Raw meaty bones (RMB) contain edible bone, muscle meat, fats, and connective tissue. Each RMB will vary in edible bone content and therefore feeding amounts will vary. Calculating the amount of edible bone in each RMB can be achieved by knowing the percentage of bone present.
Dogs and cats have a nutritional requirement for calcium; and one way to provide calcium in a raw diet is to feed raw meaty bones (RMB). Including raw meaty bones in a dog or cats diet can easily be achieved in two steps.
Bone & Calcium Amounts
Identify the bone percentage present in the raw meaty bone.
Raw Meaty Bone Calculations
Calculate how much raw meaty bone is needed to meet edible bone recommendations.
The amount of edible bone recommended for dogs and cats will vary due to their differing nutritional requirements. Always remember to feed appropriate raw meaty bones for the size of the pet, the life stage and it’s eating habits.
Bone & Calcium Amounts
It is always good practice to have a general idea of the amount of bone that is in the RMB being fed. The percentages provided are averages. Each RMB you receive will vary in bone content because of size and weight variations from one animal to another.
Several RMBs have nutritional data available on the calcium content within the bone and these values are provided in Monica Segal’s books. However, the nutritional data for calcium content is not available for many RMBs.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Chicken (without organs or feathers) |
32% | 68% | N/A |
| Chicken Head | 75% | 25% | N/A |
| Chicken Neck (with skin) |
36% | 64% | – |
| Chicken Neck (without skin) |
– | – | 1.15 g |
| Chicken Wing | 46% | 54% | 0.92 g |
| Chicken Rib Cages (Frames) |
80% | 20% | 1.63 g |
| Chicken Back | 44% | 56% | 1.33 g |
| Chicken Foot | 60% | 40% | N/A |
| Chicken Breast | 20% | 80% | N/A |
| Chicken Leg Quarter | 30% | 70% | 0.88 g |
| Chicken Leg | 27% | 73% | N/A |
| Chicken Thigh | 21% | 79% | N/A |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone.
Source: Segal, Monica.K9 Kitchen, Your Dogs’ Diet: The Truth Behind the Hype Doggie Diner Inc., 2009.
Source: Segal, Monica.Optimal Nutrition – Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level Doggie Diner Inc., 2002.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Duck (without organs and feathers) |
28% | 72% | 0.87 g |
| Duck Head | 75% | 25% | N/A |
| Duck Frame | 80% | 20% | N/A |
| Duck Neck | 50% | 50% | N/A |
| Duck Wing | 39% | 61% | N/A |
| Duck Foot | 60% | 40% | N/A |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone. Nutritional data on the bone’s mineral content can be found in Monica Segal’s K9 Kitchen book.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamb Neck | 32% | 68% | N/A |
| Lamb Ribs | 27% | 73% | 1.36 g |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone.
Source: Segal, Monica.Optimal Nutrition – Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level Doggie Diner Inc., 2002.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pork Feet | 30% | 70% | N/A |
| Pork Tails | 30% | 70% | N/A |
| Pork Ribs | 30% | 70% | 1.49 g |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone.
Source: Segal, Monica.Optimal Nutrition – Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level Doggie Diner Inc., 2002.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Rabbit (without organs and fur) |
28% | 72% | 0.65 g |
| Whole Prey Rabbit (with organs and fur) |
10% | 90% | N/A |
| Rabbit Head | 75% | 25% | N/A |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone.
Source: Segal, Monica.K9 Kitchen, Your Dogs’ Diet: The Truth Behind the Hype Doggie Diner Inc., 2009.
| Raw Meaty Bone | Bone % | Meat % | Calcium* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Turkey (without organs and feathers) |
21% | 79% | N/A |
| Turkey Neck | 45% | 55% | 1.84 g |
| Turkey Wing | 33% | 67% | 2.90 g |
| Turkey Back | 50% | 50% | N/A |
| Turkey Breast | 14% | 86% | N/A |
| Turkey Thigh | 20% | 80% | 0.74 g |
| Turkey Leg | 38% | 62% | N/A |
*Calcium levels are based off of 100 grams (3.5 oz) of complete raw meaty bone.
Source: Segal, Monica.K9 Kitchen, Your Dogs’ Diet: The Truth Behind the Hype Doggie Diner Inc., 2009.
Source: Segal, Monica.Optimal Nutrition – Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level Doggie Diner Inc., 2002.
Raw Meaty Bone Calculations
The raw diet ratios provide a guideline for edible bone content. This is the actual bone found within a RMB and does not include meat and skin. Calculating how much RMB is required in a meal is needed in order to provide the appropriate amount of bone in the raw diet.
Calculate Edible Bone Recommendations
The first step to determine how much RMB to feed begins with calculating the recommended amount of edible bone. This value can be calculated by multiplying the total amount of food a pet consumes daily by the edible bone percentage.
For adult dogs it is recommended to include 10% edible bone in a homemade raw diet. However, only 6% of edible bone is recommended for adult cats, while puppies and kittens require around 15-20% edible bone.
Dog Example:
An adult dog consumes 17.5 ounces (500 grams) of raw food a day – 17.5oz multiplied by 10% edible bone ratio will provide the daily edible bone recommendation.
17.5oz x 0.10 = 1.75oz edible bone
500g x 0.10 = 50g edible bone
Cat Example:
An adult cat consumes 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw food a day – 3.5oz multiplied by 6% edible bone ratio will provide the daily edible bone recommendation.
3.5oz x 0.06 = 0.21oz edible bone
100g x 0.06 = 6g edible bone
Calculate RMB Bone Amounts
Once the edible bone recommendation has been calculated, the amount of raw meaty bone needed to provide the edible bone is the second step. This value can be calculated by dividing the edible bone recommendation by the bone percentage of the chosen raw meaty bone. This calculation will provide the total weight of raw meaty bone needed to provide enough edible bone.
Dog Example:
An adult dog needs 1.75 ounces (50 grams) of edible bone a day. A duck neck is chosen for RMB and is 50% edible bone and 50% muscle meat – 1.75oz (50g) divided by 50% bone will provide the total weight of duck necks needed to fulfill the daily edible bone requirement.
1.75oz ÷ 0.50 = 3.5oz total duck neck
50g ÷ 0.50 = 100g total duck neck
Cat Example:
An adult cat needs 0.21 ounces (6 grams) of edible bone a day. A chicken wings are chosen for RMB and are 46% edible bone and 54% muscle meat – 0.21oz (6g) divided by 46% bone will provide the total weight of chicken wings needed to fulfill the daily edible bone requirement.
0.21oz ÷ 0.46 = 0.45oz total chicken wings
6g ÷ 0.46 = 13g total chicken wings
Online RMB Calculator
If the raw meaty bone calculations become overwhelming, the free calculator below allows pet parents to calculate feeding amounts for various raw meaty bones:
Ratio Guidelines
Ratios for edible bone are starting guidelines only. It is important to adjust to the pet’s individual needs. If the pet has very hard stool or white/grey stool, too much bone has been fed. Provide boneless meals for the next day or two to balance out the amount of bone previously fed. Once stools have returned back to normal, continue your normal meal routine. If stools are too loose and not formed, increase the amount of edible bone slightly until stools become firm.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Raw meaty bones are an excellent source of calcium. However, it is important to know that the amount of actual edible bone will vary from one RMB to the next. Calculating the amount of raw meaty bones a pet needs in their daily meal can be accomplished by calculating the daily edible bone recommendations and dividing this value by the bone percentage of the chosen RMB.
The amount of edible bone is the same whether an RMB is whole or ground. If RMBs are not included in a raw diet, it is important to include an alternative calcium source. This can included calcium carbonate or a bone meal supplement to ensure that the diet provides the recommended allowances for calcium.