How much should I feed my dog?
One of the most common questions dog owners face is figuring out the right amount to feed their pet. Feed too little and your dog may lose weight or lack energy. Feed too much and you risk obesity, joint problems, and a shortened lifespan.
The feeding guidelines printed on dog food bags are a starting point, but they are typically calibrated for an average adult dog and may not reflect your dog's unique situation. A working Border Collie needs far more calories than a sedentary Shih Tzu of the same weight. A growing puppy needs three times the calories per kilogram compared to a senior dog.
This calculator uses established veterinary formulas to estimate your dog's daily calorie needs and translate them into practical feeding amounts — cups of dry kibble, ounces of wet food, or ounces of raw food — based on your dog's weight, age, activity level, and the type of food you're using.
Understanding dog calorie needs
Veterinarians use a two-step formula to determine how many calories a dog needs each day.
**Step 1 — Resting Energy Requirement (RER)**
The RER is the number of calories a dog needs just to exist at rest — breathing, maintaining body temperature, and keeping organs functioning. It is calculated as:
\`\`\` RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 \`\`\`
For example, a 20 kg (44 lb) dog has an RER of approximately 70 × 20^0.75 = 662 kcal/day.
**Step 2 — Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)**
The MER accounts for the dog's life stage, reproductive status, and activity level. It multiplies the RER by two factors:
- **Life stage multiplier:** Puppies under 4 months: 3.0 × RER. Puppies 4–12 months: 2.0 × RER. Adult neutered: 1.6 × RER. Adult intact: 1.8 × RER. Senior (7+): 1.4 × RER. - **Activity multiplier:** Low activity: 0.8. Moderate: 1.0. High: 1.2. Very high (working/sport dogs): 1.4.
The final MER is the estimated daily calorie target. Divide by the calorie density of your food to get the serving size.
Feeding by age and life stage
Age is one of the biggest factors in how much a dog should eat. Dogs go through three broad life stages, each with different nutritional demands.
**Puppies (0–12 months)**
Puppies grow rapidly and need significantly more calories per kilogram of body weight than adults. Young puppies under four months may need up to three times their resting energy requirement. Between four and twelve months this drops to about twice the resting requirement. Puppies benefit from three or four small meals per day rather than two large ones to support stable blood sugar and digestion.
**Adult dogs (1–7 years)**
Adult dogs have more stable energy requirements. Neutered dogs tend to have slightly lower caloric needs than intact dogs of the same size and activity level, which is why spay/neuter status is included in the calculation. Most healthy adult dogs do well on two meals per day.
**Senior dogs (7+ years)**
Senior dogs typically have slower metabolisms and lower activity levels, reducing their calorie needs by about 10–15% compared to a typical adult. However, senior dogs may also lose muscle mass more quickly, so it is worth discussing protein intake with your veterinarian in addition to overall calorie targets.
Food type comparison: dry, wet, and raw
The calorie density of your chosen food determines how much you need to feed per day.
**Dry Kibble**
Dry kibble is the most calorie-dense and cost-effective option, typically delivering around 350 kcal per cup (though this varies widely by brand and formula). It has a long shelf life and is convenient to measure and store. Always check the specific calorie information on the bag — premium or grain-free formulas can be significantly higher.
**Wet / Canned Food**
Wet food has a high water content (70–80%), which means it delivers fewer calories per ounce than dry food — roughly 100 kcal per 100 grams. The high moisture content can be beneficial for dogs who don't drink enough water or who have urinary health concerns. Many owners use wet food as a topper alongside dry kibble.
**Raw Diet**
Raw diets (BARF — Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) aim to mimic what dogs ate before domestication. Raw meat typically delivers around 50 kcal per ounce. Raw feeding requires careful attention to nutritional balance, food safety, and sourcing. Consult a veterinary nutritionist before switching to raw, especially for puppies, seniors, or immunocompromised dogs.
How to use this calculator
1. Select your preferred weight unit (pounds or kilograms). 2. Choose your dog's breed size — small, medium, large, or giant. The size selector shows typical weight ranges for reference. 3. Enter your dog's actual weight. Use a bathroom scale or ask your vet for the most accurate reading. 4. Select the age and life stage that best describes your dog — puppy under 4 months, puppy 4–12 months, adult neutered, adult intact, or senior. 5. Choose your dog's activity level based on how much daily exercise they get. 6. Select the type of food you're feeding — dry kibble, wet/canned, or raw. 7. Click "Calculate Feeding Amount" to see your dog's estimated daily calorie needs, daily feeding amount, meals per day, and weekly shopping quantity. 8. Review the disclaimer and verify the calorie density against your specific food label.
FAQs
Q: Why doesn't this calculator match the feeding guide on my dog food bag? A: Bag feeding guides are generic recommendations for average dogs. This calculator personalizes the estimate using your dog's weight, life stage, and activity level. Bag guides also often err on the generous side. Use this calculator as your primary guide and adjust based on your dog's body condition.
Q: How often should I weigh my dog and update the calculation? A: Weigh your dog every 4–6 weeks and recalculate, especially for puppies who grow quickly or dogs on a weight-loss program. Adult dogs can be checked every 2–3 months. A healthy dog's ribs should be easily felt but not visible.
Q: My dog's calorie needs seem very high or very low — is something wrong? A: Very small dogs (under 5 lbs) and very large dogs (over 100 lbs) can sometimes produce results that look surprising. The RER formula is a well-validated estimate, but it has wider uncertainty at the extremes. Working dogs with extremely high activity levels may need even more than this calculator suggests. Always validate with your veterinarian.
Q: Can I use this calculator for cats? A: No — cats have different metabolic rates and nutritional requirements. Cat feeding requires a separate calculation. Use a dedicated cat nutrition tool or consult your veterinarian.
Q: How do I convert between wet and dry food if I'm feeding a mix? A: If you feed a mix of wet and dry, estimate the calories from each portion separately. For example, if you plan to give half the day's calories as dry kibble and half as wet food, halve the calculator's output and divide each half by the respective food's calorie density. Your vet can help you design a mixed feeding plan.
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