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Dog food calculator

Cups per day for your dog and your food. Enter the kcal per cup from the bag for a precise amount instead of the generous chart on the packaging.

Use the weight your dog should be, not the current one, if they are overweight. Find ideal weight.
Printed on the bag as "kcal/cup" or "kcal ME/cup". Dry foods range roughly 300–500.
Daily calories
—kcal per day
Resting energy — kcal × factor —. Split into two meals for adults, three or more for puppies.
  • Food per day at 380 kcal/cup—
  • Per meal (2 meals)—
  • Treat budget (10% of calories)—
  • Weight-loss target if overweight (RER × 1.0 at ideal weight)—

Starting point from NRC and WSAVA energy equations. Individual dogs vary by ±20% or more. Weigh your dog every 2 to 4 weeks and adjust by 10% until the weight is stable.

Why the bag chart overfeeds

Feeding charts are written for intact, active adult dogs and list a range that covers most of the population. Most pets are neutered and spend the day on a sofa, so they sit at the bottom of the range or below it. Portion by calories, weigh on a kitchen scale for the first weeks, and adjust to the dog in front of you. The full calorie method is explained on the calorie calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I feed my dog by weight?

A rough guide for neutered adults on a 380 kcal/cup food: 10 lb dog about ¾ cup a day, 20 lb about 1¼ cups, 40 lb about 2 cups, 60 lb about 2¾ cups, 80 lb about 3½ cups. Your food's calorie density changes these numbers, so enter it above.

Is it better to feed once or twice a day?

Twice a day for adults. It steadies hunger, and a large Dog Aging Project analysis found once-daily feeding associated with fewer health problems, but the evidence is observational and most vets still recommend two meals, especially for deep-chested breeds at risk of bloat.

How do I switch dog food without upsetting the stomach?

Mix over 7 days: 25% new for two days, 50% for two, 75% for two, then 100%. Keep total calories the same during the switch.

Sources

  1. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2006. nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668
  2. WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Global Nutrition Guidelines and calorie requirement charts. wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/