One of the most common points of confusion in fresh feeding is the word “organ.” In the 80/10/10 model, the final 10% is secreting organs—and that distinction changes everything about how you balance a bowl.
What counts as a secreting organ
Secreting organs are the ones that produce something: liver (bile), kidney, spleen, pancreas, brain, and testicles. These are nutrient powerhouses, packed with vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, copper, and other micronutrients that muscle meat simply can't match.
What doesn't count
Heart, lung, tripe, and gizzard are often sold as “organ meat,” but nutritionally they behave like muscle meat. Heart, for example, is a muscle—valuable for taurine, but it belongs in your 80% muscle portion, not the 10% organ slot.
Liver should be about half your organ portion
Of the 10% organ, roughly half should be liver, with the remainder from other secreting organs like kidney. Liver is exceptionally rich in vitamin A, which is why it's kept to a measured amount rather than fed freely.
Why getting this right matters
Skimp on secreting organs and your dog misses key micronutrients. Overdo liver and you risk excess vitamin A over time. This is precisely the kind of detail our Feeding System was built to remove the guesswork from.
Educational only—not veterinary advice.
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