A raw feeding calculator for dogs — start from scratch and see the analysis update live.
In BARFLAB you can create an empty diet manually and choose every product and amount yourself. For a healthy adult dog, the calculator analyses the entered recipe across 68 parameters, recalculates the result live and shows each product’s contribution. Parameters covered by an implemented NRC 2006, FEDIAF 2021 or AAFCO 2023 reference set can be compared with the values available for that source.
Web and iPhone apps are available. Android version coming soon.
How much to feed on BARF? Start with the portion, not the percentages
Some raw-feeding communities use 2–3% of body weight as an informal starting convention for an adult dog. It is not an NRC, FEDIAF or AAFCO requirement, does not establish energy need and is not an individual recommendation. A healthy adult dog’s portion depends on its energy need, activity, body condition and individual context.
The 80/10/10 split (muscle meat / bone-containing ingredients / organs, half of the organ share being liver) is another informal raw-feeding convention. It is not a nutrition-standard requirement, a safety assessment or proof of balance. Two bowls with the same percentages can supply very different amounts of zinc, iodine or vitamin D.
Why the informal 80/10/10 convention is not a balance calculation
Percentages describe food groups, not the nutritional value of the products you chose. Depending on the recipe, useful checkpoints include:
- iodine and the source supplying it to the recipe
- vitamins D and E
- manganese, zinc and copper
- omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA and DHA
- calcium, phosphorus and the Ca:P ratio
BARFLAB shows the result and each product’s contribution. For parameters covered by an implemented reference set, it also displays the available MR, RA and/or SUL values.
A diet calculated for your specific dog, not a recipe off the internet
A recipe found online was not built around your dog’s profile and the exact products available to you. In BARFLAB you can start with an empty diet, enter your own ingredients and assess that specific bowl.
Every product and amount remains editable. Add an oil or swap one calcium source for another and the analysis recalculates live, including the contribution of each product.
What to check before finalising a dog’s BARF diet
- the daily portion and its split into fractions (meat, bone, organs)
- calcium, phosphorus and Ca:P in the healthy-adult dog and source context
- iodine, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium
- vitamins A, D, E and the B-group vitamins
- the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids
- how added supplements affect the whole analysis and available thresholds
How much meat, bone and organ should a dog’s BARF diet contain?
Some raw-feeding communities use 80% muscle meat, 10% bone-containing ingredients and 10% organs, with liver making up half of the organ share. This informal convention is not an NRC, FEDIAF or AAFCO requirement, a safety assessment or proof of energy need or nutritional adequacy. BARFLAB analyses the actual products and amounts.
How many grams of food per day does my dog need?
The 2–3% figure is an informal raw-feeding convention, not an NRC, FEDIAF or AAFCO requirement and not proof of energy need. For a healthy adult dog, estimate the portion from its energy need and individual context; BARFLAB then analyses the entered recipe across 68 parameters.
Does a BARF diet require supplements?
It depends on the exact products and amounts. BARFLAB shows the analysis result and the effect of an added supplement, so you can assess it in the context of the whole diet and available thresholds rather than supplementing just in case.
Does a BARF calculator replace a nutritionist or a vet?
No. BARFLAB is a tool for calculating and organising diet data for healthy adult profiles. Puppies, pregnancy, illness and therapeutic diets require individual assessment by a vet or animal nutritionist.
Can I calculate a cooked diet for a dog?
Yes. BARFLAB also supports raw, cooked and steamed diets, so you can compare different ways of preparing the same ingredients.
Bibliography
The full list of scientific sources, nutritional standards and composition databases behind BARFLAB's calculations, limits and content.
Bibliography →