An all raw meat diet frequently lacks essential nutrients for optimal health. It is important to identify these common deficiencies and select the appropriate whole foods to provide a nutritionally complete diet.
Nutrient Deficiencies in Raw Diets
An all raw meat diet following strict 80% muscle meat, 10% edible bone, and 10% organs without additional whole foods or supplementation are deficient in the following nutrients:
Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA)
Essential Fatty Acid
Eicosapentaenoic & Docosahexaenoic Acid (EPA+DHA)
Essential Fatty Acid
Iodine
Manganese
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
The Problem: Raw Diets Lack Essential Nutrients
The National Research Council has established minimum level requirements for essential nutrients for dogs and cats. Additionally, the NRC provides data on nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, many pet parents believe adding a multi-vitamin to their pet’s diet is needed to meet all essential nutrients.
The Solution: Whole Foods for Essential Nutrients
For every amino acid, fatty acid, vitamin, and mineral a pet requires, there is a whole food that carries these essential nutrients! Absorption rates are lower with supplements; whereas the nutrients are digested, absorbed, and metabolized at a higher rate when provided in whole, fresh foods.
Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA)
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is metabolized into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Dogs and cats have a very low conversion rate of ALA, as compared to EPA and DHA. ALA-based foods should not be relied upon as a source of EPA and DHA in raw diets; therefore, ALA is very beneficial in small amounts to balance LA:ALA essential fatty acids in raw diets.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of alpha-linolenic acid per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
110mg recommended allowance
Puppy
200mg recommended allowance
Adult Cat
Do not have a requirement for ALA.
Kitten
Do not have a requirement for ALA.
Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found in plants; however, this acid is also found in smaller amounts of grass and pasture fed raw meat. ALA occurs naturally in foods where the amino acid lysine is structurally bound to protein. Raw foods with alpha-linolenic acid include various organ meats such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Below are ALA values for some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Eicosapentaenoic & Docosahexaenoic Acid (EPA+DHA)
Many raw diets use commercial farmed meats which provide high levels of omega 6 fatty acids and very small to no omega 3 fatty acids. This imbalance of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids can cause inflammation throughout the body. The addition of EPA and DHA to the raw diet helps correct this imbalance and meet recommended allowances for these two essential fatty acids.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of EPA+DHA per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
110mg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
130mg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
25mg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
25mg Recommended Allowance
NRC lists dietary requirements for EPA and DHA as an essential omega-3 fatty acid. EPA and DHA are found primarily fatty fish and shellfish. The inclusion of fatty fish, fish oil, and krill oil are excellent whole foods to add to a raw diet. Ideal fish options to include in raw diets are salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and herring. Below are EPA and DHA values in some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Iodine
The mineral iodine is needed to support healthy thyroid function and is always deficient in raw diets that do not include whole prey; Iodine is found in whole prey. Symptoms of insufficient thyroid activity include poor growth, hair loss, weight gain, weakness, and behavioral changes, such as aggression. Not all pet parents are able to provide an iodine sufficient diet to their pets.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of iodine per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
175mcg Minimum Allowance
220mcg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
220mcg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
320mcg Minimum Allowance
350mcg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
450mcg Recommended Allowance
Although whole fatty fish and oysters provide some source of iodine; seaweed, such as kelp and other sea vegetables, have the highest concentration of iodine of all whole food sources – a little goes a long way! *Many nutritional analysis do not include iodine levels unless the product is specifically tested for iodine.
Manganese
Soft tissue injuries are common with pets. Consequently, these injuries are often related to insufficient manganese in the diet to support healthy joints.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of manganese per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
1.2mg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
1.4mg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
1.2mg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
1.2g Recommended Allowance
A whole prey provides manganese from the fur and feathers; however, when whole prey is not an option, whole foods can be fed to provide dietary manganese. It is best to feed animal based ingredients as the primary source of manganese in a raw diet. Plant ingredients from vegetables, spices, seeds, and nuts should come secondary to animal based ingredients. Below are manganese values in some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient in a pet’s diet, and it is important to understand the role it plays in the pet’s overall health. Exposing a dog or cat to sunlight will not affect their vitamin D levels. Remember, vitamin D is a fat soluble, which means it can be highly toxic in large amounts. For this reason, never give a vitamin D supplement to a dog or cat unless instructed otherwise by a veterinarian or nutritionist.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of vitamin D per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
3.4mcg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
3.4mcg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
1.75mcg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
0.7mcg Minimum Allowance
1.4mcg Recommended Allowance
Animal sources containing vitamin D include raw fat, liver, and beef kidney. Pastured, free-range, or organic chicken eggs offer higher vitamin D levels. Marine animal sources, such as herring, salmon, sardines, and mackerel, include higher vitamin D than other fish sources. Lastly, fortified dairy provides vitamin D. Below are vitamin D values of some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that plays a crucial role in supporting a pet’s health and also prevents dietary fats oxidizing. However, vitamin E deficiencies are very rare.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of vitamin E per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
7.5mg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
7.5mg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
10mg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
9.4mg Recommended Allowance
Vitamin E is provided in whole foods, such as animal sources like raw brain and pasture eggs. Seeds and nuts are an excellent way to provide vitamin E as well as other nutrients. Below are vitamin E values of some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Zinc
Zinc contains the three following functions: catalytic, structural, and regulatory. Zinc is a cofactor in enzymes and in turn is involved in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, cell replication, and wound healing. Excessively providing supplements of zinc can affect the absorption of other dietary minerals. For this reason, never give pets a zinc supplement unless under the direction of the veterinarian or nutritionist.
Recommended Allowance (RA) of zinc per 1000kcal:
Adult Dog
15mg Recommended Allowance
Puppy
25mg Recommended Allowance
Adult Cat
18.5mg Recommended Allowance
Kitten
18.5mg Recommended Allowance
Zinc is found in higher concentrations within animal sources rather than plant sources. A raw diet high in red meats such as beef and lamb will provide adequate amounts of zinc. Adding whole foods to increase zinc levels is simple and another animal source of zinc is wild oysters, which provides a high concentration of zinc. Below are zinc values of some whole foods per 1oz (28g):
Avoid “Multivitamins”
A raw diet consists of 5% raw liver and 5% other organs. Organs are considered nature’s multivitamin because they are packed with almost every nutrient. These nutrients include heavy doses of B vitamins (B1, B2, B6, folic acid, and B12), as well as traces of vitamin D. Organ meats are also loaded with minerals like phosphorus, iron, copper, magnesium, and vitamin A. Pasture raised livestock and wild game contain even higher levels of these essential nutrients than their grain-fed counterparts.
Avoid “Multi-Vitamins”
A multivitamin will contain nutrients already highly present within a raw diet. Too much of nutrients is not beneficial, it can cause digestive upset, diarrhea, or in worse cases hypervitaminosis. It is recommended to avoid multivitamins and provide a fresh, whole food option for essential nutrients.
If whole foods for an individual nutrient cannot be fed due to sourcing, budget, or allergy/intolerance – it is recommended to consult with a vet or nutritionist on the dosage of an individual nutrient supplement.
"FEED FRESH, WHOLE FOODS!"
Ronny LeJeune, CertCN, CPDT-KA, CCC
Closing Comments
A raw diet does not require supplements or a multivitamin to provide all essential nutrients. Appropriately selected whole foods can easily create a nutritionally complete diet for a dog or cat without resorting to synthetic supplementation. (Although this does not go to say that some supplementation are not beneficial for specific needs and/or medical conditions.)
