Calculator
Raw feeding calculator
The daily amount of a raw diet by weight, age and activity, broken down by component. The weekly column doubles as your shopping list.
Total daily amount
— g
— oz · — % of body weight · — kg a week
| Component | Share | Daily | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle meat (including heart and fattier cuts) | 70 % | — g | — g |
| Raw meaty bone (necks, wings, backs) | 10 % | — g | — g |
| Liver | 5 % | — g | — g |
| Other secreting organs (kidney, spleen) | 5 % | — g | — g |
| Vegetables (blended) | 7 % | — g | — g |
| Fruit | 3 % | — g | — g |
The 70/10/5/5/10 split is the most widely used starting ratio for adult dogs. It is not a complete recipe on its own: a raw diet also needs a source of omega-3 (fish oil or oily fish once or twice a week), vitamin E and often iodine. Feed puppies raw only with guidance from a veterinary nutritionist.
How the amount is worked out
A raw diet is dosed as a percentage of body weight, because its energy density is fairly stable at roughly 150 to 200 kcal per 100 g depending on how fatty the meat is. The starting point for an adult dog is 2.5 % of body weight, which the calculator adjusts for activity and goal. For puppies the percentages are higher and fall with age, calculated from current weight: 8 % at 2 to 4 months, 6 % at 4 to 6 months, 4 % at 6 to 9 months and 3 % up to a year.
Why 70/10/5/5/10
The ratio mirrors the composition of whole prey: muscle meat dominates, bone supplies calcium and phosphorus at roughly 1.2 to 1, liver is the main source of vitamin A, copper and iron, and other organs such as kidney, spleen and brain fill in trace elements. Vegetables and fruit stand in for the stomach contents of prey and provide fibre; to be usable they need to be blended or lightly cooked. The 5 % liver figure matters in both directions: more leads to vitamin A excess, less to deficiency.
What the calculator does not do
It works out the amount, not the completeness. A raw diet of meat and bone alone is typically short on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, iodine, zinc and sometimes manganese. Add fish oil or oily fish, vitamin E and iodine, or a quality supplement made for raw diets. For dogs with kidney, pancreatic or liver disease, and for puppies, have the diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.
Common questions
How much raw food should a dog eat per day?
An adult dog usually needs 2 to 3 % of body weight a day, so a 20 kg (44 lb) dog eats 400 to 600 g. Low activity dogs and giant breeds manage on 2 %, sporting dogs need 3 % or more. Small dogs under 5 kg (11 lb) burn more per kilogram and often need 3 to 4 %. Puppies get 4 to 10 % of current body weight depending on age.
What is the right ratio of meat, bone and organs?
The most widely used starting model is 70 % muscle meat, 10 % raw meaty bone, 5 % liver, 5 % other secreting organs and 10 % vegetables and fruit. Some feeders drop the plant matter, which pushes meat to 80 % in the prey model. The ratio is a framework, not a rule: follow the stools and body condition.
Can I feed a puppy raw?
You can, but not without expert guidance. A growing puppy has a narrow window for calcium and phosphorus and mistakes show up permanently in the skeleton. If you want to raise a puppy on raw, have the diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist and weigh the puppy regularly.
Which bones are safe?
Only raw and meaty ones: chicken necks and wings, turkey necks, oxtail, rabbit. Never cooked, baked or smoked bones, which splinter. Weight bearing bones from large animals are too hard and break teeth. Bone makes up about 10 % of the diet; reduce it if your dog is constipated and raise it slightly if the stools are loose.
What supplements does a raw diet need?
Fish oil or oily sea fish once or twice a week for omega-3, vitamin E when feeding fish oil, iodine (kelp) if you feed no fish, and one or two eggs a week. If you do not feed bone you need another calcium source such as eggshell or bone meal. Complete supplement blends for raw diets are a convenient alternative.
Is raw meat dangerous for dogs?
For a healthy adult dog the risk is low, since its gut is adapted to raw meat. The greater risk is to the people in the house: Salmonella and Listeria spread from meat, bowls and dog saliva. Basic hygiene keeps that in check: wash hands, use separate equipment and freeze the meat. In homes with young children, older people or anyone immunocompromised, think carefully before feeding raw.