There’s a wide world of raw grinds out there—and it can get confusing.
You’ve probably seen labels like PMR, 80/10/10, BARF, whole prey, whole ground, or blends with veggies, tripe, and multiple proteins. So how do you know what’s what?
Let’s break it down. In this first installment of our “This vs. That” series, we’re taking a closer look at PMR (Prey Model Raw) vs. Whole Grinds—specifically, as we offer them here at My Pet Carnivore.
First Up: What is PMR?
PMR stands for Prey Model Raw and follows a specific ratio:
80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organs (usually 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ).
These blends aim to mimic the composition of a whole prey animal by combining separate ingredients. They can be great—but not all PMRs are created equal.
Here’s what to watch for:
-
Organ variety matters. A true PMR should contain at least two different secreting organs, one of which must be the liver.
(Ours? We go above and beyond. Our Beef Supreme PMR contains beef liver, spleen, and kidney.) -
Bone quality counts. Many PMRs on the market use bone meal as the bone source. It’s not inherently bad, but fresh raw bone is far superior.
(Our PMR? Yep—real raw ground beef bone.) -
Single vs. mixed proteins. Some PMRs blend multiple meats, which can be tricky for pets with sensitivities.
At My Pet Carnivore, we never mix proteins. If it says beef—it’s just beef. No surprises.
Now, What About Whole Grinds?
Our whole grinds are exactly what they sound like:
We take the whole animal (with minimal removals) and grind it—giving your carnivore the most natural, nutrient-dense meal possible.
Here’s what makes our whole grinds unique:
-
Whole animal nutrition. We include all the usable parts—meat, bone, and organ. We remove only the stomach, intestines, and fur or feathers.
(Heads are included for smaller animals like duck or chicken; removed for larger ones like pork or goat.) - Organ-rich by nature. Instead of formulating a recipe with selected cuts and percentages, whole grinds offer the full spectrum of what that animal had to offer.
- Muscle, bone & variety. You’ll naturally get more organ variety, bone variety, and muscle variety in whole grinds than most PMR blends on the market.
So, What’s the Difference?
So, What’s the Difference?
| Feature | PMR | Whole Grinds |
|---|---|---|
| Built from recipe | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Mimics prey model | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes (naturally) |
| Organs | Usually 1–2 | All available from animal |
| Bone | Sometimes bone meal | Always fresh bone |
| Protein variety | Sometimes mixed | Always single-source |
| Nature’s design | ❌ | ✅ |
Which One Is Better?
It’s not about better—it’s about what’s available and appropriate.
While whole grinds are the cornerstone of what we do at My Pet Carnivore, well-crafted PMRs absolutely have their place—especially when certain whole animals aren’t available. Case in point: our Beef Supreme PMR. When our supply of young, whole beef became inconsistent, we created a thoughtfully made PMR with:
- Three secreting organs
- Fresh ground raw bone
- No mixed proteins
This allows you to offer beef variety in your pet’s rotation without compromising on quality.
Our Takeaway
- Whole grinds = Whole animal. Maximum variety, minimal processing.
- PMRs = Carefully formulated blends to mimic prey when whole animals aren’t available.
👉 Whether you feed PMR or whole grinds, always aim for at least 4 different proteins per week for optimal variety and nutrition.
