I'm new to raw. Where do I start?
Start with the free raw dog food calculator: daily portions in grams and the meat, bone and organ split, no account. When you want to know whether the bowl is complete, start the trial. The check opens in the Essentials view, plain words first. Details has the numbers. No recipe yet? Build your first week in the app: you pick the cuts and it works out the grams. There is no preset menu.
Is this a raw feeding calculator for dogs, or a portion calculator?
Both, in two steps. The free calculator answers "how much do I feed?" with grams for your dog, worked out from calories: energy is the target, and the grams follow the cuts you pick. Raw & Well answers the next question: does the food in those grams cover what your dog needs? It totals each nutrient across the week and compares it with NRC 2006.
I already feed 80/10/10 or BARF. Isn't that enough?
A ratio splits the bowl into muscle, bone and organ. It can't see what those cuts contain. Swap 25 g of chicken liver for beef liver and copper rises about twentyfold while the ratio stays the same. In one study of 95 BARF rations, 60% had at least one imbalance and 40% didn't. The check tells you which group your bowl is in.
Is Raw & Well an NRC dog food calculator?
Yes. Targets come from NRC 2006, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, scaled to your dog's daily energy. FEDIAF 2024 fills in only where NRC publishes nothing, such as the adult calcium upper limit.
Why doesn't Raw & Well use 2–3% of body weight?
A share of body weight treats every cut as if it held the same energy. It doesn't: fatty mince carries far more calories per gram than lean heart. Raw & Well starts from your dog's daily calories, worked out with the NRC 2006 energy formula, then turns them into grams for the cuts you pick. Richer cuts mean less food, leaner cuts more. When your grams differ from the ideal daily targets, the meal builder tells you why, on the same screen. The free calculator uses one average figure for every cut; the app uses yours.
Does this replace my vet?
No. Raw & Well checks nutrition against published standards. If your dog has a medical condition, the diet belongs with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist. The printable report makes that appointment faster and more specific.
Where do the numbers come from?
Targets: NRC 2006 first, and FEDIAF 2024 only where NRC publishes nothing, such as the adult calcium upper limit. Ingredients: USDA FoodData Central, with 134 of our 139 ingredients traced to a USDA record. Anything estimated carries an Estimated badge. The full method is on the scientific foundation page.
Why 139 ingredients when other tools list thousands?
Because every row has to hold up. Each one is a raw ingredient traced to its USDA record or clearly marked as estimated. We'd rather show you 139 we can defend than thousands we can't. If a cut you feed is missing, tell us. That's how the list grows.
Does it correct for absorption?
No, on purpose. NRC 2006 states its allowances and safe upper limits as amounts in the food, with typical absorption already built in. So we compare what's in the bowl on that same basis. Discounting the food a second time would make a sound bowl look short.
What does the check cover?
Minerals, trace minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids, plus the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. NRC sets no minimum for vitamin K, biotin, taurine, or the zinc-to-copper and omega-6-to-omega-3 ratios, so those are shown for reference without a grade.
Puppies? Seniors? Pregnant dogs?
Puppy, adult and senior targets are built in, including NRC's calcium ceiling for growing puppies. Pregnancy and lactation aren't supported yet, and neither are cats. We'd rather say so than guess.
Do I have to follow every fix?
No. Each gap offers a supplement dose where one fits, and a food in grams as the alternative. Pick one, or neither. Your pick goes on your shopping list. The check never edits your meals, and saving is never blocked.
What happens after the 7 days?
Nothing, unless you choose a plan. There's no card on file during the trial. If you subscribe and it isn't for you, ask within 14 days of your first payment for a full refund. Cancel anytime from your account. Refund policy.
Raw meat in a house with kids?
The risk is real, and it's managed with the habits you already use for raw meat: separate boards, hot soapy water for bowls and surfaces, hands washed after prep, food kept cold. If anyone at home is pregnant, very young, elderly or immunocompromised, talk to your doctor and your vet first.
I have several dogs. Do I pay per dog?
No. One plan covers every dog in your home. Each dog gets its own profile, its own targets and its own check.
