Raw feeding is usually dosed as a percentage of body weight rather than in calories: about 2–3% a day for adult dogs, much more for puppies. The percentage is a starting point that you adjust to the dog in front of you. This calculator gives the daily amount, splits it into meals, and breaks it down into the meat, bone and organ proportions of the two common raw models.
How it is calculated
- Daily food = body weight × feeding rate. A 20 kg dog at 2.5% eats 500 g a day.
- Feeding rates: 2% for weight loss or very sedentary dogs, 2.5% for a typical adult, 3% for active or working dogs, 3.5% to gain. Puppies eat 8% of their current weight at 2–4 months, dropping to 4% by 6–12 months (or 2–3% of their expected adult weight).
- Ratios: BARF is roughly 70% muscle meat, 10% edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ, 7% vegetables, 3% seeds and supplements. Prey model is 80% meat, 10% bone, 10% organ (half liver), no plants.
Example
A 20 kg adult with normal activity, two meals, BARF: 500 g a day, 250 g per meal, 3.5 kg a week, about 15 kg a month. Per day that is 350 g of muscle meat, 50 g of edible bone (a chicken wing or neck), 25 g liver, 25 g kidney or spleen, 35 g of vegetables and 15 g of seeds or supplements.
Adjusting the amount
Weigh the dog every two weeks. You should feel ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a tuck behind the ribcage. Ribs showing: add 10%. No waist: cut 10%. Working dogs in winter, growing puppies and nursing bitches can exceed these rates by a lot; toy breeds often need 3–4%.
Safety basics
Bone must be raw and edible (poultry frames, necks, wings, ribs of small animals); cooked bone splinters, and weight-bearing bones of large animals crack teeth. Balance over the week, not in every meal, and rotate at least three protein sources. Handle raw meat as you would for people: freeze, thaw in the fridge, clean bowls after each meal. Pregnant people, small children and immunocompromised household members raise the bar on hygiene. A vet or veterinary nutritionist can check that a home-prepared diet is complete, especially for puppies.
Frequently asked questions
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
About 2–3% of ideal body weight per day for adults: 2% to lose weight, 2.5% for normal activity, 3% for active dogs. A 25 kg dog at 2.5% eats about 625 g a day.
How much raw food does a puppy need?
Roughly 8% of current weight at 2–4 months, 6% at 4–6 months and 4% at 6–12 months, or 2–3% of the expected adult weight, split into 3–4 meals. Puppies grow fast, so recalculate every week or two.
What is the 80/10/10 rule?
The prey-model ratio: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 10% organs, of which half is liver. BARF diets use similar proportions with 7–10% vegetables added.
Can I feed raw and kibble together?
Yes, many people do, either in separate meals or mixed. Reduce each by the share it makes of the day’s calories; kibble is much more calorie-dense per gram than raw.
How do I know if I am feeding too much bone?
White, crumbly, hard stools mean too much bone; soft or loose stools often mean too little (or too much organ). Aim for firm, dark stools and adjust the bone share by a few percent.
Sources
- Billinghurst I. Give Your Dog a Bone (BARF model)
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Raw meat-based diets statement
- FDA: Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous
By Calcelate Team. Formula from the sources above.
- 2026-09-14 · Formula and texts checked