Raw Dog Food Calculator
Raw feeders usually feed a percentage of body weight each day. Enter your dog's details to see the daily amount and the meat, bone and organ split.
How the calculation works
Adult dogs typically eat 2% to 3% of their ideal body weight in raw food per day. Puppies eat much more relative to their size: about 8% of current weight at 2 to 4 months, dropping to about 4% by 6 to 12 months. Large-breed puppies are often capped at 2 to 3% of their expected adult weight instead, to slow growth.
The common "prey model" split is 80% muscle meat, 10% edible bone, 5% liver and 5% other secreting organs (kidney, spleen, pancreas). Many people also add a little fish for omega-3s.
Worked example
A 50 lb adult with normal activity: 50 × 2.5% = 1.25 lb a day (20 oz). That's 16 oz muscle meat, 2 oz bone, 1 oz liver and 1 oz other organ, split into two 10 oz meals.
Raw food amounts by dog weight
Adults at 2.5% of body weight a day, split 80/10/5/5.
| Dog weight | Food a day | Muscle meat | Bone | Liver + other organ | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | 4.0 oz | 3.2 oz | 0.4 oz | 0.4 oz | 1.8 lb |
| 20 lb | 8.0 oz | 6.4 oz | 0.8 oz | 0.8 oz | 3.5 lb |
| 30 lb | 12.0 oz | 9.6 oz | 1.2 oz | 1.2 oz | 5.2 lb |
| 40 lb | 16.0 oz | 12.8 oz | 1.6 oz | 1.6 oz | 7.0 lb |
| 50 lb | 20.0 oz | 16.0 oz | 2.0 oz | 2.0 oz | 8.8 lb |
| 60 lb | 24.0 oz | 19.2 oz | 2.4 oz | 2.4 oz | 10.5 lb |
| 70 lb | 28.0 oz | 22.4 oz | 2.8 oz | 2.8 oz | 12.2 lb |
| 80 lb | 32.0 oz | 25.6 oz | 3.2 oz | 3.2 oz | 14.0 lb |
| 100 lb | 40.0 oz | 32.0 oz | 4.0 oz | 4.0 oz | 17.5 lb |
Frequently asked questions
Is raw feeding safe?
Raw meat can carry Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli, which can sicken dogs and the people handling the food. The AVMA and FDA advise against raw diets for this reason. If you do feed raw, handle it like raw meat for people and talk to your vet, especially with young children or anyone with a weak immune system in the house.
Do I need to balance a raw diet?
Yes. Homemade raw diets are often short on vitamin E, zinc, iodine or vitamin D. A board-certified veterinary nutritionist can check a recipe, or you can buy a commercial raw food labeled "complete and balanced".