How many calories does a dog need?
Vets start with the energy a dog needs at rest. It grows with body weight, but not in a straight line. A 60 lb dog needs about 4 times what a 10 lb dog needs, not 6 times.
Resting energy = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75
Then they multiply it by a factor for the dog's life. These are the factors in the AAHA guidelines and the Merck Veterinary Manual:
- Calm or older adult, spayed or neutered: 1.4
- Adult with daily walks, spayed or neutered: 1.6
- Adult that is not spayed or neutered: add 0.2
- Very active adult: 2.0 or more
- Needs to lose weight: 1.0, at the healthy weight
- Puppy under 4 months: 3.0. From 4 to 12 months: 2.0
Dog calorie chart
Calories a day for a lean, spayed or neutered adult dog. If your dog carries extra weight, use the calculator above. The chart would keep the extra weight on.
| Weight | At rest | Calm or older | Daily walks | Very active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 130 | 180 | 210 | 260 |
| 10 lb | 220 | 300 | 350 | 440 |
| 15 lb | 290 | 410 | 470 | 590 |
| 20 lb | 370 | 510 | 590 | 730 |
| 30 lb | 500 | 690 | 790 | 990 |
| 40 lb | 620 | 860 | 980 | 1,230 |
| 50 lb | 730 | 1,020 | 1,160 | 1,450 |
| 60 lb | 830 | 1,170 | 1,330 | 1,670 |
| 70 lb | 940 | 1,310 | 1,500 | 1,870 |
| 80 lb | 1,030 | 1,450 | 1,660 | 2,070 |
| 90 lb | 1,130 | 1,580 | 1,810 | 2,260 |
| 100 lb | 1,220 | 1,710 | 1,960 | 2,450 |
| 120 lb | 1,400 | 1,960 | 2,240 | 2,810 |
From calories to cups
Find "calories per cup" on the bag. It may say "kcal/cup", which is the same thing. Divide the day's calories by that number. A typical dry food has about 360 calories in a level 8 oz cup, but foods range from under 300 to over 500. The dog food calculator does this for you.
For wet food, use the calories per can. For raw food, use the raw dog food calculator.
Calories for weight loss
A dog that needs to lose weight eats its resting energy at its healthy weight. That is about 1% of body weight lost a week, which is a safe pace. Feeding for today's weight keeps the extra weight on. Our dog weight loss calculator builds the full plan.
Questions
Are kcal and calories the same?
Yes. Pet food labels write "kcal", and that is the same as the "calories" on people food.
Do treats count?
Yes. Keep treats under 10% of the day's calories, and feed a little less at meals on treat days. The treat calculator shows how many fit.
Does a senior dog need fewer calories?
Often yes. Many older dogs move less, so use "Calm or older". Some very old dogs lose weight and need more. Weigh your dog and ask your vet.
How do I know the number is right?
It is a starting point. Dogs differ by up to 20% or more. Weigh your dog every 2 weeks. If the weight goes up, feed about 10% less. If a lean dog loses weight, feed about 10% more.
How many calories does a puppy need?
About 3 times its resting energy until 4 months, then about 2 times until it is grown. Choose Puppy above, or use the puppy food calculator for cups and meal times.