Dog details and activity level
Results
Enter your dog's details on the left and click “Calculate calories” to see daily energy needs and portion estimates.
Example dog calorie scenarios
| Dog name | Weight (kg) | Life stage / goal | Multiplier | Daily calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella | 10 | Neutered adult | 1.6 × RER | ≈ 640 |
| Max | 25 | Intact adult | 1.8 × RER | ≈ 1,320 |
| Luna | 5 | Puppy 0–4 months | 3.0 × RER | ≈ 600 |
| Rocky | 30 | Working dog – moderate | 3.0 × RER | ≈ 2,550 |
| Daisy | 18 | Weight loss program | 1.0 × RER | ≈ 740 |
Values are approximate examples only. Actual needs vary by individual dog, health status, and environment.
Dog calorie reference data
1. Typical multipliers by life stage
| Life stage / activity | Multiplier (× RER) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Inactive or obese-prone adult | 1.2 | Very low activity, weight gain risk |
| Neutered adult | 1.6 | Most indoor companion dogs |
| Intact adult | 1.8 | Adults with slightly higher energy needs |
| Puppy 0–4 months | 3.0 | Rapid growth phase, frequent meals |
| Puppy 4–12 months | 2.0 | Growing but slower than early puppyhood |
| Working dog – heavy work | 5.0 | High-performance or endurance dogs |
2. Example calorie needs by size category
| Size category | Example weight (kg) | Example life stage | Approx daily calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 3 | Neutered adult | ≈ 230 |
| Small | 7 | Neutered adult | ≈ 450 |
| Medium | 15 | Neutered adult | ≈ 820 |
| Large | 30 | Neutered adult | ≈ 1,350 |
| Giant | 50 | Neutered adult | ≈ 1,950 |
3. Treat calorie limits at ten percent
| Daily calories (MER) | 10% treat allowance (kcal) | Remaining food calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | 40 | 360 |
| 800 | 80 | 720 |
| 1,200 | 120 | 1,080 |
| 1,600 | 160 | 1,440 |
| 2,000 | 200 | 1,800 |
4. Typical dry food energy densities
| Food type | Energy (kcal per cup) | Energy (kcal per 100 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Light or weight-control | ≈ 300 | ≈ 310 |
| Standard adult maintenance | ≈ 360–380 | ≈ 340–360 |
| Puppy or growth formula | ≈ 380–410 | ≈ 360–390 |
| Performance or working diet | ≈ 400–450 | ≈ 390–420 |
5. Example daily portions from energy density
| Dog profile | Daily food calories (kcal) | Food energy (kcal per cup) | Approx cups per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg neutered adult | ≈ 550 | 380 | ≈ 1.45 |
| 25 kg active adult | ≈ 1,150 | 380 | ≈ 3.00 |
| 5 kg indoor small dog | ≈ 280 | 350 | ≈ 0.80 |
| 30 kg working dog | ≈ 1,900 | 420 | ≈ 4.50 |
These figures are illustrative only. Always adapt to your dog's individual needs and monitor body condition over time.
Formulas used in this dog calorie calculator
This calculator estimates your dog's daily energy needs in kilocalories (kcal) using a two-step process: Resting Energy Requirement (RER), followed by a lifestyle multiplier.
- Resting Energy Requirement (RER): RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
- Maintenance / daily energy requirement (MER): MER = RER × multiplier
The multiplier depends on life stage and activity level, for example:
- Inactive or obese-prone adult: 1.2 × RER
- Neutered adult: 1.6 × RER
- Intact adult: 1.8 × RER
- Puppy 0–4 months: 3.0 × RER
- Puppy 4–12 months: 2.0 × RER
- Working dogs: 2.0–5.0 × RER depending on workload
The calculator also splits calories between main meals and treats, and optionally converts food calories into cups or grams per day using the energy density on your food label.
How to use this dog calorie calculator
- Enter your dog's name if you want personalized results.
- Type your dog's current body weight and choose kilograms or pounds.
- If planning weight change, tick “Use target weight” and enter the target weight in the same unit.
- Select the closest life stage or activity level from the list.
- Optionally enter a custom multiplier if advised by your veterinarian.
- Set how many meals per day you normally feed your dog.
- Choose a treat allowance percentage, commonly around ten percent daily.
- If available, enter the food's energy density per cup and/or per 100 g from the label to estimate portions.
- Click “Calculate calories” to see daily energy and meal targets.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to download, save, or share the results.
Always discuss calorie targets and weight management plans with your veterinarian, especially for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs with medical conditions.
Dog calorie calculator FAQs
1. Is this dog calorie calculator suitable for every dog?
It provides general estimates using veterinary equations for healthy dogs. Individual needs vary with age, breed, medical conditions, and environment, so always confirm final feeding plans with your veterinarian.
2. Should I use current weight or target weight?
For healthy adults, current weight is often used. During weight-loss or weight-gain programs, veterinarians frequently recommend calculating calories from an ideal or target weight instead.
3. How accurate are these calorie estimates?
The equations are widely used in veterinary nutrition but remain approximations. Real needs can differ by more than twenty percent, so monitor body condition and adjust feeding amounts gradually with professional guidance.
4. Can I use this calculator for puppies?
Yes, choose the appropriate puppy life-stage multiplier and always work closely with your veterinarian. Puppies grow quickly and require more frequent monitoring, diet adjustments, and regular health checks than adult dogs.
5. What if my dog eats multiple food types daily?
Use the total daily calories as a combined budget. Allocate calories between dry food, wet food, and treats by checking each product's energy density and summing their contributions toward the daily goal.
6. How often should I recalculate my dog's calories?
Recalculate whenever body weight, activity level, life stage, or health status changes. For growing puppies or dogs in weight programs, reviewing every two to four weeks is usually helpful.