How the Raw Dog Food Calculator Works
The raw dog food calculator uses the percentage-of-body-weight method. An adult dog eats 2–3% of its ideal body weight in raw food per day — 2% for weight loss, 2.5% for maintenance, 3% for active dogs. It then splits that total into the correct ratios: the Prey Model (PMR) 80/10/10 split of 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, and 5% other organ, or the BARF model which adds vegetables and fruit.
Unlike kibble, raw diets are measured by weight of food rather than calories, because whole-food ingredients (meat, bone, organ) vary in density. The calculation is simple: convert your dog’s body weight to grams, then multiply by the daily percentage.
Daily raw food (g) = body weight (kg) × 1000 × feeding %
e.g. a 20 kg dog at 2.5% = 20 × 1000 × 0.025 = 500 g per day
The calculator then applies the model ratios to break the total into muscle meat, raw edible bone, liver, and other secreting organ — the amounts most owners actually need to shop for and portion. Ratios are balanced over a week, not forced into every single meal.
Raw Dog Food Chart by Weight (Grams Per Day)
The chart shows daily raw food in grams for adult dogs at 2% (weight loss), 2.5% (maintenance), and 3% (active). A 10 lb dog needs about 115 g/day at maintenance; a 30 lb dog about 340 g; a 50 lb dog about 565 g; an 80 lb dog about 905 g. Split into two meals and adjust to body condition.
| Dog Weight | 2%
weight loss | 2.5%
maintenance | 3%
active |
|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 90 g | 115 g | 135 g |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 180 g | 225 g | 270 g |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 270 g | 340 g | 410 g |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 365 g | 455 g | 545 g |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 455 g | 565 g | 680 g |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 545 g | 680 g | 815 g |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 635 g | 795 g | 955 g |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 725 g | 905 g | 1,090 g |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 905 g | 1,135 g | 1,360 g |
Amounts are total raw food per day, rounded. Use the calculator above for your exact weight plus the muscle / bone / liver / organ breakdown.
The 80/10/10 Raw Dog Food Ratio Explained
The 80/10/10 ratio is the foundation of raw feeding: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ (split into 5% liver and 5% other secreting organ). For a 500 g daily portion that is 400 g muscle meat, 50 g bone, 25 g liver, and 25 g other organ. This mirrors the composition of a whole prey animal.
Each component plays a specific nutritional role. Getting the balance right — especially bone (calcium) and liver (vitamin A) — is what makes a raw diet complete. Here is what each part means:
| Component | PMR % | What It Includes | Why It Matters |
|---|
| Muscle Meat | 80% | Beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, heart (heart is muscle, not organ) | Protein, amino acids, taurine |
| Raw Edible Bone | 10% | Chicken wings, necks, carcass, duck necks | Calcium & phosphorus; firm stools |
| Liver | 5% | Beef, chicken, or lamb liver | Vitamin A, copper, B vitamins |
| Other Secreting Organ | 5% | Kidney, spleen, pancreas, testicles | Zinc, selenium, trace minerals |
Heart is muscle, not organ: A common mistake is counting heart as part of the 10% organ. Heart is a muscle — it goes in the 80% muscle-meat portion. Only secreting organs (liver, kidney, spleen) count toward the 10%.
BARF vs Prey Model Raw (PMR): Which Ratio?
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) includes plant matter — roughly 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 10% vegetables and fruit, 5% liver, and 5% other organ. Prey Model Raw (PMR) contains no plants and uses the 80/10/10 ratio to replicate whole prey. Both are complete when balanced; BARF suits owners who want to include vegetables, PMR is fully animal-based.
🥩
Prey Model (PMR)
80 / 10 / 5 / 5
meat · bone · liver · organ
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BARF
70 / 10 / 10 / 5 / 5
+ veg & fruit
PMR (also called the “prey model” or “franken-prey”) is based on the idea that dogs evolved eating whole animals, so it uses only meat, bone, and organ. BARF, developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, argues that dogs benefit from a small amount of plant matter for fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Both approaches use the same 2–3% body-weight rule for total quantity — they differ only in what fills the bowl. Choose one and stay consistent; switch models gradually if you change.
How Much Raw Food to Feed a Puppy (by Age)
Puppies eat 5–10% of their current body weight in raw food per day, decreasing as they grow: about 8–10% at 8–12 weeks, 7–8% at 3–4 months, 6% at 4–6 months, 5% at 6–8 months, and 4% at 8–12 months, settling to 2.5–3% as an adult. Split across 3–4 meals and give slightly more bone (12%) for growing bones.
| Puppy Age | % of Current Weight | Meals / Day |
|---|
| 8–12 weeks | 8–10% | 4 |
| 3–4 months | 7–8% | 3–4 |
| 4–6 months | 6% | 3 |
| 6–8 months | 5% | 2–3 |
| 8–12 months | 4% | 2 |
| Adult (12+ months) | 2–3% | 2 |
Re-weigh weekly: A puppy’s weight changes fast, so recalculate every 1–2 weeks. Because you feed by current weight, the gram amount naturally rises as the puppy grows, then the percentage steps down with age. Large and giant breeds should not be overfed — rapid growth stresses developing joints.
How to Transition Your Dog to Raw Food
Transition a healthy adult dog to raw over 7–10 days by starting with a single, gentle protein (like chicken or turkey) and feeding it exclusively for a few days before adding organ and new proteins. Many owners switch cold turkey with healthy adults, but a gradual introduction reduces the risk of loose stools. Introduce bone and organ slowly.
| Days | What to Feed |
|---|
| Days 1–3 | One lean protein (chicken/turkey) as muscle meat + a little edible bone. No organ yet. |
| Days 4–6 | Introduce liver in small amounts (build toward 5%). Keep the same protein. |
| Days 7–10 | Add other secreting organ (kidney/spleen) and a second protein. Reach full 80/10/10. |
| Week 2+ | Rotate 3–4 proteins over time for variety and complete nutrition. |
Watch the stools: Loose stool usually means too much organ or a too-fast change — scale back and slow down. Chalky, hard, white stool means too much bone — add more muscle meat. Firm and easy to pass is the target.
Cost of Raw Dog Food vs Kibble
Raw feeding usually costs more than standard kibble but can match premium kibble, depending on the proteins you choose and whether you buy in bulk. A large dog eating around 1 kg of raw food a day costs far more to feed than a small dog. Buying whole cuts, bulk boxes, and cheaper proteins (chicken, turkey, organ) brings the cost down substantially.
The biggest cost driver is your dog’s size, because raw is priced by weight. Use the Cost & Meal Prep tab above to enter your own price per kilogram or pound and see the daily, weekly, and monthly cost, plus the weekly batch amounts to buy and portion. Ways to reduce cost include buying in bulk when butchers or raw suppliers run boxed deals, using nutritious but inexpensive cuts and organ, and prepping a week or month of meals at once to freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
Adult dogs eat 2–3% of ideal body weight in raw food per day: 2% for weight loss, 2.5% for maintenance, and 3% (up to 4%) for active or working dogs. A 50 lb (22.7 kg) dog at 2.5% eats about 565 g daily, split into two meals. Puppies eat much more — 5–10% of current weight. Always adjust to your dog’s body condition after 2–4 weeks.
How do I calculate raw dog food portions by weight?
Convert body weight to grams (kg × 1000, or lb × 453.6), then multiply by the daily percentage. A 20 kg dog at 2.5% = 20,000 × 0.025 = 500 g/day. Split into the 80/10/10 ratio: 400 g muscle meat, 50 g bone, 25 g liver, 25 g other organ. The calculator above does this instantly and shows every component in grams.
What is the 80/10/10 raw dog food ratio?
80/10/10 is the Prey Model Raw (PMR) ratio: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ (5% liver + 5% other secreting organ such as kidney or spleen). It replicates whole prey. For 500 g/day that’s 400 g muscle, 50 g bone, 25 g liver, 25 g other organ. Note that heart counts as muscle meat, not organ.
What is the difference between BARF and Prey Model (PMR)?
BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) includes plant matter — roughly 70% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% veg/fruit, 5% liver, 5% other organ. Prey Model Raw (PMR) has no plants and uses 80/10/10 to mimic whole prey. Both use the same 2–3% body-weight rule for total amount; they differ only in whether vegetables are included. Pick one and stay consistent.
How much raw food should I feed a puppy?
Puppies eat 5–10% of current body weight daily, decreasing with age: about 8–10% at 8–12 weeks, 7–8% at 3–4 months, 6% at 4–6 months, 5% at 6–8 months, 4% at 8–12 months, then 2.5–3% as an adult. Split across 3–4 meals for young puppies, give slightly more edible bone (12%) for growing bones, and re-weigh weekly. Use the Puppy tab above.
How many grams of raw food should I feed my dog?
Multiply body weight in grams by the daily percentage. At 2.5%: a 10 kg dog eats 250 g, a 20 kg dog 500 g, a 30 kg dog 750 g, a 40 kg dog 1,000 g. In pounds: a 25 lb dog ≈ 283 g, a 50 lb dog ≈ 567 g, a 75 lb dog ≈ 850 g per day. The calculator above gives the exact figure and the per-component grams.
Is raw dog food cheaper than kibble?
Raw usually costs more than standard kibble but can match premium kibble, depending on the proteins and whether you buy in bulk. Cost scales with your dog’s size, since raw is priced by weight. Bulk buying, cheaper cuts, and batch prepping lower the cost. Use the Cost & Meal Prep tab above to estimate your dog’s daily, weekly, and monthly cost from your own prices.
Do the ratios need to be exact at every meal?
No — balance the 80/10/10 ratio over a week, not every single meal. It is normal to feed a bonier meal one day and a muscle-heavy meal the next. What matters is that the weekly average lands near 80% muscle, 10% bone, 5% liver, and 5% other organ. This is why many owners batch-prep and portion a week at a time.
Sources & Methodology
The feeding percentages and ratios used in this calculator reflect established raw-feeding guidance. No figures are fabricated without citation.
- Percentage & Ratio Method — Perfectly Rawsome, PMR & BARF feeding guides and ratio breakdowns. perfectlyrawsome.com.
- BARF Model — Dr. Ian Billinghurst, originator of the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet.
- Nutrient Standards — FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry) & AAFCO complete-and-balanced nutrient profiles for dogs. aafco.org.
- Energy & Body Condition — WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee body condition score guidance. wsava.org.
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PetCalculatorHub Editorial Team
Written and maintained by the PetCalculatorHub Editorial Team. All calculator logic, feeding percentages, and ratios are fact-checked against established raw-feeding and veterinary nutrition sources before publication.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
Disclaimer: This calculator gives general starting estimates. A raw diet must be balanced across muscle meat, bone, and organ over time. Consult your veterinarian or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist before switching to raw, especially for puppies, seniors, pregnant or nursing dogs, or dogs with health conditions. Follow safe raw-meat handling and hygiene practices.
