How much raw food to feed a dog
Raw feeders use a simple rule: an adult dog eats 2 to 3% of its body weight a day. Calm and older dogs are at the low end. Very active dogs are at the high end. Most dogs start at 2.5%.
Raw food a day = weight × 2.5%
A 60 lb dog eats about 1½ lb a day. That is 1 lb of food for every 40 lb of dog. Weigh your dog every week or two. If it gains, feed a little less. If it gets thin, feed a little more.
Raw food for weight loss
A dog that needs to lose weight eats 2% of its healthy weight, not of today's weight. The calculator finds the healthy weight from your dog's shape. Feeding by today's weight keeps the extra pounds on. Choose lean meat, and keep fatty cuts and treats small.
How much raw food to feed a puppy
Puppies grow fast, so they eat a bigger share of their weight. The share gets smaller as they grow. Weigh your puppy every week and run the numbers again.
- 2–4 months: about 9% of today's weight, in 4 meals
- 4–6 months: about 7%, in 3 meals
- 6–9 months: about 5%, in 2 or 3 meals
- 9–12 months: about 3%, in 2 meals
Puppies need the right calcium for their bones. A mistake can harm large breeds for life. For a puppy, use a complete raw food made for puppies, or a recipe from a vet nutritionist.
The 80/10/10 split
If you make raw food at home, the common recipe is 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone and 10% organ. Half of the organ part is liver. The other half is another organ, such as kidney or spleen. Over a week the parts should add up, so a single day does not need to be exact.
Bought a complete raw food? Feed the total amount. The maker has already done the split.
Stay safe with raw food
Raw meat can carry germs like Salmonella and Listeria. These can make dogs and people sick. The FDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association advise against raw diets for this reason. If you feed raw, thaw it in the fridge, wash bowls and hands after each meal, and keep it away from small children and people with weak immune systems. Never feed cooked bones. They can break into sharp pieces.
Questions
Is this for freeze-dried raw food too?
No. Freeze-dried food has no water, so a small amount has a lot of food in it. Use the feeding guide on the bag. If you add water back as the bag says, it is close to fresh raw.
How many meals a day?
Two meals for most adult dogs. Puppies need more meals, from 4 a day when young down to 2 by about 9 months.
My dog is always hungry on raw. Is that normal?
Raw food has less bulk than kibble, so the bowl can look small. Do not add more food just because of the look. See why your dog is always hungry for what helps.
Can I mix raw and kibble?
Yes. Many owners do. Cut each one to the right share: for example, half the raw amount and half the cups from the dog food calculator.
How do I switch to raw?
Some dogs switch at once. Others need about a week, with a little more raw and a little less old food each day. If the stool gets loose, slow down.
Do treats count?
Yes. Keep treats under 10% of the day. The treat calculator shows how many fit.