Raw Dog Food Calculator
Work out your dog's daily raw (BARF) food portion from body weight and activity, then split it into the 80/10/5/5 muscle, bone, liver and organ ratio.
How it works
Daily food (lb) = body weight × feeding % ÷ 100 · oz = lb × 16 · g = lb × 453.6 · Split 80% muscle meat / 10% raw bone / 5% liver / 5% other secreting organ
A raw or BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet is portioned as a percentage of the dog's body weight rather than by calorie counting. Adult dogs at a healthy weight typically eat about 2–3% of their weight a day, growing puppies far more (around 10%, tapering as they mature), and overweight dogs a little less (around 2%). Whatever the daily total, it is divided by the standard 80/10/5/5 ratio: 80% muscle meat for protein, 10% raw edible bone for calcium, 5% liver as the vitamin-A powerhouse, and 5% other secreting organ such as kidney or spleen. The bone fraction matters most — too much causes constipation, too little leaves a calcium gap — so weigh components rather than eyeballing them, and adjust the percentage up or down every couple of weeks based on your dog's body condition.
Worked example
A 50 lb adult dog at 2.5% maintenance eats 50 × 0.025 = 1.25 lb a day, which is 1.25 × 16 = 20 oz (about 567 g). Splitting that gives 16 oz muscle meat, 2 oz raw bone, 1 oz liver and 1 oz other organ — roughly 454 g, 57 g, 28 g and 28 g respectively.
Frequently asked questions
How much raw food should my dog eat per day?
Most adult dogs at a healthy weight eat 2–3% of their body weight daily, split across one or two meals. Active or working dogs sit near 3%, sedentary or overweight dogs near 2%, and puppies much higher — around 10% of current weight, decreasing as they approach adult size.
What is the 80/10/5/5 ratio?
It is the standard BARF balance: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver and 5% other secreting organ (like kidney or spleen). The 10% bone supplies calcium, and the two 5% organ portions cover vitamins and minerals muscle meat alone lacks.
Should puppies eat the same ratio?
Puppies use the same 80/10/5/5 ratio but a much larger daily amount — commonly about 10% of their current body weight, recalculated as they grow. Because their skeletons are developing, getting the bone and calcium fraction right is especially important, which is a good reason to have a vet review a puppy raw plan.
Related calculators
General guidance — consult your vet for your specific animal.