Dog Calorie Intake

Free Dog Calorie Intake calculator with clear step-by-step results.

About Dog Calorie Intake

Canine energy requirements scale with metabolic weight, so a 30 kg dog needs far less than twice what a 15 kg dog needs. The resting requirement uses the 70 x kg^0.75 relationship, an activity factor converts it to a maintenance figure, and treats are carved out of the total rather than added to it.

Formulas

Resting energy requirement

RER = 70 x (body weight kg)^0.75

Meal calories

Per meal = (RER x activity factor - treat allowance) / meals per day

Worked example

With the default values below, Dog Calorie Intake returns Daily energy requirement of 979. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Dog's weightaccepts 0.5–100 kg: 18 kg
Life stage and activityone of Puppy under 4 months, Puppy 4-12 months, Adult, neutered, Adult, intact, Working or highly active, Senior or inactive, Weight loss programme: Adult, neutered
Meals per dayaccepts 1–6: 2
Share of calories from treatsaccepts 0–40 %: 10 %

Results

Daily energy requirement: 979 kcal
Resting energy requirement: 612 kcal
Calories per meal: 440 kcal
Daily treat allowance: 98 kcal

Step by step

1Values used
2Resting energy requirement
3Meal calories
4Daily energy requirement= 979 kcal
5Resting energy requirement= 612 kcal
6Calories per meal= 440 kcal
7Daily treat allowance= 98 kcal

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to whole numbers, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
General guidance only. Requirements vary with breed, coat, climate, health status and medication. Any weight-loss plan for a dog should be supervised by a veterinarian.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

General guidance only. Requirements vary with breed, coat, climate, health status and medication. Any weight-loss plan for a dog should be supervised by a veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why subtract treats instead of adding them?

Treats are calories. Adding them on top of a full ration is the most common cause of gradual weight gain in otherwise well-fed dogs.

Should working dogs really get 2.5x?

Sustained hard work such as sledding or herding can push requirements to three or four times resting. Occasional weekend activity is closer to the standard adult factor.