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Balancing Viva's Pure (Prey Model Raw) Formulas

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Time to read 2 min

Our Pure formulas are a base mix of roughly 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ. This is commonly known as the “Prey Model Raw” diet because the ratios are said to mimic the make-up of wild prey. Since they have no added supplements, these recipes are the perfect option for pets that are finicky or have sensitivities, and even for the pet parent who simply enjoys the “Do It Yourself” approach in building each meal! In this article, we share what nutrients are missing from our Pure recipes for dogs, puppies, and cats and options to balance them to AAFCO requirements.


Note that the information here is specific to our Pure formulas and may not apply to “Prey Model Raw” recipes made by other brands due to differences in ingredients and nutrient content. 

Balancing Viva’s Pure Formula for Adult Dogs 🐶

Dogs over the age of 1 year, require Manganese, Iodine, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E, which are deficient in the standard Prey Model Diet. Manganese is a trace mineral that supports bone health, cartilage formation, and a dog’s overall metabolism. Iodine is essential for thyroid function; a deficiency in this can lead to hormonal imbalances, causing hypothyroidism. Vitamin D is needed for the body to properly absorb calcium and phosphorus, which are also necessary for bone growth & maintenance. Finally, Vitamin E is an antioxidant to support cellular function.

Recipe for Adult Dogs


For 1 lb of Pure Viva, add:

Balancing Viva’s Pure Formula for Puppies 🐕

Puppies require the same nutrients as shared before for adult dogs. However, due to their rapid growth phase, puppies under 1 year of age need more Copper than adult dogs to support bone and immune development, as well as overall health!

Recipe for Puppies, Under 1 Year of Age


For 1 lb of Pure Viva, add:

You do not need to add Copper if you're feeding our duck or beef recipe, since those recipes already meet copper requirements.

Balancing Viva’s Pure Formula for Cats 🐱

In addition to Manganese, Iodine, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E, the Prey Model diet also lacks sufficient B Vitamins and Taurine for cats without supplementation.


Deficient B Vitamins are: Thiamin (B1), Folic Acid (B9), and Niacin (B3), and while deficiencies in Niacin are rare, they can occur in kittens. Fortified nutritional yeast contains all three, so we recommend adding it for adult cats & kittens!


Taurine is an essential nutrient for cats and is primarily found in the muscle meat and organs used in our Pure formulas. Omnivores (humans) and facultative carnivores (dogs) have no trouble synthesizing taurine from cysteine and methionine amino acids; however, cats are obligate carnivores and cannot synthesize sufficient amounts on their own and need further supplementation to meet their nutritional needs!

Recipe for Cats & Kittens


For 1 lb of Pure Viva, add:

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