The 80/10/10 Raw Feeding Ratio Explained

Quick answer The 80/10/10 ratio is a raw feeding guideline: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone and 10% organ, with half the organ share from liver. For a dog eating 500 g a day that is 400 g muscle meat, 50 g bone and 50 g organ. It is not a complete diet, so ask a vet to check balance.

If you read about raw feeding for dogs you will meet “80/10/10” within minutes. It is one of the best-known rules of thumb in the raw feeding world, and one of the most misunderstood, because it is easy to remember and tempting to treat as a recipe. This guide explains what the ratio means, shows how to turn it into grams, and explains what it leaves out. The daily amount itself comes from a separate rule; for that, see how much raw food to feed a dog.

What the numbers mean

The ratio divides the daily food by weight:

Part	Share	What it is
Muscle meat	80%	Meat from skeletal muscle, with the fat and connective tissue that goes with it
Raw meaty bone	10%	Edible raw bone with meat attached
Organ	10%	Secreting organs, with about half of this share as liver

The idea is that a mixture in these proportions loosely resembles the make-up of a whole animal, providing protein and fat from meat, minerals from bone and vitamins and minerals from organs. It is a guideline from raw feeding practice, not a result of a feeding trial, and it is not part of the NRC’s nutrient requirements.

From percentages to grams

First work out the daily amount (2 to 3% of ideal weight for an adult dog). Then split it:

Daily amount	Muscle meat (80%)	Raw meaty bone (10%)	Organ (10%)	of which liver (5%)
100 g	80 g	10 g	10 g	5 g
250 g	200 g	25 g	25 g	12.5 g
375 g	300 g	37.5 g	37.5 g	18.8 g
500 g	400 g	50 g	50 g	25 g
750 g	600 g	75 g	75 g	37.5 g
1,000 g	800 g	100 g	100 g	50 g
1,250 g	1,000 g	125 g	125 g	62.5 g

The Raw Dog Food Calculator produces the same splits for any ideal weight and activity level, and shows the share as a percentage of body weight.

A worked example

An adult dog has an ideal weight of 20 kg and normal activity.

Daily amount at 2.5%: 500 g.
Muscle meat: 400 g.
Raw meaty bone: 50 g.
Organ: 50 g, of which about 25 g is liver.
Two meals: 250 g each, with each meal built in the same proportions or varied across the week.

Many raw feeders do not make every meal match the ratio exactly, but aim to reach it across a week or two. If you do this, keep a record of what the dog ate so that you can check it.

What the ratio leaves out

The ratio describes proportions of parts. It does not say whether the diet is complete and balanced, and several things can throw it off:

Which meats and organs you use. Different muscle meats, bones and organs differ widely in nutrient content, so the same percentages can give very different nutrient supplies.
Variety. A diet built from one protein source and one organ may lack nutrients that others supply.
Bone content. Bones differ in mineral content, and too much or too little causes problems. Which bones are safe to feed is something to ask your vet.
Calories. The ratio says nothing about energy, which matters for weight.
Additions. Some recipes need extra nutrients, and a vet nutritionist can say which.

For these reasons Your vet may advise using a recipe formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, or a commercial raw food labelled complete and balanced, rather than relying on the percentages alone. The ratio is a good description of how many raw diets are put together, but it is a starting point.

Checking calories

Because the ratio is by weight, the calories in 500 g of a mixture depend on its fat content. Compare the result with the dog’s calorie need: about 1,059 kcal for a neutered 20 kg adult. A lean mixture of 1,500 kcal per kg gives 750 kcal at 500 g and would leave the dog underfed, while a fatty mixture of 2,500 kcal per kg gives 1,250. The Dog Calorie Calculator gives the target to compare with. Weigh the dog regularly and adjust the amount by 10% when needed.

Food safety

Raw meat and bones can carry bacteria that affect both pets and people. Good habits include:

Keep raw food refrigerated or frozen as the supplier advises.
Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter.
Wash hands, bowls, utensils and surfaces after handling.
Do not leave uneaten food out.
Take extra care in households with young children, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system.

Ask your vet or doctor if you are unsure.

Dogs that need something different

Puppies: growth makes the balance of calcium and other nutrients critical; see raw feeding for puppies.
Dogs with health conditions: some conditions need specific diets.
Pregnant or nursing dogs: their needs differ.
Senior dogs: may need different energy and nutrient levels.
Cats: need specialist advice, since their requirements differ from dogs.

How to use 80/10/10 sensibly

Work out the daily amount from ideal weight.
Use the ratio to split it.
Check calories against the dog’s needs.
Add variety, as your vet or nutritionist advises.
Review the diet with a professional at least once.
Weigh the dog, score body condition and adjust.

Common mistakes

Treating the ratio as a complete recipe.
Using only one meat and one organ.
Ignoring calories.
Feeding bones without advice about which are safe.
Using the adult rules for a puppy.
Never reviewing the diet with a vet.

Questions to ask your vet or nutritionist

Is a raw diet appropriate for my dog?
Can you review my recipe for balance, or recommend a complete one?
Which bones, if any, are safe?
How should I handle food safety in my home?
How often should we reassess?

A worked day for a 10 kg dog

At an ideal weight of 10 kg and 2.5% of body weight, the daily amount is 250 g. Splitting it 80/10/10:

Part	Share	Grams	Example foods
Muscle meat	80%	200 g	Different cuts of meat, such as chicken or beef muscle
Raw meaty bone	10%	25 g	Bones with meat attached, as advised by your vet
Organ	10%	25 g	About 12.5 g liver, 12.5 g other organ such as kidney

A 25 g portion of bone is a very small amount, which is why many raw feeders prepare larger batches and portion them. For a small dog, a day’s bone portion could be a fraction of a single bone, so ask your vet which types are suitable and how to feed them safely.

Variety across the week

A single protein and one organ may not give a balanced result. Many raw feeders rotate proteins and organs:

Day	Muscle meat	Organ
Mon	Chicken	Liver
Tue	Beef	Kidney
Wed	Turkey	Liver
Thu	Lamb	Other organ
Fri	Chicken	Liver
Sat	Beef	Kidney
Sun	Fish	Liver

This table is an illustration of the idea of rotation, not a recipe, and a vet or nutritionist should confirm what is suitable and complete for your dog.

Common worries, calmly

“Will it be balanced?” Balance comes from the recipe and the variety, not the ratio alone. This is why a professional check is recommended.
“What about bones?” Bone is the part with the most safety concerns. Ask your vet about which bones suit your dog and how to feed them.
“What about hygiene?” Treat raw dog food like raw meat in your kitchen.
“What if my dog gets an upset stomach?” Change diet gradually and speak to your vet if it persists.
“Is it suitable for every dog?” No. Some dogs have health conditions that rule it out.

Weekly planning with a batch sheet

Because the ratio is by weight, many owners make a batch sheet. Decide the number of days, multiply by the daily amount, then split 80/10/10. For a 20 kg dog on 500 g a day for 14 days, the total is 7,000 g: 5,600 g muscle meat, 700 g raw meaty bone and 700 g organ, with about 350 g of the organ as liver. Write the batch weights on a sheet and tick them off as you buy and portion. This also gives a record that a vet or nutritionist can review.

Cost and calories together

Raw food cost depends on the cuts. Compare by cost per 1,000 kcal, not price per kilogram, since fat content changes calories. Use the Raw Dog Food Calculator for the daily grams and the Dog Calorie Calculator for the calories to compare.

Questions a professional may ask

Which meats, bones and organs do you use, and how often do they change?
How do you weigh and portion?
Is the dog’s weight steady?
How do you store and handle the food?

Bringing the batch sheet makes these easy to answer.

Questions to bring to a vet visit

Take your batch sheet, the dog’s weight record and a list of the foods you use. Ask whether the plan is complete and balanced, whether any supplements are needed, and how often to review. Ask also about your household’s risk factors, such as young children or people with weakened immunity.

When the ratio meets real life

Real kitchens are messy. Cuts are not exactly 80% muscle, bones vary in meat content and organs are sold in different sizes. Aim for the ratio across a fortnight, not every meal, keep a record, and review it with a professional. Small deviations matter less than long-term variety and balance.

Quick summary

80/10/10 means 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone and 10% organ by weight, with about half the organ share from liver.
For a 500 g daily amount: 400 g muscle meat, 50 g bone, 50 g organ.
It is a practice guideline for proportions, not an NRC standard or a complete diet.
Check calories against the dog’s needs and vary the ingredients.
Handle raw food with care, and have a vet or nutritionist review the diet.
Use the Raw Dog Food Calculator for the splits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio?

A rule of thumb for building a raw diet: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone and 10% organ by weight.

How much of each part for a 500 g daily amount?

400 g muscle meat, 50 g raw meaty bone and 50 g organ, of which about 25 g is liver.

Is 80/10/10 a complete and balanced diet?

Not by itself. It is a guideline for proportions, and the actual diet also depends on the foods used, variety and any supplements. A vet nutritionist can check balance.

Where does the daily amount come from?

A common guideline is 2 to 3% of ideal body weight per day for an adult dog.

Is 80/10/10 right for puppies?

Puppies have different needs, and growth makes balance more critical. Ask your vet before using it.

Can I use it for cats?

Cats have different needs from dogs, and raw feeding for cats needs specialist advice.

Is raw feeding safe?

It needs careful hygiene because raw meat can carry bacteria, and it needs a balanced recipe. Discuss it with your vet.

Sources

Raw feeding practice guideline: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 10% organ (not an NRC formula)
NRC (2006) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, National Academies Press
WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines

Reviewed by the CalcuPaw Veterinary Review Team

Last reviewed 18 Oct 2026 · Meet the review team · This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.