Dog calorie calculator
Daily calories for a healthy adult dog, from its weight and how active it is. The same numbers start every FidoFormula recipe check.
About 1,020 kcal a day
RER 638 kcal (70 × 19.1 kg0.75) × 1.6, neutered adult
How it works
Resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × body weight in kg to the 0.75 power. That is what a dog burns at rest. Daily needs (maintenance energy requirement, MER) are RER times a factor for the dog’s life:
| Your dog | Factor |
|---|---|
| Typical pet, neutered | × 1.6 |
| Intact adult | × 1.8 |
| Less active or gains easily | × 1.4 |
| Needs to lose weight | × 1.0 |
| Active (daily long runs, hiking) | × 2.0 |
| Working dog (herding, farm or field work) | × 3.0 |
For weight loss the factor is 1.0 times the RER at the ideal weight, not the current one. Do this with your vet.
Typical numbers for a neutered pet
| Weight | RER | Calories a day (× 1.6) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 218 kcal | about 350 kcal |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 366 kcal | about 590 kcal |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 496 kcal | about 790 kcal |
| 42 lb (19.1 kg) | 638 kcal | about 1,020 kcal |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 727 kcal | about 1,160 kcal |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 936 kcal | about 1,500 kcal |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 1131 kcal | about 1,810 kcal |
Treat it as a starting point
Dogs of the same weight can need quite different amounts. Weigh your dog every 2–4 weeks. If it gains, feed a little less; if it loses, a little more. Your vet’s body condition score is the best guide.
This calculator is for healthy adult dogs, 1 year and older, not pregnant or nursing. Puppies and dogs with a medical condition need their vet.
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