Species Appropriate Diet: Variety - The Spice of Life
- RFFDMSUK
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
When we talk about variety in raw feeding, we mean offering a diverse range of proteins—ideally 4 to 5 different types per week. This ensures your dog receives a broad spectrum of essential nutrients from different protein sources.
🍖 Protein Categories – A Breakdown
Providing variety means selecting proteins from multiple categories to maximize nutritional benefits:
🔹 White Meat – Lean, easily digestible proteins
✔️ Chicken
✔️ Turkey
✔️ Quail
✔️ Duck (Though technically game, it falls under white meat due to its lower myoglobin content)
🔹 Red Meat – Rich in iron & essential amino acids
✔️ Beef
✔️ Lamb
✔️ Pork
✔️ Goat
✔️ Wild Boar
✔️ Buffalo
✔️ Horse
🔹 Game & Exotic Meats – Unique nutritional profiles
✔️ Rabbit
✔️ Venison
✔️ Pheasant
✔️ Goose
✔️ Kangaroo
✔️ Guinea Fowl
✔️ Ostrich
✔️ Zebra
✔️ Camel
✔️ Alpaca
✨ Why is this important? Feeding proteins from all three categories ensures your dog receives a diverse nutrient profile to support overall health and well-being.
❌ What is Brand Blindness?
Brand blindness occurs when a pet parent relies solely on one brand of raw food for a prolonged period.
💡 At RFFDMSUK, we actively encourage feeding a variety of brands, as different manufacturers provide unique nutrient compositions.
✔️ Some pet parents rotate brands daily for maximum variety.
✔️ Others switch weekly or monthly—any variation is better than none!
✔️ Budget-conscious? Grab special offers when available to mix things up affordably.
📌 Why is Brand Variety Important?
Each brand offers a different nutritional profile, based on:
✔️ The types of meat used within their minces.
✔️ Variations in muscle meat & offal content (some brands use spleen instead of kidney).
✔️ Texture differences—some brands have fine minces, while others offer chunkier textures to prevent mealtime boredom.
✔️ Sourcing practices—each manufacturer uses different farming standards, impacting nutrient availability:
Farmed
Free Range
Red Tractor Certified
Pasture Raised
Organic
Grass Fed
Grass Finished
💡 Higher welfare standards = better nutrient density! Factors like soil quality, vaccinations, and stress levels influence the nutritional content of the meat your dog consumes.
🥚 The Importance of Eggs & Fish
Eggs and fish provide vital fatty acids and micronutrients essential for your dog’s diet.
🥚 Egg Variety – Each type offers unique benefits
✔️ Hen Eggs
✔️ Duck Eggs
✔️ Quail Eggs
✔️ Turkey Eggs
✔️ Goose Eggs
💡 Dieting dog? Quail eggs contain less fat per egg compared to hen eggs!
📊 Comparison:
10 quail eggs = 11g fat
2 large hen eggs = 10g fat
✨ Quail eggs are a great low-fat option for dogs on weight management plans!
🐟 Oily Fish – Essential for Omega-3s
✔️ Sprats
✔️ Mackerel
✔️ Sardines
✔️ Herring
💡 Regular fish intake supports joint health, brain function, and skin condition—a valuable addition to any raw feeding routine!
🍽 Adding Variety to Mealtimes
Mixing up how food is presented can enhance your dog’s feeding experience:
✔️ Different feeding surfaces: Bowls, lick-mats, puzzle feeders, or slow-feeding trays.
✔️ Enrichment activities: Scatter feeding, snuffle mats, or “find it” games using mealtime portions.
✔️ Work-for-food methods: Ideal for working breeds needing mental stimulation.
✨ Even dogs on a diet can enjoy variety across red, white, and game meats—restricting variety too heavily isn’t ideal, as all dogs require some level of fat in their diet!
🐾 Final Thoughts – Variety = Vitality
✔️ Rotate proteins weekly for maximum nutrition.
✔️ Avoid brand blindness—switch brands to provide different textures & nutrients.
✔️ Include eggs & fish for essential fatty acids.
✔️ Enhance mealtime experiences with enrichment tools & varied textures.
🐶 Raw feeding is more than just meals—it’s a holistic approach to nutrition! Keep it varied, keep it balanced, and your dog will thrive.
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