There is no point reaching for a calculator that cannot show its working. This one starts from age (months), dog’s ideal body weight, life stage, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % and % and reports muscle meat, vegetables and fruits, so you can see how each answer follows from the numbers you entered.
What Is the Raw Dog Food Calculator?
The raw dog food calculator works out muscle meat, vegetables and fruits from age (months), dog's ideal body weight, life stage, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % and %.
Biological relationships are usually approximations rather than exact laws, so the output is best treated as an estimate with a sensible range around it.
How the Raw Dog Food Calculation Works
The calculation applies the relationship as published, step by step, so each intermediate value can be checked against the underlying theory.
Keep the units consistent throughout. Mixing a percentage with a proportion is the single most common source of an answer that is out by a factor of a hundred.
Assumptions Worth Knowing
Any relationship used here assumes a constant rate, a representative sample, or a stable population. Real populations rarely meet those conditions for long, so treat the answer as a guide.
Where the inputs are field measurements, a single misread value can shift the result noticeably. Measure carefully and record what you used.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with age (months) set to 10, dog's ideal body weight set to 5, life stage set to 0,13, the calculator returns required amount of food of add the values above, and muscle meat of 1.5, and bone of 0.3. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out muscle meat?
Enter age (months), dog's ideal body weight, life stage, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % and %. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports muscle meat, vegetables and fruits.
What does the raw dog food actually calculate?
It takes age (months), dog's ideal body weight, life stage, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % and % and converts them into muscle meat, vegetables and fruits using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter age (months)?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.