Raw Reserve Feeding Guide
How much should I feed?
Most adult dogs eat between 2% and 3% of their body weight per day in raw food. Start at 2.5% and adjust over the first month based on weight, energy, and stool quality.
| Dog’s weight | Daily amount (2.5%) | Per week | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lbs | 2 oz | ~1 lb | ~4 lbs |
| 10 lbs | 4 oz | ~1.75 lbs | ~7.5 lbs |
| 15 lbs | 6 oz | ~2.5 lbs | ~11 lbs |
| 20 lbs | 8 oz | ~3.5 lbs | ~15 lbs |
| 30 lbs | 12 oz | ~5.25 lbs | ~22.5 lbs |
| 40 lbs | 1 lb | 7 lbs | ~30 lbs |
| 50 lbs | 1 lb 4 oz | ~8.75 lbs | ~37.5 lbs |
| 60 lbs | 1 lb 8 oz | ~10.5 lbs | ~45 lbs |
| 70 lbs | 1 lb 12 oz | ~12.25 lbs | ~52.5 lbs |
| 80 lbs | 2 lbs | 14 lbs | ~60 lbs |
| 100 lbs | 2 lbs 8 oz | ~17.5 lbs | ~75 lbs |
When to adjust
Feed more if your dog is a puppy (start around 5-8% of current body weight, tapering as they grow), a working or highly active breed, or visibly underweight.
Feed less for senior dogs, dogs with low activity levels, or dogs already at a healthy weight who don’t need to gain. If your dog starts gaining weight at 2.5%, drop to 2%. If they’re losing weight or always hungry, try 3%.
Split the daily amount across two meals for most adult dogs. Puppies under 6 months should eat 3-4 smaller meals per day.
Questions? Reach out before your first order, and we’ll help you size the box to your dog.
Switching your dog to raw
Most dogs can switch from kibble to raw faster than you’d expect, but a gradual transition gives the digestive system time to adjust and reduces the chance of loose stool the first few days.
The 7-day method (recommended for most dogs)
| Day | Old food | Raw |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | 75% | 25% |
| 3-4 | 50% | 50% |
| 5-6 | 25% | 75% |
| 7+ | – | 100% |
Feed the old and new food in separate meals rather than mixed together — kibble and raw digest at different rates and combining them in the same meal can cause stomach upset. For example, morning meal kibble, evening meal raw.
Fast switch (3 days)
Healthy adult dogs with no digestive issues can usually handle a quicker transition:
| Day | Old food | Raw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50% | 50% |
| 2 | 25% | 75% |
| 3+ | – | 100% |
Cold turkey
Some dogs (especially those already eating fresh or lightly processed foods) can switch the same day with no transition. We don’t generally recommend this for kibble-fed dogs, but it does work for many. Watch the first few stools — loose is normal, frequent diarrhea is not.
What’s normal during the switch
- Smaller, firmer, less smelly stools within the first week. This is the most common change.
- One or two loose stools during the transition days. Not a problem unless it continues past day 7.
- Less water consumption. Raw food is about 70% moisture and kibble is about 10%, so dogs drink noticeably less on raw. Normal and expected.
- More energy or a quieter, more settled mood — both happen depending on the dog. Either is fine.
When to slow down
- Persistent diarrhea past day 4-5 — drop back one step and hold for 2-3 days before continuing.
- Vomiting more than once — pause and contact us.
- Refusing to eat the raw portion — some dogs need a few tries. Try a different recipe (a single protein like 100% Chicken is the easiest first recipe), or lightly sear the outside in a pan for the first few meals to soften the transition.
Switching between recipes once on raw
Once your dog is fully transitioned, swapping between recipes within the Raw Reserve lineup needs no transition period. Rotation actually helps — feeding different proteins and nutrient profiles week to week supports broader nutritional coverage than feeding any single recipe for months on end.
