Free feeding calculator
How much should I feed my dog?
Get the daily calories your dog actually needs, and the portion that goes in the bowl. Built on the resting energy formula vets use, with the maintenance factors from the WSAVA and AAHA nutrition guidelines.
Daily portion
Meals a day
Resting energy requirement calculated as 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75, the allometric formula used across the WSAVA nutrition guidelines, the Pet Nutrition Alliance and the Merck Veterinary Manual. Maintenance factors are the published canine values from the Pet Nutrition Alliance and the Merck Veterinary Manual: 1.0 for weight loss, 1.2 to 1.4 for an inactive or overweight-prone dog, 1.6 neutered adult, 1.8 intact adult, 2.0 for growth after 4 months and 3.0 before. These are starting points, not a prescription.
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These figures are a starting point, not a prescription. Real needs vary by up to 50 % between two dogs of the same weight, and pregnancy, illness, medication and prescription diets all change the maths. Adjust from your dog's body condition over 4 to 6 weeks, and ask your veterinarian for any dog that is unwell, pregnant or on a therapeutic diet.
How much food a dog needs, and why the bag is not enough
Feeding charts on packaging are printed for a broad weight bracket, take no account of whether your dog is neutered, young, old or working, and tend to run generous. That is how a dog ends up gaining weight while its owner follows the instructions exactly. The calculation vets actually use starts from body weight and adjusts for the life the dog leads.
The formula
Resting energy requirement is 70 multiplied by body weight in kilos to the power 0.75. That gives the calories a dog burns doing nothing. Daily need is then that figure multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity: 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact adult, 1.2 to 1.4 for an inactive or overweight-prone dog, 2.0 for a growing puppy over four months, 3.0 under four months, and 1.0 when a dog needs to lose weight. These are the values published by the Pet Nutrition Alliance and the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Typical daily calories, neutered adult dog
| Dog weight | Resting need | Daily need | Losing weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb / 4.5 kg | 218 kcal | 348 kcal | 218 kcal |
| 20 lb / 9.1 kg | 366 kcal | 585 kcal | 366 kcal |
| 40 lb / 18.1 kg | 615 kcal | 985 kcal | 615 kcal |
| 60 lb / 27.2 kg | 834 kcal | 1 335 kcal | 834 kcal |
| 80 lb / 36.3 kg | 1 035 kcal | 1 656 kcal | 1 035 kcal |
| 100 lb / 45.4 kg | 1 223 kcal | 1 958 kcal | 1 223 kcal |
To turn calories into a portion, divide by the calories per cup printed on your bag. A food at 380 kcal per cup means a 60 lb neutered adult needs about three and a half cups a day, split across two meals.
The portion is the longevity lever
In the landmark Purina lifetime study, 48 Labradors were raised in pairs, one of each pair fed 25 % less than its littermate for life. The lean-fed dogs had a median lifespan of 13.0 years against 11.2, and showed signs of joint disease years later. Nearly two extra years, from portion size alone. It remains the single best-documented thing an owner can do, and it is free. Check where your dog sits today with the Dog Weight Checker, and see what stage your dog is at with the Dog Age Calculator.
Treats count
The usual guidance is that treats should stay under 10 % of daily calories. It sounds generous until you price them: a single dental chew can run 70 to 100 kcal, which is most of the treat budget for a small dog. If you use food for training, take it out of the meal rather than adding it on top.
Common questions
How much should I feed my dog per day?
Start from 70 times body weight in kilos to the power 0.75, then multiply by the factor for your dog's life stage: 1.6 for a typical neutered adult. A 20 kg neutered adult lands around 1 060 kcal a day. Divide by the calories per cup on your bag to get the portion.
How much should I feed my puppy?
Puppies under four months need about three times their resting requirement, and roughly twice from four months until they are fully grown. Split it across three or four meals a day rather than one or two, and re-run the numbers monthly because the weight moves fast.
Why is my dog gaining weight on the amount the bag says?
Bag charts are printed for wide weight brackets and assume an active, intact dog. A neutered adult typically needs noticeably less than an intact one of the same weight. That gap alone explains a lot of slow weight gain.
How many meals a day should a dog have?
Two for most adults. Puppies under four months do better on three or four smaller meals. Deep-chested breeds are usually fed more than once a day rather than a single large meal.
Should I feed my overweight dog for its current weight or its target?
Feed to the goal. Pick the weight-loss option in the calculator and enter the weight you are aiming for, then check progress every two weeks. Safe loss is roughly 1 to 2 % of body weight per week, and rapid restriction should always be supervised by a vet.
How accurate is a dog food calculator?
It gives a starting point, not a prescription. Two dogs of identical weight can differ by up to 50 % in real energy needs. The number that matters is your dog's body condition four to six weeks later, so adjust from there.
