How much should my dog eat?
Enter your dog’s weight and life stage. We’ll estimate daily calories and cups using the standard veterinary RER formula.
How this dog food calculator works
First we estimate your dog’s resting energy requirement (RER) — the calories needed at rest — with RER = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75. Then we multiply by a life-stage factor to get daily maintenance energy:
- Puppy, under 4 months: 3 × RER
- Puppy, 4 months to adult: 2 × RER
- Adult, spayed/neutered: 1.6 × RER
- Adult, intact: 1.8 × RER
- Adult, obesity-prone: 1.4 × RER
Finally, daily calories ÷ your food’s kcal per cup = cups per day. Split that across meals and subtract treats. Planning weight loss? That plan should come from your veterinarian, based on your dog’s ideal weight.
Sources
FAQ
How many calories does my dog need per day?
A common starting point is the resting energy requirement (RER = 70 × body weight in kg^0.75) multiplied by a life-stage factor, for example 1.6 for a neutered adult. Adjust up or down based on your dog’s body condition.
How do I turn calories into cups?
Divide your dog’s daily calories by the kcal per cup printed on the food bag. Calorie density varies a lot between foods, so always use the number from your bag.
Do treats count?
Yes. Treats are part of the daily total — a widely used guideline is to keep them to about 10% of daily calories and reduce meals accordingly.
My dog is gaining or losing weight on this amount. What now?
These formulas are averages; individual dogs differ. Weigh your dog every 2–4 weeks and ask your veterinarian before making big changes, especially for weight loss.