Feeding Guide

New to Raw

Raw food is a natural source of nutrients for dogs, if you are considering changing your dog diet to raw it’s important to keep in mind the following:

  • Age of your dog – Older dogs will require a slower introduction to raw with a lighter protein such as fish and chicken to start.
  • Current meal – if fed on a kibble diet, some dogs will easily make the transition. Other dogs you may find there is an initial change and see signs of a stomach upset or loose stool (this is a result of kibble being a slow release of nutrients compared to raw). These signs will be temporary while the stomach adjusts. If you see signs, consider slowing the transitioning period further to assist your dog’s stomach to adjust to a natural raw diet. The benefits of raw will show in time.
  • Allergies – if your dog has shown an allergy to a protein in the past, we recommend you avoid the protein to start. Once your dog is on a full raw dog diet it’s up to you to consider if you want to try the protein again in its raw form.
  • Prescribed medications - We ask that you complete your own research and connect with a dog nutritionist and vet to help with your dog's diet decisions.

Younger dogs have been known to be able to make the switch immediately but the cautious dog owner or feeding older dogs we recommend that you introduce raw food gradually by replacing 10% of the current meal with raw for 1-4 days. On days 4-14 increase the raw food in the bowl gradually until you have a 100% raw dog food bowl. Continue to observe your dog and adjust based on any signs of stomach sensitivities. Once fully onto a raw food, you can then start mixing up the proteins (so, they get the benefits of each protein)

When it comes to feeding time, switching your dog to a raw food diet can lead to some questions about the amount of food you need to give him.

This handy guide will help you figure out how much you should be feeding your dog so you can feel more confident that you’re not overfeeding, and you’ll always make sure they get the nutrients they need.

HOW MUCH RAW FOOD SHOULD I FEED MY PUPPY?

If you’ve ever owned a puppy before, you know how fast they grow. It seems like every time you turn around they get bigger and bigger, no matter how badly you wish they’d stay little. As a result of this growth, puppies need the right portion of raw food to provide them with the nutrients to keep them going.

 Age                                % of weight needed

 2 - 4 months                            7.5% - 8.5%
 4 - 6 months                            5.5% - 7.5%
 6 - 8 months                            4.5% - 7.5%
 8 - 10 months                          3.5% - 4.5%
 10 - 12 months                               3.5%

ADULT DOGS

When it comes to adult dogs, there are other considerations and needs you should factor in. An adult dog’s diet is based on maintenance instead of the growth support that they needed as a puppy.

Just like humans, a dog’s portion depends on their weight, metabolism and their activity level. Of course, you should talk to your vet if your dog has any special dietary needs or medical requirements that affect her food intake.

Here are some general guidelines for feeding your adult dog raw food:

  • Active, underweight adult dogs should eat 3% of their current weight in kilos per day.
  • Senior, less active, overweight adult dogs should eat 1.5% of their current weight in kilos per day. 
  • Adult dogs at an ideal weight should eat 2-3% of their current weight in kilos per day.

If you are wondering how often you should feed your dog, we recommend 2-4 times per day for puppies and 1-2 times per day for adult dogs. Again, this will depend on if your dog has any specific requirements set out by your vet.

FEEDING GUIDE OVERVIEW FOR FULLY GROWN DOG

    Each Dave’s Raw Dog Food block weighs approx. 85g. Use this guide to estimate how much your dog may need in terms of food each day if on a raw only diet.

    Daily Amount by Dog Size 

    • Toy Dogs (1–4kg) — 50g to 150g
    • Small Dogs (5–10kg) — 150g to 300g
    • Medium Dogs (10–25kg) — 300g to 500g
    • Large Dogs (25–45kg) — 500g to 1kg
    • Giant Dogs (45kg+) — approx. 2% of bodyweight

    This is a general guide to help you work out food amounts and costs.

    What can change your Dog's Daily Amount Needs?

    Every dog is different. Factors that may affect feeding amounts include:

    • Exercise level
    • Age
    • Health conditions
    • Metabolism
    • Additional food, bones and treats added to the bowl or given throughout the day

    Always adjust based on how your dog looks and feels. When there is a health condition in play always seek out advise from a reputable source such as a vet that understands natural dog feeding to support you such as a vet. 

    East At Home Weight Checks

    • Rib Check — You should feel ribs easily under a thin layer of fat (like running fingers over knuckles on a flat hand).
    • Overhead Check — From above, you should see a clear waist behind the ribcage.
    • Profile Check — From the side, the tummy should tuck upward behind the ribs.