What's the Difference Between RawFedK9 Complete Mix and Pure Meat?
If you're new to RawFedK9, there's a good chance you've landed on our website and wondered what the difference is between Complete Mix and Pure Meat. They look similar, they're both raw, and you'll even find some of the same proteins available in both. But they're actually two very different products.
The easiest way to remember the difference is this: Complete Mix contains muscle meat, bone, and organ. Pure Meat is 100% muscle meat.
That difference becomes especially important when you're making the switch from kibble to raw because we use both during our 16-day transition process. So before you start filling your cart, let's break down what you're actually getting with each one and where they fit into a RawFedK9 feeding routine.
Let's Start With Complete Mix
Complete Mix is what you'll see throughout most of the RawFedK9 lineup. It's our Prey Model Raw formula and follows an 80/10/10 ratio: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw crushed bone, and 10% organ.
We don't add fruits, vegetables, or grains to our Complete Mix. Instead, the ingredient lists stay focused on meat, bone, and organ. The exact ingredients change depending on the protein you choose because not every formula uses the same meat, bone, or organ sources.
That's why it's worth looking beyond the big protein name on the product. Duck Complete Mix, for example, contains duck along with beef liver, beef kidney, and beef bone. Bison, on the other hand, contains bison meat, heart, liver, kidney, and bone. Both follow our Complete Mix structure, but the actual ingredients aren't identical.
If you're curious about a particular formula, our Nutritional Information Page is one of the best places to start. You can compare ingredients along with moisture, fat, protein, calories, and other nutritional information for the different options we offer:
So Then, What Is Pure Meat?
This one really is as straightforward as the name makes it sound. Pure Meat is 100% muscle meat with no offal or bone.
That's the biggest difference between the two.
| Complete Mix | Pure Meat | |
|---|---|---|
| Muscle Meat | Yes | Yes |
| Raw Crushed Bone | Yes | No |
| Organ | Yes | No |
| 80/10/10 PMR | Yes | No |
One thing that can cause a little confusion is what we mean by "muscle meat." It doesn't necessarily mean only the cuts you'd picture sitting in the meat case at the grocery store. Heart and gizzard, for example, are organs anatomically, but within Prey Model Raw they're categorized as muscle meat because they're muscular tissue.
Pure Meat isn't meant to be another version of Complete Mix. It's a separate product, and one of the most important places we use it is at the very beginning of our transition process.
This Is Where the Transition Pack Comes In
If your dog currently eats kibble, we don't recommend jumping straight into feeding Complete Mix. Instead, RawFedK9 uses a 16-day transition process, beginning with Pure Meat before moving into the 80/10/10 Complete Mix.
That's exactly why our Transition Packs contain two separate boxes. One contains the Pure Meat protein you select, and the other contains the Complete Mix protein you select. Our 10 lb Transition Pack contains two 5 lb boxes, while the 30 lb option contains two 15 lb boxes.
Before you begin, use our Raw Feeding Calculator to determine how much your dog should be eating per day. That will also help you decide which Transition Pack size makes sense for your dog.
Then the transition looks like this:
Days 1–5: Pure Meat
For the first five days, feed Pure Meat patties only for each meal. Complete Mix isn't introduced yet during this stage.
Days 6–9: Pure Meat + Complete Mix
If everything is going smoothly, begin feeding 50% Pure Meat and 50% Complete Mix at each meal.
This is the point where the muscle meat, bone, and organ combination found in Complete Mix begins entering the feeding routine.
Days 10–15: Complete Mix
During Days 10 through 15, gradually shift to feeding Complete Mix patties for each meal.
By this stage, Pure Meat has done its job within the transition and you're moving into the same 80/10/10 Complete Mix you'll continue feeding after the transition.
Day 16: Start Introducing More Proteins
Once you've made it through the transition, you can begin introducing additional proteins into the rotation. We generally recommend rotating three to four different proteins and fat levels throughout the month rather than sticking with one protein indefinitely.
You can find the full transition schedule, Raw Feeding Calculator, and additional information in our Raw Feeding Guide:
Every dog is different, so some may need more time at a particular stage. The guide gives you the structure to start with, and you can pay attention to your individual dog as you work through it.
What If My Dog Already Eats Raw?
If your dog is already eating a raw diet, you don't need to follow the same 16-day process we use for dogs coming from kibble.
Instead, RawFedK9 recommends a simple four-day transition:
Day 1: 75% current raw food + 25% RawFedK9 Complete Mix
Day 2: 50% current raw food + 50% RawFedK9 Complete Mix
Day 3: 25% current raw food + 75% RawFedK9 Complete Mix
Day 4: 100% RawFedK9 Complete Mix
That distinction is important when you're deciding what to order. The Pure Meat portion of our Transition Pack plays a specific role in the longer transition process for dogs making the move from kibble. A dog that's already accustomed to eating raw can transition directly by blending its current raw food with the Complete Mix from RawFedK9.
What About Patties, Medallions, and Chubs?
Once you've figured out Complete Mix versus Pure Meat, there's another choice waiting for you: how you want the food portioned.
Our 8 oz patties make it easy to grab individual portions from the freezer. Our 3 oz medallions offer a smaller portion size and more flexibility when measuring meals. Then there are our 5 lb chubs, which work well for customers who don't mind portioning the food themselves and prefer buying in a larger format.
Complete Mix is available in several different formats and case sizes, while Pure Meat has its own available product and protein options. Availability can vary, so check the individual product page when you're putting together an order.
There isn't one format that's automatically better than another. A household feeding a small dog may love the flexibility of medallions, while someone feeding several large dogs might prefer chubs. Others want the convenience of grabbing an 8 oz patty and being done with it. It's really about finding what makes feeding easiest in your house.
Okay, So Which One Do I Actually Need?
If you've read this far and still just want someone to tell you what to put in your cart, here's the simple version.
If your dog currently eats kibble and you're new to raw, start with a Transition Pack. You'll select a Pure Meat and a Complete Mix and use them as you work through the 16-day transition schedule.
If your dog already eats raw, you can transition from the current raw food to RawFedK9 over four days using Complete Mix.
If you're specifically looking for 100% ground muscle meat without bone or organ, that's when you'd shop our Pure Meat products separately.
For most customers who have completed their transition, Complete Mix is going to be the main RawFedK9 product they're feeding. From there, you can choose the proteins, case sizes, and formats that work best for your dog and your freezer.
It Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
Raw feeding comes with a lot of terminology, and when you're brand new to it, even shopping for your first order can feel like there are a hundred decisions to make. Complete Mix versus Pure Meat is actually one of the easier distinctions once you know what you're looking at.
Complete Mix = 80% muscle meat + 10% raw crushed bone + 10% organ.
Pure Meat = 100% muscle meat.
The reason RawFedK9 offers both isn't to make you choose between two versions of the same thing. They serve different purposes, and when you're transitioning from kibble, they work together as you move through the process from Pure Meat to Complete Mix.
Once you understand that piece, the rest gets a whole lot easier. Then you can focus on choosing proteins, finding the portion size you like, and figuring out what works best for your everyday feeding routine.
