Think of the BARF diet as the "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" approach, designed to mimic what a wild ancestor would eat, including the contents of a prey animal's stomach.

The big takeaway here? BARF includes plant matter. Proponents believe that fruits, veggies, and seeds provide crucial antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber that raw meat alone might lack.

The BARF Breakdown Formula:

🥩 70% Muscle Meat: Energy, protein, and deliciousness.

🦴 10% Raw Edible Bone: For those pearly whites and essential calcium.

🫁 10% Organ Meat: Split into 5% liver and 5% other secreting organs (like kidneys).

🌿 10% Plant Matter & Supplements: Steamed/pureed veggies (like pumpkin or broccoli), berries, and healthy fats (like green-lipped mussel powder! 🦪).

How we do it in Otago: A classic BARF meal might feature our premium minced NZ beef or chicken, mixed with a spoonful of pureed pumpkin, a dash of kelp, and a crunchy duck neck for the bone component.

If BARF is the "salad on the side" model, PMR is the "Strict Carnivore" approach. The philosophy here is simple: dogs and cats are carnivores, so they should eat whole prey animals. No veggies, no fruit, no grains. Just pure animal goodness. 🪶

PMR feeders either feed "Whole Prey" (like a whole rabbit or quail) or create "Franken-prey" by piecing together different cuts of meat from various animals to recreate a whole beast.

The PMR Breakdown Formula:

🥩 80% Muscle Meat: This includes "meat" that acts like meat, such as heart, gizzard, and tongue.

🦴 10% Raw Edible Bone: To give structure to the meal.

🫁 10% Organ Meat: Strictly 5% liver and 5% other secreting organs.

💡How we do it in Otago: A PMR bowl looks like a beautifully arranged carnivore feast. You might balance some rich NZ lamb heart and beef chunks (muscle meat), a few chicken frames or rabbit shoulders (bone), and a precise slice of lamb liver and kidney (organs).

Feature 🥗 BARF Diet 🥩 PMR Diet Plants & Veggies? Yes (10% of the bowl) Absolute No Dairy or Seeds? Often included (e.g., hemp seeds) No Nutrient Source Meat + Plants + Whole Supplements Strictly Animal Tissue Best For... Dogs who need extra fiber or love variety Strict carnivores (cats!)

🥗 Go BARF if:

Your dog gets a bit constipated and needs the extra fiber from veggies, or if you love the convenience of a pre-made, all-in-one raw mince blend that already contains those healthy greens and essential vitamins.

🥩 Go PMR if:

You have a cat (cats are obligate carnivores and really don't need plants!), or if your dog has severe intolerances to certain plant carbohydrates and thrives on a pure, clean meat-and-bone routine.

Whichever path you choose, the absolute gold standard is sourcing fresh, high-quality, local NZ meat. Next time you're loading up your polybins or popping into our Mosgiel or Dunedin shops, have a chat with us! We can help you weigh out the perfect ratios of heart, liver, bone, and mince to keep those tails wagging. 🐕🐈✨