⚡ Quick answer: Raw food (BARF/PMR) diet calculator for dogs. Daily portion 2-3% body weight adult; 5-10% puppy. BARF 70/10/10/10 vs PMR 80/10/10 ratios. Bone safety, supplementation (omega-3, kelp, vit E), bacterial risk (FDA/AVMA), and cost estimates.
What Raw Feeding Is – And Isn’t
Raw feeding for dogs takes several forms but shares the central idea: feed minimally processed, biologically appropriate ingredients rather than processed kibble.
The Two Main Models
BARF — Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (Billinghurst, 1993):
- 70% muscle meat
- 10% raw meaty bone
- 10% organs (5% liver + 5% other secreting organs)
- 10% vegetables, fruit, seeds
PMR — Prey Model Raw (Lonsdale, “Raw Meaty Bones”, 2001):
- 80% muscle meat
- 10% raw meaty bone
- 10% organs
- No vegetables (mimics whole prey)
Franken-prey is a hybrid (75/10/10/5).
Lightly cooked removes bacterial risk but requires calcium supplementation (eggshell powder, bone meal).
Daily Portion Math
Daily ration is calculated as a percentage of body weight that varies by life stage:
| Life Stage | % Body Weight Daily |
|---|---|
| Puppy 2-4 months | 10% |
| Puppy 4-6 months | 8% |
| Puppy 6-12 months | 5-6% |
| Adolescent (12-18 mo) | 3-4% |
| Adult | 2-3% |
| Senior | 1.5-2.5% |
| Pregnant (wk 5-9) | 3-4% |
| Lactating (peak wk 3-4) | 5-8% |
Then adjust by activity (sedentary 0.85× → endurance 1.6×) and BCS goal (underweight 1.15× → obese 0.75×).
Weigh weekly. BCS check fortnightly. Adjust at the meal, not the day.
Raw Meaty Bones — Safety Matters
Safe (soft, edible, weight-non-bearing):
- Chicken necks, wings, backs, feet
- Turkey necks (medium-large dogs)
- Lamb necks, ribs
- Rabbit (whole or parts)
- Duck necks, feet
- Fish frames (mackerel, herring)
Danger (do not feed):
- Cooked bones of ANY kind — splinter dangerously
- Large weight-bearing leg bones (femur, marrow bones) — tooth fractures
- Pork shanks/hocks — too hard
- Cut/sawn bones — sharp edges
- Bones smaller than the dog’s muzzle — choking
Tooth fractures of the carnassial (upper P4) are the #1 raw-feeding injury — caused by hard weight-bearing bones used as “chew toys”.
The Supplementation Gap
Pedersen 2012 found 95% of online raw recipes deficient in at least one essential nutrient. Common gaps:
- Omega-3 (EPA+DHA) — most raw diets low unless fatty fish 2-3×/week. Add wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, or fish oil 75-100 mg EPA+DHA per kg/day.
- Vitamin D — often low in PMR. Cod liver oil ¼ tsp per 10 kg gives D and A.
- Iodine — risk of deficiency without thyroid glands or seaweed. Kelp powder ¼ tsp per 5 kg dog/week.
- Manganese — muscle-meat heavy diets short on Mn. Mussels, leafy greens, mussel powder.
- Zinc — beef liver supplies some; bivalves are richest.
- Vitamin E — frozen storage of raw food depletes vitamin E. Add 1 IU/kg/day if frozen.
- Calcium (cooked variant) — eggshell powder ½ tsp per 0.5 kg meat (~900 mg Ca per tsp).
Strong recommendation: work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (ACVN, ECVCN) or use BalanceIT / Petdiets.com / Animal Diet Formulator for any homemade raw diet beyond 4 weeks.
Bacterial Safety – The Honest Truth
FDA, AVMA, AAHA, and WSAVA all have position statements AGAINST raw feeding because of bacterial pathogen risk.
- Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria shed in 30-50% of raw-fed dogs’ stool vs <5% kibble-fed.
- Most healthy adult dogs tolerate without illness.
- Risk to immunocompromised humans in the household is real.
High-Risk Households Should Avoid Raw
- Infants
- Elderly
- Immunocompromised (chemo, HIV, transplant)
- Pregnant women
HACCP-Style Handling
- Dedicated cutting boards
- Hot soapy water wash
- Surface sanitation 1:10 bleach
- Treat raw dog food like raw chicken for humans
Commercial HPP (high-pressure-pasteurized) raw reduces pathogen load — preferable to unverified supply.
Freezing 3 weeks at -20°C reduces some parasites (Toxoplasma, cysticercosis) but does not eliminate bacteria.
Transition From Kibble
- Some dogs do well with abrupt switch; others need a gradual transition (25/75 → 50/50 → 75/25 over 9 days).
- Don’t mix in the same meal long-term — kibble digests in 8-12 hours, raw in 4-6.
- Starting protein: chicken, turkey, or rabbit (low fat, gentle).
- Introduce organs gradually — liver causes loose stool initially; start with 1-2% of meal.
What To Expect
First weeks — stool changes are normal:
- Smaller, firmer, less smelly = good
- Chalky white (“bone poop”) = too much bone — reduce next meal
- Soft/loose = too much organ (esp. liver), fat, or food intolerance
- Mucus or blood = vet visit
6-12 weeks — coat condition often improves; tartar reduces if raw meaty bones included.
Costs
For a medium dog (20 kg), expect:
- DIY sourcing (butcher scraps, bulk): $4-8/day = $120-240/month
- Home-prepared from grocery: $7-12/day = $200-360/month
- Commercial pre-made raw: $10-18/day = $300-540/month
Vs premium kibble $80-180/month — raw is typically 1.5-3× more expensive.
Who Should NOT Feed Raw
- Pancreatitis history (variable fat content)
- Severe IBD (variable response)
- Megaesophagus (regurgitation risk)
- Young puppies of giant breeds — calcium:phosphorus precision is critical; consider veterinary nutritionist oversight
- Immunocompromised dogs (chemotherapy, parvo recovery)
- Households with high-risk humans
What the Evidence Shows
Raw feeding studies are limited.
Pros reported (mostly observational): smaller firmer stools, less odor, better dental tartar control, improved coat condition, owner satisfaction.
Cons confirmed: bacterial shedding 30-50%, occasional thyroid hormone over-feeding (if neck included with thyroid glands), risk of nutritional imbalance, food cost 1.5-3× kibble, time investment.
No randomized trials show health superiority over high-quality kibble.
Choice remains owner preference with informed risk awareness.
Conclusion
Raw feeding is a legitimate choice for some dogs when carefully formulated. BARF and PMR models give workable frameworks. Critical points: precise calcium:phosphorus ratio (especially in growing dogs), supplementation gaps (omega-3, iodine, manganese, vitamin D, E), strict bone safety (no cooked bones, no weight-bearing bones), and bacterial handling like raw chicken for humans. Work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (ACVN) or use BalanceIT/Petdiets.com for any long-term homemade raw diet — 95% of online recipes are nutritionally deficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much raw food should I feed my dog per day?
ADULT DOGS – 2-3% of body weight per day. So a 20 kg adult = 400-600 g/day raw food. PUPPIES need much more because they’re growing – 2-4 months 10% BW, 4-6 months 8%, 6-12 months 5-6%. SENIORS 1.5-2.5%. PREGNANT dams 3-4% during weeks 5-9. LACTATING dams 5-8% at peak week 3-4. ADJUST UP for active/working dogs (1.15-1.6x), DOWN for sedentary (0.85x) or weight loss target (0.75-0.85x). WEIGH the dog weekly. BCS check (rib palpation) is gold standard – should feel ribs easily with thin fat layer = ideal. ADJUST EVERY 2 WEEKS for puppies, MONTHLY for adults based on body condition rather than scale alone.
Is raw feeding safe for dogs?
MIXED EVIDENCE. RAW FEEDING IS A LEGITIMATE CHOICE for many adult dogs when carefully formulated, BUT comes with real risks: BACTERIAL – Salmonella, Campylobacter, E.coli shed in 30-50% of raw-fed dogs’ stool (vs <5% kibble-fed); most healthy adult dogs tolerate but household humans CAN get sick. FDA, AVMA, AAHA, WSAVA all have position statements AGAINST raw feeding. NUTRITIONAL – 95% of online raw recipes are deficient in at least one essential nutrient (Pedersen 2012); supplementation required (omega-3, iodine, manganese, vit E, D). BONE – cooked bones SPLINTER (NEVER feed); raw weight-bearing bones cause tooth fractures (DON’T feed femurs). HIGH-RISK HOUSEHOLDS (infants, elderly, immunocompromised, pregnant) should NOT feed raw due to pathogen shedding. WORK WITH veterinary nutritionist (ACVN, ECVCN) or BalanceIT for any long-term raw diet.
BARF vs PMR – which is better for my dog?
BOTH WORK for most adult dogs if properly balanced. BARF (Billinghurst) – 70% muscle / 10% raw meaty bone / 10% organs / 10% vegetables-fruits-seeds. PMR (Prey Model Raw, Lonsdale) – 80% muscle / 10% bone / 10% organs, NO vegetables. THE KEY DIFFERENCE: vegetables/fruits provide fiber + antioxidants + some vitamins that PMR relies on whole prey for (skin/fur/stomach contents). PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS – BARF easier to balance for novice raw-feeders; PMR closer to wild canid diet but requires whole prey (rabbit, fish, eggs) or careful organ rotation. FRANKEN-PREY HYBRID (75/10/10/5) is common compromise. PUPPIES of large/giant breeds especially benefit from BARF over strict PMR for calcium:phosphorus precision. ELDERLY dogs sometimes do better with BARF’s fiber content for digestion. CHOOSE based on access to ingredients, your willingness to source whole prey, and dog’s individual response. NEITHER is automatically better; both can be done well or poorly.
What bones are safe for raw feeding?
SAFE (soft, edible, weight-non-bearing): CHICKEN necks/wings/backs/feet, TURKEY necks (medium-large dogs only), LAMB necks/ribs, RABBIT (whole or parts), DUCK necks/feet, FISH frames (mackerel, herring, sardine). DANGER – NEVER FEED: COOKED bones of ANY kind (splinter dangerously, perforate intestine); LARGE WEIGHT-BEARING leg bones – femur, marrow bones from beef/pork (cause CARNASSIAL TOOTH FRACTURES – #1 raw-feeding injury); PORK SHANKS/HOCKS (too hard); CUT/SAWN bones (sharp ends); BONES smaller than dog’s muzzle (choking risk). SUPERVISE all bone feeding. STOP if dog gulps without chewing. Some dogs handle larger bones better than others – know your dog. GULPERS should be hand-fed slow. For DENTAL benefit, raw meaty bones at meal time work; for chew toys, choose softer recreational options (raw chicken backs, turkey necks under supervision). TOOTH X-RAY annually catches subtle slab fractures from chewing too-hard bones.
What supplements does a raw-fed dog need?
MOST RAW DIETS need targeted supplementation. CRITICAL: OMEGA-3 (EPA+DHA) – 75-100 mg per kg/day; add wild salmon/sardines/mackerel 2-3x/week OR fish oil capsule. VITAMIN E – 1 IU/kg/day if feeding frozen ration (freezing depletes E). IODINE – kelp powder 1/4 tsp per 5 kg/week if not feeding whole prey. MANGANESE – mussels, leafy greens, mussel powder for muscle-heavy diets. CONSIDER if not balanced: VITAMIN D (cod liver oil 1/4 tsp per 10 kg gives D+A), ZINC (oysters, mussels, beef liver), B-COMPLEX especially if light cooking. PUPPIES (especially large/giant breeds) – calcium:phosphorus precision critical; use BalanceIT or ACVN-formulated diet. PREGNANT/LACTATING – 3-5x maintenance calories + increased calcium POST-whelping only (NOT pre – increases eclampsia risk). LIGHTLY COOKED variant – requires CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTATION (eggshell powder 1/2 tsp per 0.5 kg meat = ~900 mg Ca per tsp) since bones cannot be cooked-fed. PEDERSEN 2012 – 95% of online raw recipes deficient in at least one essential nutrient. WORK WITH BOARD-CERTIFIED VETERINARY NUTRITIONIST (ACVN, ECVCN, balance.it) for long-term homemade raw.
How do I transition my dog from kibble to raw?
TWO APPROACHES: ABRUPT (some dogs do well) – especially if dog has good GI tolerance; skip a meal, then start raw. GRADUAL (most dogs better) – 25% raw / 75% kibble for 3 days, 50/50 for 3 days, 75/25 for 3 days, then 100% raw at day 10. DON’T MIX in the same meal long-term – kibble digests in 8-12 hours vs raw 4-6 hours, mixing can cause GI upset (separate meals AM kibble / PM raw works if combining). STARTING PROTEIN – chicken, turkey, or rabbit (low fat, gentle). INTRODUCE ORGANS GRADUALLY – liver causes loose stool initially; start with 1-2% of meal and build up over 2 weeks. WHAT TO EXPECT – smaller firmer less smelly stools = good; bone poop (chalky white) = too much bone; soft/loose = too much organ/fat. ADJUSTMENT PERIOD 2-4 weeks. ENERGY level often improves over 2-4 weeks; coat improves over 6-12 weeks. STOOL with MUCUS or BLOOD = vet visit. SOME DOGS regurgitate during transition due to faster digestion – small frequent meals help. WORK WITH BALANCE-IT or ACVN if long-term.
Related PuppaDogs Calculators
Continue building your dog’s personalised care plan with these related PuppaDogs calculators:
- Dog Pregnancy / Whelping Due-Date Calculator
- Puppy Weight Predictor (Adult Weight Calculator)
- Heatstroke Risk Calculator for Dogs
- Bloat (GDV) Risk Calculator for Dogs
- Dog Life Expectancy Calculator (Breed, Body Condition, Lifestyle)
- Spay/Neuter Timing Calculator for Dogs (Breed-Specific)
References & Further Reading
The dosing ranges and safety information on this page are drawn from the following veterinary references. Always defer to your own veterinarian and the manufacturer’s label for your specific product.
- Billinghurst I. Give Your Dog a Bone (BARF). 1993; Grow Your Pups With Bones. 1998.
- Lonsdale T. Raw Meaty Bones – Promote Health. 2001.
- Pedersen NC et al. Identification of trace nutrient deficiencies in homemade dog food recipes. UC Davis 2012; JAVMA evaluation found 95% deficient in at least one nutrient.
- FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine – Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets can be Dangerous to You and Your Pet. fda.gov/animal-veterinary
- AVMA – Policy on raw or undercooked animal-source protein in cat and dog diets. avma.org
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee – Position Statement on Raw Diets.
- AAHA – Raw protein diet position statement.
- Freeman LM et al. Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. JAVMA 2013.
- Schlesinger DP, Joffe DJ. Raw food diets in companion animals: a critical review. Can Vet J. 2011.
- Brown SA. Raw food diets for dogs – what we know and what we don’t. Today’s Veterinary Practice 2018.
- AAFCO – Methods for Substantiating Nutritional Adequacy of Dog and Cat Foods.
- BalanceIT (balance.it) – veterinary-formulated home-cooked recipes.
- Petdiets.com – board-certified veterinary nutritionist consultations.
- ACVN American College of Veterinary Nutrition – acvn.org for board-certified nutritionist directory.
- PuppaDogs. Calorie & Dry Food Calculator, Omega-3 Calculator, Ideal Weight Calculator. puppadogs.com.
⚕️ Medical disclaimer
The information on this page is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace a hands-on veterinary examination. Drug doses depend on your dog’s complete clinical picture, concurrent medications, and the exact product formulation. Always confirm dosing with your veterinarian before administering any medication, and contact a 24-hour veterinary emergency service or animal poison control immediately if you suspect a medication overdose or adverse reaction. PuppaDogs editorial standards: every drug dose published here is cross-checked against multiple authoritative veterinary references and reviewed by the PuppaDogs Veterinary Editorial Team before publication.
