Pet Calculus

Dog calorie calculator

Enter your dog’s weight and lifestyle to get a daily calorie target, worked out the same way a vet nutritionist starts. There’s a weight-loss mode too.

1,165 calories (kcal) per day

    Want this in cups? Try the dog food calculator.

    How many calories does a dog need?

    It depends mostly on body size, but not in a straight line. A 100 lb dog doesn’t need ten times what a 10 lb dog eats. It needs only about five and a half times as much, because bigger bodies burn energy more slowly per pound. Vets handle this with a two-step formula, and it’s what this dog calorie calculator uses.

    Step 1: resting energy requirement (RER). This is what your dog burns lying still all day:

    RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75

    Step 2: multiply for life stage and lifestyle. The multipliers below come from the Merck Veterinary Manual and the Pet Nutrition Alliance:

    Your dogMultiplier
    Adult, spayed or neutered× 1.6
    Adult, not neutered× 1.8
    Inactive, or gains weight easily× 1.4
    Weight loss (using target weight)× 1.0
    Puppy under 4 months× 3.0
    Puppy from 4 months to adult size× 2.0
    Very active or working dog× 2.0 or more

    An example: Rosie is a 50 lb spayed Labrador mix. 50 lb is 22.7 kg, so her RER is 70 × 22.70.75 ≈ 727 kcal. Multiply by 1.6 and she needs about 1,165 kcal a day. If she gets treats, those should stay under about 115 kcal of that total.

    Dog calorie chart by weight

    Here are daily calorie targets for common weights, rounded to the nearest 5. Use the calculator above for your dog’s exact weight.

    Body weightNeutered adultNot neuteredInactivePuppy 4 mo+
    5 lb (2.3 kg)205235180260
    10 lb (4.5 kg)350390305435
    15 lb (6.8 kg)470530415590
    20 lb (9.1 kg)585660510730
    30 lb (13.6 kg)795895695990
    40 lb (18.1 kg)9851,1108601,230
    50 lb (22.7 kg)1,1651,3101,0201,455
    60 lb (27.2 kg)1,3351,5001,1701,670
    70 lb (31.8 kg)1,5001,6851,3101,875
    80 lb (36.3 kg)1,6551,8651,4502,070
    90 lb (40.8 kg)1,8102,0351,5852,260
    100 lb (45.4 kg)1,9602,2001,7152,445

    Treat this number as a starting point

    Formulas like this are averages. The Pet Nutrition Alliance notes that real needs can differ by as much as 50% between two dogs of the same weight. Breed, coat, climate, age and plain metabolism all play a part.

    The way to fine-tune it is simple. Feed the calculated amount for three to four weeks, weighing your dog every couple of weeks. If weight creeps up, cut back by about 10%. If your dog is losing weight it doesn’t need to lose, add 10%. Watch the waist and ribs too. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without pressing, and see a waist from above.

    Dog calorie calculator for weight loss

    To help a dog lose weight safely, vets usually feed the resting energy requirement for the dog’s target weight, not its current weight. Choose “Needs to lose weight” in the calculator and enter the goal your vet agreed on.

    For example, a 60 lb neutered dog would normally get about 1,335 kcal a day. With a 50 lb target, the weight-loss amount is about 725 kcal. That gap is what drives the loss, which should be slow: roughly 1 to 2% of body weight a week.

    Check with your vet before starting a diet. Fast weight loss can be harmful, and weight gain is sometimes a sign of a medical problem such as an underactive thyroid.

    Where treats and extras fit

    Most vets suggest keeping treats, chews and table scraps under 10% of daily calories. The calculator shows that allowance separately so you can plan for it. Dental chews and training treats add up faster than most people expect. A single large dental chew can carry 70 to 100 kcal or more, so check the packet.

    Common questions

    How many calories should a 50 lb dog eat?

    About 1,165 kcal a day if spayed or neutered and moderately active, and a little more if not neutered. An inactive 50 lb dog may need closer to 1,020 kcal.

    Do senior dogs need fewer calories?

    Often, yes, because many older dogs move less. Start with the “inactive” setting for a slow senior and adjust based on weight. Some very old dogs start losing weight and need more, so keep weighing.

    Is a kcal the same as a calorie?

    Yes. Pet food labels use kcal, which is the same unit people call a “calorie” on human food labels.

    How do I turn calories into cups of food?

    Divide the daily calories by the kcal per cup printed on the bag. Our dog food calculator does this for you and splits it into meals.

    What about pregnant or nursing dogs?

    Their needs climb steeply in late pregnancy and while nursing, and vary with litter size. Most are fed a puppy food, often free choice while nursing. Ask your vet for a plan rather than relying on a calculator.

    Does this work for cats?

    The resting energy formula is the same, but cats use different multipliers. This calculator is set up for dogs only.

    Sources

    Last reviewed .