Calculate daily raw food amounts for your dog using the BARF model. Get exact grams for muscle meat, bone, liver, and organs based on body weight percentage.
Raw feeding — whether following the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) model or prey model — requires careful balancing of muscle meat, bone, organ meats, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. Getting the ratios wrong can lead to nutritional deficiencies or excesses that harm your dog over time.
This Raw Feeding Ratio Calculator determines your dog's daily raw food intake based on a percentage of body weight (typically 2-3%) and breaks it down into the standard ratios: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 5% liver, and 5% other secreting organs.
Proper raw feeding requires commitment to balance over time. Not every meal needs to be perfectly balanced, but over the course of a week, the ratios should average out to the recommended proportions. This calculator gives you the daily targets to aim for.
Responsible pet owners, breeders, and veterinary professionals benefit from accurate raw feeding ratio data when making care decisions, budgeting for expenses, or monitoring health benchmarks. Revisit this tool whenever your pet's needs, weight, or age changes to keep recommendations current.
Calculating raw feeding amounts by hand involves multiple steps and is easy to get wrong. This calculator instantly provides exact gram measurements for each component based on your dog's specific weight and the percentage you've chosen. It eliminates math errors that could result in too much bone (causing constipation) or too little organ meat (causing nutrient deficiencies).
Daily Raw Food = Body Weight × Feeding Percentage Breakdown: Muscle Meat: 80% of daily total Raw Meaty Bone: 10% of daily total Liver: 5% of daily total Other Organs: 5% of daily total Feeding Percentage: Less active / overweight: 2% Average adult: 2.5% Active / underweight: 3% Puppies: 5-10% depending on age
Result: 681 g/day (24 oz) total raw food
A 60 lb dog (27.2 kg) at 2.5%: 27,200 g × 0.025 = 680 g/day. Breakdown: Muscle meat 544 g (80%), Bone 68 g (10%), Liver 34 g (5%), Other organs 34 g (5%). Split across 2 meals = ~340 g per meal.
The 80/10/5/5 ratio is a guideline for nutritional completeness. Muscle meat provides protein and fat. Bone supplies calcium and phosphorus. Liver delivers vitamin A, B vitamins, and iron. Other organs like kidney and spleen fill in remaining micronutrient gaps.
Every dog is different. Working and sporting dogs may need 3-4% of body weight, while senior or sedentary dogs may maintain on just 1.5-2%. Track your dog's weight and body condition monthly and adjust the percentage accordingly.
Switch gradually over 7-14 days, starting with one simple protein. Introduce bone slowly to allow the digestive system to adapt. Many dogs experience a detox period with loose stools or shedding changes — this typically resolves within 2-3 weeks.
BARF includes 80% meat/bone, 10% organs, and 10% fruits/vegetables. The prey model uses 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, 5% organs with no plant matter. Both models are widely used in raw feeding communities.
Start at 2.5% and monitor weight over 2-3 weeks. If your dog loses weight, increase to 3%. If they gain, reduce to 2%. Very active working dogs may need 3-4%, while sedentary dogs may thrive at 1.5-2%.
Opinions vary. Some raw feeders mix, while purists keep them separate. If combining, calculate total daily calories from both sources. Many dogs transition between raw and kibble without issues.
Typically yes, though sourcing from ethnic markets, buying in bulk, or using chicken-based proteins can reduce costs. A medium dog might cost $100-200/month on raw versus $40-80 on quality kibble.
Treat raw dog food like you would raw meat for human consumption. Thaw in the refrigerator, serve in cleanable bowls, wash surfaces that contact raw meat, and don't leave food out more than 20 minutes.
A balanced raw diet with variety usually provides complete nutrition. However, many raw feeders add fish oil (omega-3s), vitamin E, and kelp. Consult a veterinary nutritionist to ensure completeness for your specific feeding plan.