Owners who feed raw usually want one simple answer: how many grams a day? The answer people give most often is a percentage of body weight, and it is a good starting point as long as you understand what it is and what it is not. This guide explains the guideline, shows a chart by weight, explains how to adjust the amount and sets out what a vet or veterinary nutritionist needs to check before you rely on it.
The percentage-of-body-weight guideline
Raw feeding does not have an NRC feeding formula in the way kibble does. Instead, raw feeders use a rule of thumb: an adult dog eats about 2 to 3% of its ideal body weight per day, with 2.5% a typical middle value. The rule is a practice guideline, which means it comes from experience, not from a controlled calorie study, and it works for many healthy adult dogs but not all.
The Raw Dog Food Calculator uses the same percentages, and lets you choose a lower, normal or higher figure depending on activity. Because raw food varies a lot in water, fat and bone content, the same grams can carry quite different calories, which is why it is wise to cross-check the result against an energy figure, as described below.
A raw feeding chart by weight
The chart uses ideal body weight, not current weight, and shows grams per day.
| Ideal weight | Lower (2%) | Middle (2.5%) | Higher (3%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 kg (4.4 lb) | 40 g | 50 g | 60 g |
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 100 g | 125 g | 150 g |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 200 g | 250 g | 300 g |
| 15 kg (33 lb) | 300 g | 375 g | 450 g |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 400 g | 500 g | 600 g |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 500 g | 625 g | 750 g |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 600 g | 750 g | 900 g |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 800 g | 1,000 g | 1,200 g |
| 50 kg (110 lb) | 1,000 g | 1,250 g | 1,500 g |
Choose the lower end for inactive, older or weight-gain-prone dogs, the middle for typical adult dogs and the higher end for very active dogs. Young puppies use a different approach, covered in our guide to raw feeding for puppies.
Why “ideal” weight and not current weight
If a 30 kg dog should weigh 25 kg, feeding 2.5% of 30 kg gives 750 g a day, and 2.5% of 25 kg gives 625 g. The difference of 125 g a day is large enough to keep the dog overweight indefinitely. Always base the amount on the weight you want the dog to be, and use body condition to decide what that is. Our body condition score guide shows how to estimate it.
Cross-checking against calories
Because the percentage rule is not an energy formula, check that the result is in a sensible range for the dog’s calorie need. For a neutered 20 kg adult, the NRC-based estimate is about 1,059 kcal a day (1.6 × RER). If your raw food is, for instance, 1,500 kcal per kg, then 500 g provides 750 kcal, which is lower than the estimate, and the dog may lose weight; if your food is 2,500 kcal per kg, 500 g provides 1,250 kcal, which is higher.
| Raw food energy | Calories in 500 g | Compare with 1,059 kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 kcal/kg | 750 kcal | About 30% below |
| 2,000 kcal/kg | 1,000 kcal | Close |
| 2,500 kcal/kg | 1,250 kcal | About 18% above |
The figures show why the same percentage can be too little for one raw diet and too much for another. If you do not know the energy value of your food, ask the maker or your nutritionist, and weigh the dog regularly. The Dog Calorie Calculator gives the daily calorie target to compare against.
A worked example
An adult dog has an ideal weight of 20 kg and a normal activity level.
- Percentage: 2.5% of 20 kg.
- Daily amount: 20,000 g × 0.025 = 500 g a day.
- Split into two meals: 250 g each.
- Check weight and body condition in two weeks and adjust by about 10% if needed.
If the dog is gaining weight, reduce to about 450 g; if it is thin and the vet has found no cause, raise it slightly and recheck.
The balance question: what the percentage does not tell you
The percentage tells you how much to feed. It does not tell you whether the diet is complete and balanced. Raw diets built from home-sourced ingredients often fall short in minerals or vitamins unless they are carefully formulated, and this is a reason Your vet may recommend working with a veterinary nutritionist or choosing a commercial raw food labelled as complete for the dog’s life stage. Bone content, organ content and variety all affect what the dog actually receives. A guideline for amount cannot fix a diet that is out of balance.
Splitting the day’s food
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. Whether you feed one meal or several, keep the daily total the same and weigh the portions. If you use a ratio such as 80% muscle meat, 10% bone and 10% organ, the grams for each part come from the total; our guide to the 80/10/10 ratio shows how.
Food safety with raw diets
Raw meat can carry bacteria that affect both pets and people, so handle it with the same care as raw meat for your own kitchen. Use separate bowls and utensils, wash hands, surfaces and bowls after feeding, keep raw food refrigerated or frozen as the maker advises and do not leave uneaten food out. Take extra care in households with young children, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system, and ask your doctor or vet if you are unsure.
Adjusting the amount over time
- Feed the calculated amount for two to three weeks.
- Weigh the dog every one to two weeks and score body condition.
- If weight is steady and condition is ideal, keep the amount.
- If weight is rising or falling, change the daily amount by about 10% and wait again.
- Recalculate whenever the ideal weight changes, such as after a weight-loss plan.
Treats, chews and bones count too. If you add them, reduce the meals.
Common mistakes
- Using current instead of ideal weight.
- Treating the percentage as a precise formula.
- Feeding only muscle meat.
- Forgetting that treats and bones add calories.
- Not weighing the food.
- Never checking the diet with a vet or nutritionist.
- Applying the adult percentage to a growing puppy.
Questions to ask your vet
- What is my dog’s ideal weight and body condition score?
- Is a raw diet appropriate for my dog’s age and health?
- How do I make sure the diet is complete and balanced?
- Which food safety precautions suit my household?
- How often should we reassess the diet?
Raw food by life stage: where the percentage stops working
The 2 to 3% of ideal weight guideline is for healthy adult dogs. Other stages need a different approach.
| Life stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| Puppy | Based on expected adult weight, capped by 5 to 10% of current weight; balance is critical (see our guide on raw feeding for puppies) |
| Pregnant and nursing | Needs rise markedly; ask your vet |
| Senior | Often lower energy and sometimes different protein needs; ask your vet |
| Overweight | Use ideal weight, and a vet-supervised plan |
| Underweight | The cause matters, so see your vet first |
| Dogs with health conditions | Follow your vet’s plan; some conditions rule out raw feeding |
If your dog is in any of these groups, treat the percentage as a rough guide, not a recipe.
A weekly plan for a 20 kg dog
A practical way to structure raw feeding is across a week. For a dog eating 500 g a day:
| Day | Muscle meat | Bone | Organ | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 450 g | 50 g | 0 g | 500 g |
| Tuesday | 450 g | 50 g | 0 g | 500 g |
| Wednesday | 500 g | 0 g | 0 g | 500 g |
| Thursday | 400 g | 50 g | 50 g | 500 g |
| Friday | 450 g | 50 g | 0 g | 500 g |
| Saturday | 400 g | 50 g | 50 g | 500 g |
| Sunday | 350 g | 0 g | 150 g | 500 g |
| Week total | 3,000 g | 250 g | 250 g | 3,500 g |
The week adds up to about 85.7% muscle, 7.1% bone and 7.1% organ, a little off the 80/10/10 pattern, which shows how easy it is to drift. If you use a weekly plan, total the columns and compare with the target ratio. Our guide to the 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio shows the splits, and your vet or a nutritionist can help you design a plan that is balanced.
Storage and portions
- Portion food into daily or per-meal containers when you buy it.
- Label with the date and contents.
- Thaw in the fridge the night before.
- Use thawed food within the time the supplier suggests.
- Keep a record so you know the quantity bought and the number of days it covers.
If you buy 10 kg of raw food and feed 500 g a day, it lasts 20 days. The Pet Food Bag Duration Calculator works out how long any quantity lasts.
Quick summary
- Raw feeding practice is 2 to 3% of ideal adult body weight a day, with 2.5% as a middle value.
- A dog with an ideal weight of 20 kg gets about 500 g a day at 2.5%.
- Use ideal weight, and cross-check against the dog’s calorie need.
- Adjust by about 10% at a time using weight and body condition.
- The percentage does not guarantee a balanced diet; ask a vet or veterinary nutritionist.
- Use the Raw Dog Food Calculator for your dog.
Frequently asked questions
How much raw food should I feed my dog?
A widely used guideline is 2 to 3% of ideal adult body weight a day. For a 20 kg dog that is 400 to 600 g, with 500 g at 2.5%. Adjust from body condition.
Is the 2 to 3% rule an official standard?
No. It is raw feeding practice, not an NRC or WSAVA formula. That is why it should be cross-checked against the dog's calorie need and your vet's advice.
Do I use current weight or ideal weight?
Use the ideal weight. Using the current weight of an overweight dog would feed it too much.
How do I know if the amount is right?
Weigh your dog every one to two weeks and score body condition. Ribs should be easy to feel, with a visible waist. Change the daily amount by small steps.
Can I just feed muscle meat?
No. A diet of muscle meat alone is not balanced. Raw diets are usually built from muscle meat, bone and organ in set proportions, and need to be complete and balanced.
Does the calculator replace a vet or nutritionist?
No. It gives a weight-based amount. A veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist should check that the whole diet is complete and balanced for your dog.
Do raw diets need extra hygiene?
Yes. Raw meat can carry bacteria, so wash hands, bowls and surfaces after handling it and store it as you would any raw meat.
Sources
- Raw feeding practice guideline: 2 to 3% of ideal adult weight per day (not an NRC formula)
- NRC (2006) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, National Academies Press
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
Related calculators
- Raw Dog Food CalculatorEstimate how much raw food to feed each day and how to split it into muscle meat, bone and organ.
- Dog Calorie CalculatorSee how many calories your dog needs a day: its resting energy requirement (RER) and daily maintenance energy (MER) for its life stage.
- Dog Food CalculatorTurn your dog's daily calorie need into grams and cups of the food you actually feed, using the energy value printed on the bag.
Keep reading
- The 80/10/10 Raw Feeding Ratio ExplainedThe 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio explained: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 10% organ. See gram splits by daily amount, its limits and why balance needs a vet.
- Raw Feeding for Puppies: Portions and CautionsRaw feeding for puppies: how the amount is estimated from adult weight, a table by weight, why balance matters in growth and when to see a veterinary nutritionist.
- How Many Calories Does a Dog Need? RER, MERLearn how to calculate a dog's daily calories with RER and MER, see every life stage factor, a calorie table by weight and how to adjust the result.
- How Much Does Raw Feeding Cost per Month?How to estimate raw dog food cost: 2 to 3% of ideal body weight a day times price per kg, with a table for 10, 20 and 30 kg dogs, a calorie check and other costs.