How Much Homemade Dog Food Should You Feed Your Dog?
Want to Feed Your Dog Homemade (Cooked or Raw) Dog Food?
(The Simple Formula to Know Exactly How Much to Give Them... That Actually Works)
One of the biggest fears dog parents have when switching to homemade dog food is:
“Am I feeding too much… or not enough?”
And honestly — that fear is valid.
Too little food can mean nutrient gaps and possible muscle loss.
Too much food can mean unwanted weight gain, inflammation, and strain on joints and organs.
The good news?
👉 This does NOT need to be complicated.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ Exactly how much homemade dog food to feed your dog
✅ A simple formula that works for adult & senior dogs
✅ How to break that food down (protein, organs, carbs if needed)
✅ What doesn’t count toward calories (and why)
✅ How to adjust for activity level, age, and body condition
And yes — there’s a free downloadable infographic linked below so you never have to guess again.
Why Homemade Dog Food Is Worth It (Quick Recap)
If you’re new here, let’s quickly cover why so many dog parents are switching to homemade:
🟢 Longer life (better food can help your dog live longer)
🟢 Better healthspan (more good years, less decline)
🟢 Ancestral ingredients dogs evolved to eat
🟢 No recalls, no mystery fillers, no surprises
🟢 You control every ingredient in the bowl
Now let’s answer the question everyone actually came for…
The Simple Rule: How Much Food Goes in the Bowl?
Simple...
👉 20 grams of food per kilogram of body weight, per day
That’s it.
Example:
🍖 10 kg (22 lb) dog
🍖 200 grams of total protein and fat foods per day
What does that mean?
This dog would eat 200g of protein and fat foods, i.e., ground beef and eggs. Vegetables are not included in this total.
This keeps things super simple.
⚠️ Important:
This guideline is for:
✔️ Adult dogs
✔️ Senior dogs
✔️ “Young seniors”
❌ Not for puppies
(Puppies have higher energy, calcium, and growth demands and need a completely different formula.)
⚠️ Important:
🟢 This is the baseline. This is your starting point.
🟢 Depending on age and activity level, your pup may need more or less. However, start at 20g per kg of bodyweight and slide up or down as needed.
Pounds to Kilograms (Save Yourself the Headache)
If you live in pounds and ounces — do yourself a favor:
👉 Convert to kilograms first.
Formula:
Take your dog’s weight in pounds
Divide by 2.2
That’s their weight in kilograms
Then:
Multiply that number by 20
= daily food amount in grams
📌 Why grams?
Because ounces quickly turn into fractions, rounding errors, and frustration.
Grams = accuracy + consistency.
🐕 Adjusting for Activity Level (Very Important)
The 20 g/kg rule is your baseline, not a prison sentence.
🐕 More active dog?
➡️ Increase slightly
🐶 Laid-back or sedentary dog?
➡️ Reduce slightly
🔎 Watch your dog for 1–2 weeks:
Losing unwanted weight? Increase
Gaining unwanted weight? Reduce
Your dog’s body condition is the final authority.
This may change seasonally, too. Just remember the 20g guideline and you will never go wrong.
What DOESN’T Count Toward the Food Weight?
Here’s where people overthink things 👇
🥬 Vegetables do NOT count toward the total grams, including:
Spinach
Broccoli
Red cabbage
Zucchini
Pumpkin
Why?
Because calorically, they’re insignificant.
They’re added for:
🧬 Fiber and pre-biotics
🧬 Phytonutrients
🧬 Polyphenols
🧬 Gut health support
Not energy.
🤓Nerd Alert
🔬 Dogs derive the majority of usable energy from protein and fat — not fibre-rich vegetables.
Vegetables primarily support:
Gut microbiome diversity
Short-chain fatty acid production
Reduced inflammation
This is why vegetables are supportive, not caloric drivers.
How to Break the Food Down (The Bowl Math)
Let’s use a 200-gram daily total as an example.
🥩 Lower-Carb / Ancestral-Style Breakdown
✔️ 100 g muscle meat (pork, beef, turkey, etc.)
✔️ 50 g eggs
✔️ 50 g organ meat (liver or mixed organs)
➕ Add:
🐟 Fish oil (omega-3s)
🥥 Optional olive or coconut oil
Helpful for inflammation
Helpful for dogs needing weight gain
Oils are not counted calorically in this framework, unless your dog is very overweight.
Sample Keto Dog Food Recipe of Ghangis, a 14-year old dog with cancer.
🍠 Moderate-Carb Option (Budget or Lifestyle Friendly)
Still 200 grams total:
✔️ 100 g muscle meat
✔️ 50 g sweet potato
✔️ 50 g eggs or organ meat
This approach works well for:
Slightly younger adults
Dogs needing extra calories
Dog parents on a budget
This is not ideal, as we do not like to include things like sweet potatoes in total weight. However, if you have a working dog, a high energy maniac, or you live in a city where meat costs and arm and a leg, then this recipe is still vastly superior to harmful commercial dog food, especially for seniors.
❓ Homemade Dog Food Feeding FAQs
How much homemade dog food should I feed my dog per day?
A simple guideline for adult and senior dogs is 20 grams of food per kilogram of body weight per day.
For example, a 10 kg (22 lb) dog would eat about 200 grams of total food daily. This amount can be adjusted slightly based on your dog’s activity level and body condition.
This amount is standard for both cooked or raw homemade food.
Does this homemade dog food formula work for senior dogs?
Yes. The 20 g/kg rule works very well for adult dogs and senior dogs, including “young seniors.”
Older dogs often benefit from precise portions because overfeeding can worsen inflammation, joint stress, and metabolic strain.
Is this feeding guideline safe for puppies?
No. Puppies should not use this formula.
Puppies have:
Higher calorie needs
Higher calcium and phosphorus requirements
Ongoing skeletal growth
They require a different feeding strategy designed specifically for growth.
Should I adjust homemade dog food portions for active or lazy dogs?
Yes. The 20 g/kg amount is a starting point.
Very active dogs may need slightly more
Sedentary or low-energy dogs may need slightly less
Monitor your dog’s weight and body condition for 1–2 weeks and adjust gradually.
Do vegetables count toward the total food weight?
No. Non-starchy green vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and red cabbage do not count toward the total grams.
They are added for:
Fiber
Gut health
Phytonutrients and polyphenols
Calorically, they contribute very little energy.
Do oils like fish oil or olive oil count toward calories?
In this feeding framework, small amounts of oils are not counted toward the total food weight.
Fish oil is added primarily for:
Omega-3 fatty acids
Inflammation support
Skin and joint health
Additional oils may be added if weight gain or extra calories are needed.
How do I convert my dog’s weight from pounds to kilograms?
Divide your dog’s weight in pounds by 2.2 to get kilograms.
Then multiply that number by 20 to find the daily food amount in grams.
Example:
44 lb dog ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg
20 kg × 20 g = 400 g per day
How should I split homemade dog food into protein, organs, and carbs?
A simple approach is:
~50% muscle meat
~25% eggs or organ meat
~25% organ meat or optional carbohydrate
The exact breakdown can vary depending on age, activity level, and health goals.
NOTE: if your dog has CKD, do not feed organ meats. Dogs with kidney issues need a special diet, depending on the stage. Click Here to learn what type of food to give your dog with CKD>
Can I include carbohydrates in homemade dog food?
In most cases, dogs should be on very low carb diets. At times, even ketogenic diets. However, in some cases, carbohydrates like sweet potatoes can be included if needed.
They are optional and often used for:
Budget flexibility
Dogs with higher calorie needs, i.e., working dogs
Dogs do not have a strict biological requirement for carbohydrates, but some dogs tolerate them well.
However, keep in mind that carbs can cause inflammation. Use them with extreme caution and avoid lentils, rice, corn, and white potatoes.
How will I know if I’m feeding the right amount?
Watch your dog’s:
Body weight
Waist definition
Energy levels
If your dog is gaining unwanted weight, reduce portions slightly.
If your dog is losing weight unintentionally, increase portions gradually.
Is homemade dog food healthier than kibble?
When properly formulated, homemade dog food can offer:
Greater ingredient transparency
Higher-quality protein and fats
Better control over calories and additives
The key is balanced portions and nutrient awareness, not guessing.
Stop Guessing — Use the Free Homemade Dog Food Guide
📊 The 20 g/kg formula
📊 Daily feeding charts
📊 Bowl breakdown examples
📊 What to add & what not to count
Print it. Save it. Keep it on your phone.
No more guessing. No more stress.
About Us
Helping dogs live longer, healthier lives — especially senior dogs. 🐾
This channel is dedicated to extending canine lifespan and healthspan through healthy homemade dog food, science-backed nutrition, and problem-specific strategies for aging dogs.
We focus on real issues dog owners face, including:
• Senior dog health & longevity
• Homemade dog food & fresh feeding
• Kidney disease (CKD)
• Cancer support & recovery
• Gut health & the gut–organ axis
• Joint health & mobility
• Inflammation, energy, and aging
Every video is research-driven, practical, and designed to help you make better decisions for your dog — without fear-based marketing or blind brand loyalty.
Our approach blends:
✔️ Canine nutrition science
✔️ Longevity research
✔️ Real-world experience with senior dogs
✔️ Clear, honest explanations (no hype)
If you’re looking for problem-specific guidance, homemade diet education, and evidence-based ways to improve your dog’s quality of life as they age, you’re in the right place.
Because living longer only matters if your dog can live well.
Questions? [email protected]
