What is whole carcass/prey?

Northern Witch mentioned whole carcass/prey as food for pugs.
Can anyone elaborate upon what this is and where to get it?

Whole carcass or prey model feeding is just what it sounds like--the whole carcass is ground up and fed to the dog. I'm not at the point where I feel okay about actually tossing a whole carcass ont he floor for my dogs (Unlikely I'll ever get to that point), but right now I'm transitioning my dogs, Tank especially, to a whole carcass model--the carcass is ground up--bone, meat, organs and all and frozen into patties.

I'm using a company called Carnivora--formerly Urban Carnivore--located in Saskatchewan.

www.carnivora.ca

Blanche, I don't think it's necessarily always ground up, although this might be appropriate for small dogs. Some folks feed who carcass/prey model by just throwing large chunks of the carcass to their dogs.

pugpillow wrote:Blanche, I don't think it's necessarily always ground up, although this might be appropriate for small dogs. Some folks feed who carcass/prey model by just throwing large chunks of the carcass to their dogs.

Yeah. I know, but I'm going with the ground up model since it's hard to find a whole skinned carcass with all the "innards" and I can't face the mess. I'm opting for ground up for the time being. The raw meaty bones I can do, but I can't manage pitching bits of carcass at the dogs just yet....

I did ask my local butcher about it and he looked at me with the fear of God in his eyes......

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am into home cooking, but there are limits for sure LOL

northernwitch wrote:I'm using a company called Carnivora--formerly Urban Carnivore--located in Saskatchewan.

www.carnivora.ca

Awesome company... One of my favourites, i feed mostly their products.


This is actually called prey model, or when ground it's still called BARF. Whole prey/carcass is a little different in that it's fed entirely. For example you'd feed whole animals, like chicks and mice etc (like from a reptile feed store). Things that you can give the dog whole for them to devour. Prey model is often called "frankenprey" because you're not feeding the actual prey, you're simulating it by giving various animal parts like chicken wings, deer ribs, various organs, chicken necks etc. Grind all the "frankenprey" ingredients up into patties and it's still Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, i like this method better as it's a bit more balanced and easier to do... Plus i don't want to have to sit and supervise my dogs eating "frankenprey" to prevent choking.

Well, whatever it's called--I'm going with it since Tank simply can't tolerate the extra carbs and sugar, etc from the 80/20 method. And I'm not able to feed them whole carcass at this point. Too easy for my gulpers to choke and the potential for dog fights would be horrendous.

It's referred to as whole carcass/prey model by alot of folks, Mandy. Maybe as a way to distinguish it from the raw that incorporates fruit/veg in the mix.

northernwitch wrote:Well, whatever it's called--I'm going with it since Tank simply can't tolerate the extra carbs and sugar, etc from the 80/20 method. And I'm not able to feed them whole carcass at this point. Too easy for my gulpers to choke and the potential for dog fights would be horrendous.

It's referred to as whole carcass/prey model by alot of folks, Mandy. Maybe as a way to distinguish it from the raw that incorporates fruit/veg in the mix.

It might be regional too for what it's called, here it's BARF and the ones with veg. are BARF Full Meal. Just don't tell a prey model buff in this area that you're grinding it, they get a little scary sometimes! Lol!

My girls get BARF Full Meal for one meal per day and then just get the regular BARF non-full meal for the other. I don't think they need the ton of veggies, but they do get some since i can't control the bone level and sometimes they get a little dry in the poop department so the extra veggies in it keeps things perfect.

Just out of sheer curiosity, do you know why they changed the name from Urban Carnivore to Carnivora, Mandy?

As to the dryness--so far, not an issue, but we're still transitioning and I do supplement Tank with Omegas due to his skin issues.

northernwitch wrote:Just out of sheer curiosity, do you know why they changed the name from Urban Carnivore to Carnivora, Mandy?

There's a food called Urban Wolf who got their panties in a knot and pursued legal action about Urban Carnivore's name being too close to theirs and they won. So it was changed to Carnivora. However they haven't run out of the Urban Carnivore packaging so ours are still in the UC boxes which confuses people.

MandyPug wrote:

northernwitch wrote:Just out of sheer curiosity, do you know why they changed the name from Urban Carnivore to Carnivora, Mandy?

There's a food called Urban Wolf who got their panties in a knot and pursued legal action about Urban Carnivore's name being too close to theirs and they won. So it was changed to Carnivora. However they haven't run out of the Urban Carnivore packaging so ours are still in the UC boxes which confuses people.

LOL--yeah, I noticed that the package still said UC. I wondered if there had been a set-to with Urban Wolf. Couldn't think of any other reason.

Wish they made an offal out of something other than beef, however.

northernwitch wrote:Wish they made an offal out of something other than beef, however.

See if you can find Red Dog Blue Kat from Vancouver, it says they sell it at "The Dog House" in Toronto if that's near you. They have Venison and Organ as well as Bison and Organ. It doesn't list them on their website but they make them, i know they do since i sell them lol.

[quote="northernwitch"]

pugpillow wrote: The raw meaty bones I can do, but I can't manage pitching bits of carcass at the dogs just yet.....

Oh Blanche, you're a bad mum! You should be out there at the back door in your wellies, throwing carcasses off your deck. Lola particularly likes raccoon, I think.

[quote="pugpillow"]

northernwitch wrote:

pugpillow wrote: The raw meaty bones I can do, but I can't manage pitching bits of carcass at the dogs just yet.....

Oh Blanche, you're a bad mum! You should be out there at the back door in your wellies, throwing carcasses off your deck. Lola particularly likes raccoon, I think.

Yes indeed. Lola does love a good raccoon carcass. And in years gone by, she did the prey model on her own by catching squirrels, snakes and mice to eat.

She can't tolerate raw any longer, sadly. Always ends up puking.

I must say! I have never heard of this and I don't know anyone in my circles who has heard of it. It hasn't made it to California yet. The carnivora site seem to be just a Canada thing. But it all makes perfect sense for the dogs doesn't it? omg...i'm imagining my next pug puppy eating this way!!!

Doodikins wrote: I must say! I have never heard of this and I don't know anyone in my circles who has heard of it. It hasn't made it to California yet. The carnivora site seem to be just a Canada thing. But it all makes perfect sense for the dogs doesn't it? omg...i'm imagining my next pug puppy eating this way!!!

It's considered by many to be the gold standard of raw feeding. But, you're right, it isn't always easy to find a company that does it well. And I'm hesitant to use most commercial meats due to the steroids, antibiotics etc that go into them.

And I'm not yet at the point where I can bring myself to throw down a carcass and let them have at it. If I had fewer dogs, I might be more able. But the long months of winter makes actual carcass feeding difficult in my house. So ground it is for the time being.

So, what is the difference between the whole carcass/prey model and just rotating various parts of the animal each day? For example: my pugs will get chicken legs one night, then organ meat the next night, then chicken without bones the next night, then something else, and just goes in a cycle. We rotate the meat for variety, and include organs and bones often.

Is this the same concept?

I wonder if a butcher up here would be willing to grind a whole carcass. And, when we talk about carcass, what animal are we talking about?

In my opinion, they are very, very close. This is one person's take on it: http://www.rawfed.com/myths/preymodel.html

Renee wrote:So, what is the difference between the whole carcass/prey model and just rotating various parts of the animal each day? For example: my pugs will get chicken legs one night, then organ meat the next night, then chicken without bones the next night, then something else, and just goes in a cycle. We rotate the meat for variety, and include organs and bones often.

Is this the same concept?

I wonder if a butcher up here would be willing to grind a whole carcass. And, when we talk about carcass, what animal are we talking about?

I feed bison, Elk, venison, rabbit, duck, quail, and lamb. If I can get it, I feed goat and wild boar.

I have to tell you folks this is just freaking me out although it makes perfect sense!! But I would just start crying my eyes out if I had to give my pug a dead little chick or some little animal. I am such a wimp when it comes to seeing dead little animals. And I have always been so judgmental and outraged by anyone who keeps a snake or any wild animal like that that necessitates the selling of small animals at pet stores. It would be a MAJOR paradigm shift wouldn't it? And are you really saying that pugs can eat raw bones without hurting themselves? This is really changing my whole concept of pugs. To think that they would just act like any dog and eat a carcass. Shows you how I have been living in pug lala land. This whole thread is causing me to view their needs as much more animalistic/natural, whereas I have sort of infantilized them and see them as human babies who need everything done for them, especially managing every aspect of every thing that goes into their mouths because I am so afraid they will hurt themselves or choke on something. Can some of you talk about how you made this shift emotionally?