Take a Tour of the Raw & Well Clinical Calculator

Quick answer: What this calculator is designed to do:
  • ● Start with an energy baseline (often expressed via an RER estimate like \( \text{RER} = 70 \times (\text{BW}_{\text{kg}})^{0.75} \)), then adjust based on the dog’s real-world context.
  • ● Express nutrient targets in consistent units (often per 1,000 kcal ME) and compare a recipe against NRC 2006 reference framing (MR/AI/RA/SUL) rather than against vague ratio rules.
  • ● Use the output as a reviewable starting point. A calculator cannot guarantee clinical outcomes without lab data and veterinary context.
  • Privacy-first architecture: Profile data is scoped to your session and cleared on logout to reduce residual data risk.
  • Want to see a full example output? Create a free account →

How the Raw & Well Engine Works

Step 1: The Forensic Clinical Intake

Clinical precision begins with exact data. Instead of generic age buckets, we analyze 8 specific biological markers to build your dog’s unique metabolic fingerprint:

How Raw & Well supports this: The app collects the profile inputs once and keeps assumptions visible, so you can re-check a recipe when life stage or activity changes.

  • Biological Profile: Breed Genetics (191+ specific multipliers like POMC), Life Stage (pediatric/adult/senior curves), and Neuter Status (hormonal shifts).
  • Physical Context: Exact Weight (\( kg^{0.75} \) scaling) and Body Condition (BCS) for safe clinical weight management.
  • Health & Model: Activity Levels (Final DER), Feeding Model (BARF, PMR, or Custom ratios), and Clinical Flags (Safety overrides/IRIS).

Allometric Energy Modeling

While we use the NRC standard \( \text{RER} = 70 \times (\text{BW}_{\text{kg}})^{0.75} \) as our biological baseline, we don’t stop there. Our engine stacks your dog’s activity levels and genetic predispositions to calculate a Daily Energy Requirement (DER). We handle the complex math so you can focus on the bowl.

See the 8-point clinical math →
UI Preview: Step 1 The Clinical Engine intake form. The Clinical Engine resolves 8 biological markers - Breed Genetics, Life Stage, Neuter Status, BCS, Activity Level, Feeding Model, and IRIS flags - into a unique metabolic fingerprint via Allometric Scaling (BW_kg^0.75).

Step 2: Your Calibrated Daily Targets

Your dog’s profile is translated into a consistent reference frame (energy-based targets and life-stage context). Instead of guessing percentages, you can compare a recipe against the same unit system used in NRC 2006 tables.

The Raw & Well workflow: We translate nutrient tables into clear, actionable targets and show what changed when you edit a recipe.

From Science to the Kitchen

We handle the math so you can focus on the bowl. You receive a kitchen-ready breakdown of gram weights for muscle meat, bone, liver, and organs - with targets and assumptions shown so you can sanity-check the result.

See the metabolic scaling formulas →
UI Preview: Step 2 The Clinical Engine Daily Targets output. The Metabolic Scaling pipeline resolves DER into prep-ready gram weights - bone, muscle meat, liver, and organ fractions - alongside an NRC-aligned reference view for micronutrients.

Step 3: Intelligent Meal Planning & Cloning

Bridge the gap between science and the bowl. Select from our clinically vetted database of raw ingredients - specifically categorized into Muscle Meat, Raw Meaty Bones (RMB), Liver, Other Organs, and Veggies & Fruits to match your dog's feeding model more consistently.

How Raw & Well handles the math: The system calculates ingredient ratios as you build your plan. You skip the manual spreadsheets and keep a clear path to nutritional balance.

Build a single day or a full 28-day rotation in minutes. Use the "One-Click Clone" feature to jumpstart your month, swap ingredients without breaking your structure, and reduce accidental repetition that can hide micronutrient gaps.

View planning safeguards →
UI Preview: Step 3 The Calendar view for "Week of March 30." Highlighting the "Clone Plan" modal and the "Build Meal" prompts for each day.

Step 4: The 3-Tier Formulation Audit

This is the heart of the engine. As you build recipes, the Analyzer runs a real-time audit starting with your Daily Food Portions. It checks whether the gram weights for muscle meat, bone, liver, and organs align with your chosen feeding model.

The Raw & Well advantage: Our multi-tier audit applies bioavailability assumptions to every ingredient. This helps you estimate usable intake instead of treating label values as fully absorbed.

Dual Display Mode: As-Fed vs. Dry Matter

Raw food often contains a high proportion of water (commonly cited around 65-80%), which can make nutrient values look misleadingly low. The Nutrient Analyzer includes a "Show Dry Matter Basis" toggle that lets you switch between two viewing modes:

  • As-Fed (Default): Shows nutrients per 100g of food as you'd actually feed it - perfect for shopping and meal prep.
  • Dry Matter Basis: Shows nutrients per 100g of dry matter - the veterinary standard used in clinical research and NRC 2006 guidelines.

This transparency helps you understand what the numbers mean, whether you're comparing to pet food labels (as-fed) or discussing nutrition with your vet (dry matter).

Next, it secures your Macronutrient Balance (Protein, Fat, Carbohydrates) for safe energy density. Finally, it dives into the micronutrients, applying strict NRC bioavailability assumptions - showing how different forms and ingredients can affect estimated intake, rather than treating label values as fully absorbed by default.

How we calculate effective absorption →
UI Preview: Step 4 The Micronutrient Report showing the "Show Dry Matter Basis" toggle. When enabled, nutrient values display per 100g dry matter (veterinary standard). When disabled, values show as-fed (consumer shopping standard). A Red "DEFICIENT" status for Zinc at 35% animal-source absorption and a "SAFE (HIGH)" badge for Phosphorus.

Step 5: Smart Feedback - Food or Supplement?

Our engine acts as your Clinical Co-Pilot. Whether you are a professional or a beginner, you do not have to calculate nutrient gaps by hand each time. If a recipe is low on Zinc or Omega-3s, the Feedback Brain presents you with a choice: Add [X]g of Whole Food or Add [X]mg of Supplement. You choose your path, and the app handles the decimal-point math to hit NRC standards.

How Raw & Well supports this step: The Feedback Brain identifies gaps and offers food or supplement bridges. You can adjust with the inputs visible.

Explore the Choice Logic: Food vs. Supplement →
UI Preview: Step 5 The Smart Feedback list. Highlighting a "Critical Foundation Alert" for the Ca:P Ratio and the supplement bridge with exact dosage.

Step 6: The Plan-to-Symptom Correlation Overlay

There is no arbitrary score. The engine uses a date-based overlay instead. You report what you observe; the engine maps it against what your dog actually ate.

  • The User Input: You log symptoms using qualitative severity keys - normal, info, warning, and danger - for stool consistency, itching, energy, and other markers.
  • The Engine Overlay: generateCorrelationData() matches each symptom log to that calendar day's macronutrient breakdown: the exact bonePct, meatPct, and organPct from the meal plan.
  • The Clinical Result: Instead of a generic score, the app produces a Correlation Map. It identifies whether a danger flag for liquid stool coincides with a high-organ day or the introduction of a new protein - giving you a traceable trigger, not a guess.
How the correlation overlay works →
UI Preview: Step 6 The Symptom Journal overlay. Showing a daily log entry with "Liquid / Diarrhea" (danger) mapped against that day's high-organ meal composition.

Want to see the math? Read our Scientific Foundation.

Aspect Raw & Well Free Calculators Spreadsheets
NRC 2006 Standards ✅ NRC (2006) reference framing ❌ No ⚠️ Manual only
Micronutrients ✅ Automatic ❌ 5-10 nutrients max ⚠️ Manual entry
Activity & Life Stage ✅ Personalized ❌ Generic ⚠️ Manual calculation
Dual Display Mode (As-Fed / DM) ✅ One-click toggle ❌ No ⚠️ Manual conversion
Aggregated Prep List ✅ One click ❌ No ⚠️ Manual
NRC Compliance Report ✅ Exportable PDF ❌ No ❌ No
Time to Plan 4 Weeks ~15 minutes N/A 3+ hours

FACT: NRC-BACKED NUTRITION

NRC 2006 is a widely used scientific reference for nutrient requirement classes and safe upper limits. Raw & Well uses it as a reference frame to review recipes in consistent units.

RAW & WELL INSIGHT

Peer-reviewed audits of home-formulated raw diets commonly find at least one nutrient shortfall when recipes are not measured and balanced. Trace minerals and vitamin E are frequent problem areas.

Source: Dillitzer, N., Becker, N., & Kienzle, E. (2011). Intake of minerals, trace elements and vitamins in bone and raw food rations in adult dogs. British Journal of Nutrition, 106(S1), S190–S192. DOI

Ready to run a recipe check?

Create a free account to access the full clinical calculator. You can save your custom meal plans. You will track your dog's health metrics securely over time.

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About the Author

Dr. Sarah Missaoui, DVM is a licensed veterinarian. She brings 20+ years of clinical experience in canine health and nutrition.

Dr. Missaoui earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet (Class of 2001). She specializes in translating NRC 2006 nutritional standards into practical, food-first feeding strategies. Her protocols target dogs with chronic conditions, digestive issues, and severe food sensitivities.

Credentials:

  • ● Doctor of Veterinary Medicine - National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet
  • ● 20+ years clinical practice
  • ● Canine Nutrition Specialist
  • ● Raw & Well Veterinary Consultant

Dr. Sarah Missaoui, DVM reviews Raw & Well educational content for nutritional accuracy and safety, with NRC (2006) used as a primary reference framework where nutrition science is cited, and clearly labels any non-NRC clinical policies.

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