Feeding chart by weight
Cups a day for a lean adult dog, with a typical dry food. Split it into 2 meals. If your dog carries extra weight, use the calculator above instead. The chart would keep the extra weight on.
| Dog's weight | Calm or older | Daily walks | Very active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | ½ | ½ | ¾ |
| 10 lb | ¾ | 1 | 1¼ |
| 15 lb | 1¼ | 1¼ | 1¾ |
| 20 lb | 1½ | 1¾ | 2 |
| 30 lb | 2 | 2¼ | 2¾ |
| 40 lb | 2½ | 2¾ | 3½ |
| 50 lb | 2¾ | 3¼ | 4 |
| 60 lb | 3¼ | 3¾ | 4¾ |
| 70 lb | 3¾ | 4¼ | 5¼ |
| 80 lb | 4 | 4½ | 5¾ |
| 90 lb | 4½ | 5 | 6¼ |
| 100 lb | 4¾ | 5½ | 6¾ |
| 120 lb | 5½ | 6¼ | 7¾ |
Typical dry food: about 360 calories in a level 8 oz cup. Your food can be quite different, so check the bag.
How the calculator works
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 does not need six times what a 10 lb dog needs.
Resting energy = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75
A lean adult dog then needs about 1.4 times that if it is calm or older, 1.6 times with daily walks, and 2 times if it is very active. These are the factors in the AAHA guidelines for neutered adult dogs.
If your dog carries extra weight, the calculator feeds for the healthy weight instead, at 1.0 times. That is the same plan as our dog weight loss calculator.
Why the bag often says more
Feeding charts on bags give a range for a typical dog of each weight. Many pet dogs are neutered and less active, and need the low end of that range or less. If your dog is gaining weight on the bag amount, trust the dog, not the bag.
Measure with a real measuring cup, not a mug or a scoop of unknown size. Better still, weigh one level cup of your food once on a kitchen scale.
How many times a day should a dog eat?
Most adult dogs do well on 2 meals a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart. Split the daily cups between them. Small breeds and dogs with some health problems can do better on 3 smaller meals. Puppies need 3 to 4 meals a day.
Treats count too
Treats should stay under 10% of the day's food. On days with treats, feed a little less at meals. The treat calculator shows how many fit.
Questions
Does this work for puppies?
No. Puppies need up to twice as much for their size while they grow. Follow the puppy food bag and ask your vet.
My dog is not neutered. Does that change it?
Dogs that are not neutered often need about 10% more. Watch the weight and adjust.
Wet food or raw food?
The calculator gives cups of dry food. For wet or raw food, check the calories per can or per pound on the label, or ask your vet.
How do I know the amount is right?
Weigh your dog every 2 weeks. If the weight goes up, feed about 10% less. If it goes down and your dog is already lean, feed about 10% more.
When should I see a vet?
If your dog gains or loses weight without a change in food, drinks a lot more, or seems tired. Some illnesses change how much a dog needs.