95% Meat vs. 100% Meat — What's Really in Your Pet's Raw Food?

When shopping for raw dog or cat food, you've probably noticed percentages appearing on product labels.

95% meat. 100% meat. Grain-free. No fillers.

But what do those percentages actually mean? And does a higher percentage of meat automatically mean better nutrition?

At Dee Dee's Raw, we believe pet owners deserve to understand exactly what they're putting into their dog's or cat's bowl.

The truth is, different ingredients contribute different nutrients, and the percentage of meat alone doesn't tell the entire story.

Several of our Dee Dee's Raw blends follow a simple 95/5 approach.

95% consists of meat ingredients, including muscle meat, organs and bone, depending on the recipe.

The remaining 5% includes everything else combined, such as vegetables, fruit, eggs, oils, nutritional yeast, molasses and other carefully selected non-meat ingredients, depending on the blend.

Every ingredient outside the meat portion counts toward that 5% — not just the vegetables.

Our popular Chicken Blend, for example, contains whole chicken (including bone), beef liver and a small selection of additional ingredients.

Our Beef, Turkey and Lamb blends follow a similar meat-focused approach, although their individual recipes and ingredients differ.

The goal is simple: keep meat as the primary ingredient while including small amounts of other purposeful ingredients.

And just as importantly, we don't add water, grains, fillers or artificial preservatives to increase volume.

Every ingredient contributes something different to a pet's diet.

Although meat provides many important nutrients, other ingredients can contribute additional vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and other nutritional components.

Here's a closer look at some of the ingredients used in our recipes and what they can provide.

Chicken, turkey, beef and lamb provide high-quality protein and essential amino acids that support normal body functions, including muscle maintenance and tissue repair.

Depending on the protein source, meat also supplies nutrients such as iron, zinc and B vitamins.

These meat ingredients form the foundation of our 95/5 blends.

Organ meats, particularly liver, are naturally rich in important vitamins and minerals.

Beef liver, for example, provides vitamin A, vitamin B12, iron and copper.

These nutrients contribute to normal metabolism, red blood cell production and other essential functions.

Because organ meats are nutrient-dense, including them in appropriate amounts is important.

Eggs provide highly digestible protein, essential amino acids, choline and other nutrients.

They demonstrate how an ingredient can contribute more than one nutritional benefit to a recipe.

When included in our 95/5 blends, eggs count toward the 5% non-meat portion.

Depending on the vegetables used, they may contribute dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and naturally occurring plant compounds.

We include vegetables in small amounts rather than using grains or fillers to increase the bulk of our food.

Certain fruits can provide vitamins, fibre and naturally occurring antioxidants.

Their nutritional contribution depends on the specific fruit and the amount included.

Nutritional yeast can provide protein and certain B vitamins.

The exact nutritional content varies depending on the product, particularly whether it has been fortified with additional vitamins.

Sunflower oil is primarily a source of omega-6 fatty acids, including linoleic acid.

Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that contributes to normal skin and coat health.

Molasses contains small amounts of minerals such as iron, calcium and potassium.

However, its contribution to the finished food depends on how much is included in the recipe.

Not every Dee Dee's Raw blend contains all these ingredients. Each recipe has its own ingredient list, and we encourage customers to review the specific blend they're considering.

Some pet owners prefer recipes without vegetables or other plant-based ingredients.

That's why Dee Dee's Raw also offers meat-only options.

Our Tripe Blend contains:

- 60% natural, unbleached green beef tripe

- 30% whole chicken

- 10% beef liver

This recipe contains 100% animal-based meat ingredients, without added vegetables, fruit or other non-meat ingredients.

Green tripe is the unbleached stomach lining of a grazing animal.

Our natural green beef tripe is the exception to our human-grade meat ingredients.

Our Plain Chicken contains ground whole chicken, including bone, without additional ingredients.

It's a straightforward option for pet owners who prefer to formulate their own raw meals.

However, plain chicken alone should not be assumed to provide complete nutrition for long-term feeding.

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most important things to understand about raw feeding.

Dogs and cats require more than protein alone. They need essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in appropriate amounts and proportions.

A recipe containing 100% meat ingredients isn't automatically more nutritionally complete than one containing 95% meat ingredients.

Likewise, including vegetables, eggs or other nutritious ingredients doesn't automatically make a recipe complete and balanced.

Nutritional completeness depends on the entire formulation, not simply the percentage of meat.

Dogs and cats also have different nutritional requirements, and those requirements change throughout their lives.

Growing puppies and kittens, for example, have different nutritional needs from mature adults.

If you're preparing homemade raw meals or feeding a recipe that isn't formulated as a complete diet, it's important to work with a veterinarian or qualified veterinary nutritionist to ensure appropriate nutrition.

There's another important consideration when comparing frozen raw pet foods: added water.

Fresh meat naturally contains moisture. That's completely normal.

But naturally occurring moisture is different from water added during manufacturing.

At Dee Dee's Raw, we don't add water to increase the weight or volume of our products.

Whether you're purchasing one of our 95/5 blends or a meat-only option, we want the weight of your box to come from the food ingredients you intended to purchase.

No added water. No unnecessary fillers.

Just straightforward ingredients.

There isn't one recipe that's automatically right for every pet.

When choosing raw food, consider:

- Your pet's age, species and life stage

- Individual nutritional requirements

- Food sensitivities or allergies

- Activity level and overall health

- The complete ingredient list and nutritional suitability of the recipe

It's also important to look closely at individual proteins.

For example, our Chicken Blend contains beef liver, while our Tripe Blend includes both beef and chicken ingredients.

Understanding these details can be especially helpful for pets with specific dietary restrictions.

At Dee Dee's Raw, we want customers to feel comfortable asking questions and understanding exactly what they're purchasing.

Dee Dee's Raw is a locally owned raw dog and cat food business serving the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.

Our food is produced in Langley, British Columbia, using quality ingredients, including human-grade meats, with the exception of our natural, unbleached green tripe.

We offer convenient 9 lb and 30 lb boxes, with approximately ¼ lb portions designed to make raw feeding easier.

And because convenience matters, we provide:

- Free personal delivery — always

- No minimum order required

- Flexible subscriptions

- Loyalty rewards for returning customers

We personally deliver throughout communities including Langley, Surrey, Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack and surrounding areas.

Whether you're new to raw feeding or have been feeding raw for years, we encourage you to look beyond the percentages.

Read the ingredients. Understand the recipe. Ask questions about nutritional suitability.

Because choosing quality pet food isn't simply about finding the highest percentage of meat.

It's about knowing what's in your pet's bowl, understanding why those ingredients are there and choosing a diet that meets their nutritional needs.

At Dee Dee's Raw, we believe ingredient transparency should always come first.

Pure Natural — Pure Love. ❤️🐾

Dee Dee's Raw
Raw Dog & Cat Food
Locally produced in Langley, British Columbia
Free personal delivery throughout the Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley
No minimum order required