Ever thought about feeding a raw diet for dogs? You might have felt a little intimidated by all the talk about balancing nutrients.

But don’t worry ... you don’t need to be a nutritionist or have a lab in your kitchen to get it right! Feeding raw is about working with nature, and with the right guidance, you can provide a healthy, balanced diet that supports your dog’s overall well-being.

One of the biggest concerns new raw feeders have is balancing calcium and phosphorus, two minerals critical for your dog’s health. While it might sound complicated, it’s simpler than it seems—and I'm here to guide you through the basics so you can confidently nourish your dog without any guesswork.

Calcium And Phosphorus For Dogs: Why So Important?

Calcium and phosphorus are the building blocks of your dog’s bones and teeth. These minerals do much more than that, though—they support muscle function, energy production, and even cell stability.

Achieving the right balance between these two is crucial, especially for puppies and large breeds that are still growing.

Too much or too little of either mineral can lead to serious health issues, like skeletal problems in young dogs or weakened bones in adults. Understanding their roles and how to maintain the ideal balance is key to ensuring your dog thrives on a raw diet.

Phosphorus For Dogs

Phosphorus is one of the unsung heroes of your dog’s diet. Found abundantly in muscle meats, it’s essential for strong bones and teeth, but it also powers the body’s energy systems. This mineral supports the production of ATP, which is like the fuel cells use to keep your dog’s body running.

Beyond that, phosphorus helps with protein synthesis, muscle contractions, kidney function, and even nerve signaling. While it’s vital for health, too much phosphorus without enough calcium can throw your dog’s system out of balance, which is why getting the ratio right is so important.

Calcium For Dogs

When you think of calcium, strong bones and teeth probably come to mind—and for good reason! But calcium’s job doesn’t stop there. It’s also essential for blood clotting, muscle movement, and keeping your dog’s cell membranes stable. Every cell in your dog’s body relies on calcium in some way.

For young, growing dogs, calcium is especially critical to ensure their bones develop properly. However, too much calcium—particularly for large breeds—can lead to issues like abnormal bone growth. That’s why it’s important to include it in the right amounts, rather than overloading your dog’s diet with supplements.

Finding The Right Balance

Calcium and phosphorus work like partners—they need to be in harmony to do their jobs effectively. Ideally, your dog’s diet should have a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of about 1:1, with a slight edge toward calcium. This balance helps maintain healthy bones and prevents long-term issues like skeletal demineralization or developmental disorders.

Puppies and large breeds are especially sensitive to imbalances, but even adult dogs need a steady supply to stay healthy. While the ratio might sound like a lot to figure out, it’s actually quite manageable when you rely on the right foods, like raw meaty bones (RMBs), which naturally balance these minerals.

How To Balance Calcium And Phosphorus On A Raw Diet For Dogs

The easiest and most natural way to balance calcium and phosphorus in your dog’s diet is by feeding raw meaty bones. RMBs, like chicken necks or lamb ribs, are nature’s perfect package—they provide the ideal mix of calcium and phosphorus while also encouraging chewing, which benefits your dog’s dental health.

Aim for RMBs to make up 10-25% of your dog’s diet. This range ensures your dog gets enough calcium without overloading her system or skimping on the nutrients found in meat and organs. The beauty of RMBs is that they’re both effective and easy to include in meals.

Feeding an all-meat diet might seem like a good idea, but it can quickly throw your dog’s calcium-phosphorus balance out of whack. Meat alone is high in phosphorus and low in calcium, which can lead to issues like brittle bones or developmental problems in puppies. That’s why RMBs are so important—they naturally correct this imbalance.

On the flip side, adding too much calcium through supplements or inappropriate bones can be just as harmful. Over-supplementation can interfere with nutrient absorption and even cause skeletal deformities. Stick to whole, natural sources like RMBs, and you’ll have a much easier time keeping your dog’s diet balanced and healthy.

Bone Content In Common Raw Foods

Knowing the bone content of various raw foods makes balancing your dog’s diet much easier.

Here’s a quick guide to help you understand the percentage of bone in some common raw food options:

Chicken:

• Neck: 36% bone
• Wing: 45% bone
• Leg quarter: 30% bone
• Feet: 60% bone

Turkey:

• Neck: 42% bone
• Drumstick: 20% bone
• Wing: 37% bone

Beef:

• Ribs: 52% bone
• Oxtails: 45–65% bone (percentage increases as the tail gets thinner)

Lamb:

• Ribs: 27% bone
• Shoulder blade: 24% bone

By using this information, you can ensure your dog’s meals stay within the ideal bone range of 10–25%.

This balance supports proper calcium and phosphorus intake for healthy bones and overall wellness.

I'll break it down further with a simple example. If you’re feeding a 60-pound dog, her daily intake might be around 2.5% of her body weight—about 1.5 pounds (24 ounces) of food.

If you include 12 ounces of chicken necks (36% bone) and 12 ounces of boneless meat, you can calculate the total bone content:

• Chicken necks contribute 36% bone x 12 ounces = 4.32 ounces of bone.
• Divide by the total food weight (24 ounces), and you get about 18% bone, which is within the ideal range.

For variety, you might swap in 8 ounces of lamb ribs (27% bone) and adjust the boneless meat accordingly. Meal plans like this make it easy to keep the calcium-phosphorus ratio balanced while ensuring your dog gets a mix of nutrients.

More Tips For Success

A balanced raw diet isn’t just about bones—so it’s important to include about 15% organ meat and plenty of high-quality boneless muscle meat. Organs like liver, kidney, and heart are nutritional powerhouses, providing essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, iron, and taurine.

Variety is key, so rotate between different proteins like chicken, beef, lamb, and fish to ensure your dog gets a wide range of nutrients. This also helps prevent potential sensitivities from feeding the same protein over and over.

Not all raw meats are created equal. Grocery store meats are often treated with chemicals like bleach or salt to preserve freshness, which can be harmful to your dog. So look for trusted sources of raw meats, such as local butchers or suppliers specializing in pet-friendly raw food.

When it comes to bones, always choose sizes appropriate for your dog. For example, avoid giving small bones to large dogs that could swallow them whole, and steer clear of hard, weight-bearing bones that might crack teeth. If in doubt, supervised chewing is always a good idea.

If feeding whole bones makes you nervous, bone meal powder can be an excellent substitute. Choose a high-quality, food-grade bone meal that’s free from additives and chemicals. This can be added to boneless meals to ensure your dog still gets the calcium they need without the risks of choking or cracked teeth.

With these tips in mind, you can confidently provide your dog with a raw diet that’s not only safe but also deeply nourishing!

Benefits Of A Balanced Raw Diet

Why go to all the trouble of balancing these minerals on your dog's raw food diet? A balanced raw dog food diet does wonders for your dog’s overall health. Dogs often experience increased energy levels, smoother digestion, and a more robust immune system with raw pet food.

By feeding raw meat and a biologically appropriate diet that mimics what dogs would eat in the wild, you’re supporting their natural physiology. Balanced calcium and phosphorus levels promote strong bones and teeth, while the nutrient density of fresh, whole foods contributes to healthier skin, shinier coats, and better muscle tone. Over time, many pet owners notice fewer allergies, a healthy inflammatory response, and an overall improvement in their dog’s quality of life.

Feeding raw also aligns with your dog’s evolutionary needs, providing them with the raw enzymes and nutrients that are often lost in processed foods. This can lead to longer-term wellness, reducing the likelihood of common issues like obesity, dental disease, and joint problems.

Balancing calcium and phosphorus might sound intimidating at first, but with a little practice, it becomes second nature. Following simple guidelines, such as feeding 10–25% bone content and incorporating a variety of proteins, makes it easy to keep your dog’s diet both nutritious and safe.

Remember, perfection isn’t the goal—providing your dog with fresh, wholesome food is already a major step in the right direction. Trust yourself, learn as you go, and celebrate the positive changes you’ll see in your dog’s health and happiness. By taking control of your pet’s nutrition, you’re setting her up for a lifetime of vitality and joy!

FAQ

Is raw diets good for dogs? Raw feeding provides dogs with a natural, nutrient-dense diet that supports better digestion, energy, and overall health compared to heavily processed commercial pet food. However, dog owners should ensure their dog's raw meals are complete and balanced to meet nutritional needs.

What is the 80-10-10 rule for raw dog food? The 80-10-10 rule for raw feeding refers to a diet consisting of 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat, designed to mimic a natural prey diet. Following this guideline helps raw fed dogs receive essential nutrients for optimal health and vitality.

What are the disadvantages of raw dog food? Feeding raw food requires careful handling of raw meat and raw eggs to avoid contamination and ensure it meets human consumption safety standards. Additionally, some pet food companies warn that improperly balanced raw meals can lead to nutrient deficiencies or imbalances.

What is the healthiest food to feed your dog? The healthiest food for your dog is a complete and balanced diet tailored to her age, activity level, and dog's weight, with raw feeding being an excellent choice for many. If raw feeding isn't an option, consider high-quality alternatives to commercial pet food with fewer additives and more natural ingredients.