Free Dog Food & Raw Feeding Calculators
Dry Matter Basis Calculator
Compare the nutrient content of different dog foods more fairly by removing the effect of their water content.
What does DMB mean?
DMB stands for Dry Matter Basis. Put simply, it shows us what percentage of a food is a particular nutrient after the water has been removed from the calculation.
This matters because fresh, wet, raw and dry foods can contain very different amounts of moisture. A nutrient percentage printed on the packet is normally given as fed, which means the water is still included. Comparing those numbers directly can therefore be misleading.
DMB gives us a much fairer way to compare foods on a like-for-like basis.
Enter the food label
Enter the percentages exactly as shown on the packaging or manufacturer's nutritional information. Moisture is required. The other fields are optional.
Your DMB results
Your results will show each nutrient as a percentage of the food's dry matter rather than the food as served.
How is Dry Matter Basis calculated?
First we work out how much of the food remains when the water is removed, then calculate how much of that dry matter is made up of the nutrient.
Why is DMB useful?
Fresh, raw, canned and wet foods naturally contain much more water than kibble or other dry foods.
Two foods can look very different on the packet simply because one contains substantially more moisture.
DMB gives pet parents another useful piece of nutritional data when comparing foods rather than relying solely on front-of-pack claims.
Want to understand your dog's food label?
Learn what analytical constituents, composition, additives, ingredients and label terminology actually tell you in our complete pet parent guide.
Learn How To Read Dog Food Labels https://www.thebalancedcanine.co.uk/articles/decoding-pet-food-labels-a-complete-guide-for-pet-parents© The Balanced Canine
UK Raw Food Cost Comparator
Compare estimated raw feeding costs across UK brands using your dog's individual daily feeding amount.
Build your comparison
Enter your dog's feeding amount and choose the type of raw food you want to compare.
Raw food calculator overview
The Balanced Canine raw food calculator helps pet parents estimate how much raw food to feed per day by using life stage, weight, body condition, and activity level. It is designed as a practical starting point built around widely accepted energy requirements for dogs, not as a rigid prescription. This calculator should always be used as a guide and never as a substitute for professional veterinary or nutritionist advice.
Why body condition and activity matter
Entering a body condition score allows the calculator to nudge feeding amounts up for dogs that are too lean and down for dogs that are carrying extra weight. This is important because two dogs of the same weight can have very different calorie needs depending on whether they need to gain, maintain, or lose condition. Including an activity level (low, moderate, or high) further refines the estimate, since working, sporting, or very active dogs burn significantly more energy than relaxed companion dogs. To learn how to assess your dog’s body condition accurately, you can visit our article here.
Because every dog is an individual, with differences in metabolism, health status, neuter status, environment, and stress, even a well‑designed calculator can only provide an estimated range. Pet parents should always monitor weight trends, adjust portions gradually, and work with their veterinary team if their dog has any medical conditions. This is why the raw food calculator is intended as a guide and a guide only, rather than a guarantee of a perfect daily feeding amount.
Canine Raw Food Calculator
DIY 80:10:10 raw food calculator
Alongside the raw food calculator, the DIY raw food calculator is ideal for pet parents who want to build their own bowl using the 80:10:10 framework (80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% offal). This tool helps you break down your dog’s daily portion into specific ingredient categories, so you can see exactly how much meat, bone, and organ to include for that meal. It is especially useful if you’re portioning meals from whole cuts, bulk orders, or mixed suppliers and want quick, consistent ratios.
However, 80:10:10 on its own is not a complete and balanced diet, because it does not automatically cover micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Pet parents still need to add the right extras (like oily fish, manganese, zinc or targeted supplements etc.) to meet their dog’s full nutrient requirements over time. To learn more about turning an 80:10:10 base into a properly balanced raw diet, you can read our full guide here.