and DHA)
- Algae Oil (DHA HEAVY with a little EPA)
- Flaxseed Oil (ALA also contains LA, and conversion to EPA is poor, so perhaps not the best choice)
Its very important to ensure theres plenty of omega in the diet!
Findings HereFindings HereAdd in Some Plant Matter
Adding some plant matter to your dogs diet brings great benefits! Not only does plant matter provide fibre (which helps gut motility), polyphenols, phytonutrients and antioxidants are also introduced into the diet.
Polyphenolshelp regulate metabolism, help maintain a healthy weight, help regulate and reduce the risk of chronic disease, and also aids the replication of cells within the body. Keeping the body free from chronic disease, at a healthy weight, and with a good metabolic rate may aid longevity!
Findings HerePhytonutrientsare essential for immune system modulation which helps keep various diseases at bay. Phytonutrients are thought to help prevent chronic disease such as cancer and diabetes, as well as supporting joints, digestive health, circadian rhythms (sleep patterns), and brain development.
Findings HereFindings HereFindings HereAntioxidantsalso aid longevity by destroying free radicals in the body. Free radicals form during oxidisation, and are unstable atoms which damage cells in the body and lead to ageing. Destroying the free radicals slows the process of ageing due to lack of damage to the cells in the body.
Findings HereFruits and Vegetables are also full of vitamins and minerals so can really boost an 80:10:10 meal!
Some examples of suitable plant matter include:
- Kale
- Spring greens
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Courgette
- Green beans
- Strawberries
- Mango
- Pear
- Apple
Up to 10% of the weight of the portion of raw meat can be added! Its a good idea to lightly steam and/or blend vegetables before feeding, to make them more bioavailable, by breaking down the cellulose cell wall.
What is often Lacking from the Raw Diet?
When feeding a raw diet, while its the best, most natural diet available (though not all tolerate it thats what were here for!), there are 6 nutrients which are often lacking in most raw diets. Try to include a variety of these sources!
Zinc(essential for cell growth, DNA replication, tissue healing, and immune support) can be found most plentifully in pumpkin seeds, eggs, prawns (cooked), spinach, red meats, and hemp hearts and wheatgrass.
Copper(essential for immune support, nervous system health, red blood cell production, and formation of collagen for health skin and joints) can be found in offal, prawns (cooked), mussels (cooked), wheatgrass, seeds and nuts (avoiding peanuts and macadamia nuts) and mushrooms.
Magnesium(essential for nervous system health, protein synthesis, regulation of blood pressure, and control of blood glucose levels) is found in leafy green vegetables, pumpkin seeds, almonds, banana, avocado flesh, and fish.
Manganese(essential as part of the enzyme system which breaks down cholesterol, protein and carbohydrates. It also plays a huge role in immune and skeletal health, as well as blood clotting after trauma) can be sought in shellfish, wheatgrass, nuts (hazelnuts and pecans are great sources), and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin D(helps regulate the amount of phosphorus and calcium in the body, keeping bones and muscles healthy) can be found in egg yolk, oily fish, and liver.
Vitamin E(essential for immune support, as well as eye and skin health) is found in wheatgerm, wheatgrass, sunflower seeds, almonds, leafy green vegetables, pumpkin, red bell peppers, and avocado flesh.
We hope this blog has helped you understand how to properly balance an 80:10:10! Be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Raw Feeding, and of course, if you require tailored help for your pet, please dont hesitate to contact us, and book a consultation with one of our team.Team MPN x