If you are going to feed raw exclusively, via any of the above avenues, the basic guideline is to feed approximately 1½% to 2% of each dog’s body weight daily. This breaks down to the following matrix:Originally Posted by BIGFLA73
- 20 lb dog: 4.8 to 6.4 oz.
25 lb dog: 6.0 to 8.0 oz.
30 lb dog: 7.2 to 9.6 oz.
35 lb dog: 8.4 to 11.2 oz.
40 lb dog: 9.6 to 12.8 oz.
45 lb dog: 10.8 to 14.4 oz.
50 lb dog: 12.0 to 16.0 oz.
55 lb dog: 13.2 to 17.6 oz.
60 lb dog: 14.4 to 19.2 oz.
Remember, these are only guidelines to start from. If your dog starts getting too fat (or too skinny), naturally you will subtract (or add) as warranted. In order to determine the correct amount of raw material to feed, you will need two scales: one scale on which to weigh your dogs and the other scale to weight their feed. The scale to use for your dogs is a hanging scale that you can purchase from Chatillon Scales. I recommend their Model # IN-60, which is a hanging fish scale, comprised of brass, and as such will never rust. The scale you want to use for weighing your dogs’ feed can be any simple postal scale that you can buy at any Staples or Office Depot. Once you weigh your dogs you will know how much to feed each one. From that point, you will need to weigh their feed daily at feeding time to apportion correctly on a daily basis. (After you get the general idea how much each of them needs, you really don't need to weigh everything anymore.)
PS: My own food-weight assessment does not count the greens; I do not factor any vegetable weight into my bottom line feed weight as the greens contain almost no calories. With the veggies, you are attempting to simulate those few times that a canine will “chew on some grass,” or whatever vegetable matter he may ingest via the stomach contents of his prey. This is doubtless where the trace minerals come into play as an addendum to a wild dog’s diet.
Good luck!
Jack
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