The Importance of Myoglobin in Raw Feeding.

4 days ago
4 min read

Why You Should Never Throw Away the Red Juices

If you've ever thawed your dog's or cat's raw food and noticed a red liquid pooling in the container, you may have wondered what it is. Many pet owners mistakenly believe it's blood and pour it down the sink without a second thought.

In reality, that red liquid is primarily myoglobin, a naturally occurring protein found in muscle tissue, and it's packed with valuable nutrients that can benefit your pet's health.

Unfortunately, by discarding these nutrient-rich juices, many owners are unknowingly throwing away some of the most valuable components of their pet's meal.

What is Myoglobin?

Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein found in the muscles of animals. Its primary role is to store oxygen within muscle cells, ensuring muscles have a readily available supply during activity.

When meat is frozen and later thawed, water naturally present within the muscle fibres is released. This water mixes with myoglobin, creating the red liquid commonly seen in raw food containers.

Contrary to popular belief, this liquid is not blood. Most blood is removed during processing. What remains is water, myoglobin, and a variety of dissolved nutrients that were originally part of the muscle tissue.

Why is Myoglobin Important?

Myoglobin is much more than a colouring agent. It contains important nutrients that contribute to the overall nutritional value of raw meat.

These include:

Essential amino acids
Highly bioavailable iron
B vitamins
Antioxidants
Trace minerals
Naturally occurring proteins

Together, these nutrients support energy production, oxygen transport, muscle function, immune health, and overall wellbeing.

A Rich Source of Bioavailable Iron

Iron is one of the most important minerals in the body. It plays a critical role in transporting oxygen to tissues and organs, supporting energy production and maintaining healthy cells.

The iron found naturally in meat and myoglobin is known as heme iron, which is more easily absorbed and utilised by the body than plant-based iron sources.

For growing puppies and kittens, active dogs, pregnant animals, and senior pets, adequate iron intake is particularly important for maintaining vitality and overall health.

Supports Healthy Muscle Function

Because myoglobin is found within muscle tissue, it contains amino acids that contribute to muscle maintenance and repair.

Muscles require a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. The compounds associated with myoglobin help support these processes, making it an important part of a biologically appropriate diet.

This is especially valuable for working dogs, sporting dogs, highly active pets, and ageing animals that need ongoing muscle support.

The Connection Between Myoglobin and Heart Health

The heart itself is a muscle and relies heavily on oxygen to function efficiently.

Myoglobin helps store and deliver oxygen within muscle tissue, including cardiac muscle. While myoglobin itself is not a heart supplement, it forms part of the nutrient-rich profile of red meat that supports cardiovascular health.

Raw meats also naturally contain nutrients such as taurine, iron, B vitamins, and amino acids that play important roles in maintaining healthy heart function.

For cats in particular, taurine is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through animal-based foods. A deficiency can lead to serious heart and eye problems.

A Natural Source of Antioxidants

Many people associate antioxidants with fruits and vegetables, but animal foods also contain antioxidant compounds.

Myoglobin contributes antioxidant activity that helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals damage cells faster than the body can repair them and has been linked to ageing and chronic disease.

By feeding a variety of fresh, minimally processed animal proteins, pets receive naturally occurring antioxidants that support long-term health.

Why Cats Benefit So Much From Myoglobin

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are biologically designed to obtain nutrients from animal tissues.

Unlike humans and many other species, cats have unique nutritional requirements that depend heavily on nutrients found in meat.

The moisture and nutrient-rich fluids released during thawing are part of the natural nutritional package that cats would consume in the wild. Discarding them means losing valuable nutrients that contribute to a balanced diet.

For this reason, it is particularly important to mix thawed juices back into your cat's meal whenever possible.

The Darker the Meat, the More Myoglobin

Have you ever wondered why beef appears darker than chicken?

The answer lies in myoglobin content.

Animals that rely on endurance and sustained muscle activity generally have higher concentrations of myoglobin in their muscles.

For example:

Beef contains more myoglobin than chicken.
Lamb contains more myoglobin than turkey.
Venison is particularly rich in myoglobin.
Chicken breast contains less myoglobin than chicken thighs.

This is why red meats appear darker and often provide higher levels of iron and other nutrients.

Feeding as Nature Intended

In nature, dogs and cats would consume an entire prey animal, including the muscle tissue, organs, connective tissues, fluids, and moisture contained within the carcass.

They would not separate the meat from the juices before eating.

One of the goals of raw feeding is to replicate the natural diet as closely as possible. Retaining the myoglobin-rich juices helps preserve the nutritional integrity of the meal and provides nutrients that would otherwise be lost.

The Common Mistake Many Pet Owners Make

One of the most common mistakes in raw feeding is draining the liquid from thawed food before serving.

While it may seem harmless, this practice removes water-soluble nutrients that belong in the food bowl.

Every drop contains nutritional value. Throwing it away means reducing the overall nutrient content of the meal.

Instead, simply stir the liquid back into the food before serving.

The Bottom Line

The red liquid found in thawed raw food is not something to fear or discard. It is a natural mixture of water and myoglobin that contains valuable nutrients, including iron, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

By mixing these juices back into your pet's meal, you help ensure they receive all the nutrition nature intended.

At Betty's Raw Recipes, we believe that every component of a fresh, species-appropriate diet has value. From the muscle meat and organs to the nutrient-rich myoglobin released during thawing, feeding the whole food helps support optimal health, vitality, and wellbeing.

So next time you thaw your pet's raw food, remember:

Don't pour it down the sink.

Mix it back in.

Your pet deserves every drop.

Why You Should Never Throw Away the Red Juices

If you've ever thawed your dog's or cat's raw food and noticed a red liquid pooling in the container, you may have wondered what it is. Many pet owners mistakenly believe it's blood and pour it down the sink without a second thought.

In reality, that red liquid is primarily myoglobin, a naturally occurring protein found in muscle tissue, and it's packed with valuable nutrients that can benefit your pet's health.

Unfortunately, by discarding these nutrient-rich juices, many owners are unknowingly throwing away some of the most valuable components of their pet's meal.

What is Myoglobin?

Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein found in the muscles of animals. Its primary role is to store oxygen within muscle cells, ensuring muscles have a readily available supply during activity.

When meat is frozen and later thawed, water naturally present within the muscle fibres is released. This water mixes with myoglobin, creating the red liquid commonly seen in raw food containers.

Contrary to popular belief, this liquid is not blood. Most blood is removed during processing. What remains is water, myoglobin, and a variety of dissolved nutrients that were originally part of the muscle tissue.

Why is Myoglobin Important?

Myoglobin is much more than a colouring agent. It contains important nutrients that contribute to the overall nutritional value of raw meat.

These include:

Essential amino acids

Highly bioavailable iron

B vitamins

Antioxidants

Trace minerals

Naturally occurring proteins

Together, these nutrients support energy production, oxygen transport, muscle function, immune health, and overall wellbeing.

A Rich Source of Bioavailable Iron

Iron is one of the most important minerals in the body. It plays a critical role in transporting oxygen to tissues and organs, supporting energy production and maintaining healthy cells.

The iron found naturally in meat and myoglobin is known as heme iron, which is more easily absorbed and utilised by the body than plant-based iron sources.

For growing puppies and kittens, active dogs, pregnant animals, and senior pets, adequate iron intake is particularly important for maintaining vitality and overall health.

Supports Healthy Muscle Function

Because myoglobin is found within muscle tissue, it contains amino acids that contribute to muscle maintenance and repair.

Muscles require a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to function properly. The compounds associated with myoglobin help support these processes, making it an important part of a biologically appropriate diet.

This is especially valuable for working dogs, sporting dogs, highly active pets, and ageing animals that need ongoing muscle support.

The Connection Between Myoglobin and Heart Health

The heart itself is a muscle and relies heavily on oxygen to function efficiently.

Myoglobin helps store and deliver oxygen within muscle tissue, including cardiac muscle. While myoglobin itself is not a heart supplement, it forms part of the nutrient-rich profile of red meat that supports cardiovascular health.

Raw meats also naturally contain nutrients such as taurine, iron, B vitamins, and amino acids that play important roles in maintaining healthy heart function.

For cats in particular, taurine is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through animal-based foods. A deficiency can lead to serious heart and eye problems.

A Natural Source of Antioxidants

Many people associate antioxidants with fruits and vegetables, but animal foods also contain antioxidant compounds.

Myoglobin contributes antioxidant activity that helps protect cells from oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals damage cells faster than the body can repair them and has been linked to ageing and chronic disease.

By feeding a variety of fresh, minimally processed animal proteins, pets receive naturally occurring antioxidants that support long-term health.

Why Cats Benefit So Much From Myoglobin

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they are biologically designed to obtain nutrients from animal tissues.

Unlike humans and many other species, cats have unique nutritional requirements that depend heavily on nutrients found in meat.

The moisture and nutrient-rich fluids released during thawing are part of the natural nutritional package that cats would consume in the wild. Discarding them means losing valuable nutrients that contribute to a balanced diet.

For this reason, it is particularly important to mix thawed juices back into your cat's meal whenever possible.

The Darker the Meat, the More Myoglobin

Have you ever wondered why beef appears darker than chicken?

The answer lies in myoglobin content.

Animals that rely on endurance and sustained muscle activity generally have higher concentrations of myoglobin in their muscles.

For example:

Beef contains more myoglobin than chicken.

Lamb contains more myoglobin than turkey.

Venison is particularly rich in myoglobin.

Chicken breast contains less myoglobin than chicken thighs.

This is why red meats appear darker and often provide higher levels of iron and other nutrients.

Feeding as Nature Intended

In nature, dogs and cats would consume an entire prey animal, including the muscle tissue, organs, connective tissues, fluids, and moisture contained within the carcass.

They would not separate the meat from the juices before eating.

One of the goals of raw feeding is to replicate the natural diet as closely as possible. Retaining the myoglobin-rich juices helps preserve the nutritional integrity of the meal and provides nutrients that would otherwise be lost.

The Common Mistake Many Pet Owners Make

One of the most common mistakes in raw feeding is draining the liquid from thawed food before serving.

While it may seem harmless, this practice removes water-soluble nutrients that belong in the food bowl.

Every drop contains nutritional value. Throwing it away means reducing the overall nutrient content of the meal.

Instead, simply stir the liquid back into the food before serving.

The Bottom Line

The red liquid found in thawed raw food is not something to fear or discard. It is a natural mixture of water and myoglobin that contains valuable nutrients, including iron, amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

By mixing these juices back into your pet's meal, you help ensure they receive all the nutrition nature intended.

At Betty's Raw Recipes, we believe that every component of a fresh, species-appropriate diet has value. From the muscle meat and organs to the nutrient-rich myoglobin released during thawing, feeding the whole food helps support optimal health, vitality, and wellbeing.

So next time you thaw your pet's raw food, remember:

Don't pour it down the sink.

Mix it back in.

Your pet deserves every drop.

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