How much raw food should I feed my dog per day?

The standard guideline is 2-3% of your dog's ideal body weight per day. A moderately active adult dog at ideal weight should receive 2.5% of body weight. High-energy or working dogs need around 3%, while senior or less active dogs may only need 2%. Puppies under 12 months need significantly more at around 5% of body weight to support growth.

What is the 80/10/10 rule for raw feeding?

The 80/10/10 rule is a widely used guideline for balanced raw feeding. It means 80% of the daily ration should be muscle meat, meaty bones, and connective tissue. 10% should be secreting organ meat (such as liver, kidney, and spleen), and the remaining 10% should be vegetables and fruit. This ratio approximates the nutritional profile of whole prey and provides a balanced diet when followed consistently.

Should I adjust portions if my dog is overweight?

Yes. For overweight dogs, reduce the daily percentage by 0.5% from the base rate for their activity level. For example, a moderately active overweight dog would receive 2% instead of 2.5% of body weight. Weigh your dog regularly and adjust portions gradually. It is also worth consulting your vet to rule out underlying health conditions before starting a weight loss programme.

Raw Dog Food Calculator

Calculate daily raw feeding portions based on your dog's weight, activity, and condition

Published by UltraCalculatorsLast reviewed: 29 Mar 2026v1.0Report an issue

This calculator provides general guidelines based on BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) principles. Always consult your veterinarian before switching to a raw diet, especially for puppies, pregnant dogs, or dogs with health conditions.

Raw feeding has become increasingly popular among UK dog owners, with surveys suggesting that around 12% of dogs in Britain now eat a raw diet at least some of the time. The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) approach is based on the principle that dogs thrive on a diet similar to what their ancestors would have eaten: raw meat, bones, offal, and a small proportion of vegetables. The most common question new raw feeders have is simply "how much should I feed?" The answer depends on your dog's weight, activity level, life stage, and body condition. Unlike kibble, which comes with a feeding guide on the packet, raw food requires you to calculate portions yourself based on a percentage of your dog's body weight. This calculator uses the standard BARF percentage guidelines to compute daily, per-meal, weekly, and monthly feeding amounts. It also adjusts for body condition, increasing portions for underweight dogs and reducing them for those that need to slim down. The recommended split for a balanced raw diet is 80% muscle meat, meaty bones, and connective tissue, 10% secreting organ meat, and 10% vegetables and fruit.

How to Use This Calculator

To calculate your dog's raw food portions: 1. Enter your dog's weight in kilograms. Use their current weight if at ideal condition, or their target weight if significantly over or underweight. Most veterinary practices offer free weigh-ins. 2. Select the activity level. "Low" suits senior or inactive dogs, "Moderate" covers most pet dogs with daily walks, "High" is for working, sporting, or very active dogs, and "Puppy" is for dogs under 12 months. 3. Select the body condition. Choose "Underweight" if your dog needs to gain weight (visible ribs with no fat covering), "Ideal" if they are at a healthy weight, or "Overweight" if they need to lose weight (ribs not easily felt under a layer of fat). 4. Review the results showing daily grams, per-meal grams (based on 2 meals per day), weekly total, monthly total, and the percentage of body weight being fed. 5. Split the daily amount according to the 80/10/10 rule: 80% meat, bone, and connective tissue; 10% organ meat; 10% vegetables.

How It Works

The raw dog food calculator uses percentage-of-body-weight guidelines commonly used in BARF feeding: Base feeding percentages by activity level: - Low (senior/inactive): 2% of body weight - Moderate (typical adult): 2.5% of body weight - High (working/sporting): 3% of body weight - Puppy (under 12 months): 5% of body weight Body condition adjustment: - Underweight: +0.5% added to base - Ideal weight: no adjustment - Overweight: -0.5% subtracted from base Daily Percentage = Base Percentage + Condition Adjustment Daily Grams = Dog Weight (kg) x 1,000 x Daily Percentage / 100 Meal Grams = Daily Grams / 2 (two meals per day) Weekly Grams = Daily Grams x 7 Monthly Kilograms = Weekly Grams x 4.33 / 1,000 The 4.33 factor represents the average number of weeks per month (52 weeks / 12 months). The 80/10/10 split ensures nutritional balance: - 80% muscle meat, meaty bones, and connective tissue for protein and minerals - 10% secreting organs (liver, kidney, spleen) for vitamins A, B, D, and iron - 10% vegetables and fruit for fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients

Worked Examples

Example 1: Moderate adult dog at ideal weight

Inputs: Dog weight: 15 kg. Activity level: Moderate. Body condition: Ideal.

Base percentage for moderate activity: 2.5%.
Condition adjustment for ideal: 0%.
Daily percentage = 2.5 + 0 = 2.5%.
Daily grams = 15 x 1,000 x 2.5 / 100 = 375 g.
Per meal (2 meals) = 375 / 2 = 188 g.
Weekly = 375 x 7 = 2,625 g.
Monthly = 2,625 x 4.33 / 1,000 = 11.4 kg.

Result: Feed 375 g per day split across two meals of 188 g each. That is approximately 2.6 kg per week or 11.4 kg per month. Of the 375 g daily, 300 g should be meat/bone, 37.5 g organ meat, and 37.5 g vegetables.

Example 2: Active underweight working dog

Inputs: Dog weight: 30 kg. Activity level: High. Body condition: Underweight.

Base percentage for high activity: 3%.
Condition adjustment for underweight: +0.5%.
Daily percentage = 3 + 0.5 = 3.5%.
Daily grams = 30 x 1,000 x 3.5 / 100 = 1,050 g.
Per meal = 1,050 / 2 = 525 g.
Weekly = 1,050 x 7 = 7,350 g.
Monthly = 7,350 x 4.33 / 1,000 = 31.8 kg.

Result: Feed 1,050 g per day in two meals of 525 g. This dog needs nearly 32 kg of raw food per month. The increased percentage helps build condition while supporting the energy demands of a high-activity lifestyle.

Example 3: Overweight senior dog

Inputs: Dog weight: 20 kg. Activity level: Low. Body condition: Overweight.

Base percentage for low activity: 2%.
Condition adjustment for overweight: -0.5%.
Daily percentage = 2 - 0.5 = 1.5%.
Daily grams = 20 x 1,000 x 1.5 / 100 = 300 g.
Per meal = 300 / 2 = 150 g.
Weekly = 300 x 7 = 2,100 g.
Monthly = 2,100 x 4.33 / 1,000 = 9.1 kg.

Result: Feed 300 g per day in two meals of 150 g. The reduced 1.5% rate supports gradual weight loss while still meeting nutritional needs. Weigh your dog fortnightly and adjust portions as they approach their target weight.