How much should an Akita eat?
Adult weight range 32–59 kg · adult feeding factors apply from 18–24 months of age · raw rate 2.0% of body weight. Portions below are computed with the same veterinary formula as the main calculator — not copied from a bag chart.
Enter your dog's details
Pre-filled with the breed's mid-range weight — adjust to your dog.
Akita portions by weight
| Adult weight | RER | Daily target | Kibble / day | Cups / day | Per meal (×2) | Raw / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32.0 kg | 942 kcal | 1,507 kcal | 367 g | 3.7 | 183 g | 640 g |
| 45.5 kg | 1,226 kcal | 1,962 kcal | 477 g | 4.8 | 239 g | 910 g |
| 59.0 kg | 1,490 kcal | 2,384 kcal | 580 g | 5.8 | 290 g | 1,180 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), kibble at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed. Raw at 2.0% of body weight (size-correct rate). Cups ≈ grams ÷ 100 (typical kibble — weigh in grams for accuracy).
Worked example: a 45.5 kg Akita
A 45.5 kg adult Akita (neutered): RER 1,226 × 1.6 = 1,962 kcal − 196 kcal treats ÷ 3.7 kcal/g = 477 g — that is 239 g per meal, twice a day. The same arithmetic runs in the calculator above: change the weight or the life stage and every number follows.
Akita puppy feeding by age
| Age | Factor | Meals / day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | ×3.0 | 3–4 | On current weight — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 4–8 months | ×3.0 → ×2.0 (taper) | 3–4 | Factor falls smoothly — weigh every 2 weeks |
| 8–12 months | ×2.0 | 3 | 3 meals; 2–3 from 6 months |
| 12 months to adult | ×1.6–1.8 | 2 | Adult factor from 18–24 months |
Factors multiply RER on the puppy's current weight, not adult weight. Large and giant breeds keep the growth factors until 18–24 months.
Feeding notes for the Akita
Giant breeds have the lowest per-kilo energy needs and the longest growth window (18–24 months). Feed the adult default once mature and keep them lean — every extra kilo is carried by joints built for a shorter life than most.
What makes feeding an Akita different: Akitas are large, heavily coated and calm — weight gain hides well under the coat and shows up late. Weigh monthly and judge condition by feel; a lean Akita lives better on its joints than a heavy one.
Health, treats and the senior years: Akitas are prone to an underactive thyroid, which shows up as weight gain on a measured diet — if the scale climbs while the portion stays right, that is a vet check, not a reason to cut food further. In the senior years, keep the dog lean: the heavy coat hides weight until the joints complain.
Training, treats and everyday feeding: Akitas are often indifferent eaters rather than greedy ones — a skipped meal from a healthy, lean Akita is usually not a problem, so do not top the bowl up or offer extras to tempt it. Serve the measured portion at set times, and let appetite return at the next meal.
Weight & condition for the Akita: Akitas are large, heavily coated and often aloof about food — some eat lightly, others gain steadily under the coat. Judge condition by hands on the ribs, not by the silhouette, and weigh monthly: at 32–59 kg the breed range is wide, so your dog's real weight sets the portion, not the breed average.
Body condition check: Weigh the dog, then look at the dog: the 9-point body condition scale wants a 4–5, with ribs felt rather than seen, a waist that narrows behind the ribs, and a belly that tucks up from the side. If the ribs have vanished under fat, cut the table portion by 10%; if they show clearly, add 10%.
Puppies of this size class reach adult factors at about 18–24 months; until then, growth portions follow the puppy factors (×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months) on current weight, recalculated every two weeks. Individual dogs vary by up to ±50% from any formula — the scale and your hands on the ribs outrank this table.
Guides: feeding a senior dog · feeding schedules by age
Sources: method & factors · AAHA 2021 guidelines · Pet Nutrition Alliance RER/MER · AKC breed profile
Portions by brand — Akita
What that is on 5 popular brands, for a 45.5 kg adult (neutered, treats removed):
How to use this calculator
Enter weight
Enter the dog's weight (use ideal weight for weight loss).
Select life stage and goal
Select the life stage and goal so the correct MER factor applies.
Enter food energy density
Enter the food's energy density (kcal per 100 g) from its label.
Read the daily portion
Read the daily portion in grams, split it across meals, and adjust by 10% every 2 weeks based on body condition.
Akita feeding questions
How much food should an Akita eat per day?
Across the full adult weight range (32–59 kg), an Akita needs about 1,507–2,384 kcal/day — 367–580 g of typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) after the 10% treat allowance is removed — depending on weight, sex and activity. A typical adult at the middle of the range (45.5 kg) needs about 1,962 kcal/day, roughly 477 g, split over 2 meals.
How many meals a day should an Akita eat?
Two meals a day is right for a Akita: about 239 g per meal from a daily total of 477 g (1,962 kcal) for a 45.5 kg adult, served at set times. An akita that skips a meal is usually not ill — it is an akita — so do not top the bowl up or offer extras to tempt it; serve the measured ration and let appetite return at the next meal. Keep the same food and the same times, every day.
How many cups of food does an Akita need per day?
About 477 g/day is roughly 4.8 cups at the typical density of 100 g per cup — but cups vary by up to 40% between kibbles, so weigh the grams once and the question disappears. A cup is a volume; grams are the portion. At 477 g a day, a 10% scooping error is about 48 g — a small dog's entire meal — so weighing matters more, not less, as portions grow.
How do I switch an Akita to a new food?
Over 10–14 days for a giant breed: 25% new food for 3 days, 50% for 3–4 days, 75% for 3–4 days, then 100% — keeping the total daily grams at the number on this page throughout. Giant breeds do best with gradual changes and smaller, more frequent meals; if stools loosen, hold at the current mix for an extra two days before moving on.
How much should an Akita puppy eat?
Giant puppies are the longest, most delicate growth project: adult factors only at 18–24 months. Use ×3.0 under 4 months, tapering to ×2.0 by 8 months, on current weight, keep them visibly lean, and never 'feed for size' — genetics sets the size, calories only set the fat.
How much raw food does an Akita need?
At the size-correct BARF rate of 2.0% of ideal body weight, a 45.5 kg Akita eats about 910 g of raw food per day — split 70% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ, 10% vegetables and fruit on the BARF model.
How does feeding an Akita change as they age?
From about 18–24 months an Akita counts as fully adult; the senior shift usually arrives years later, when activity and muscle mass fall. The calculator's senior factor (×1.4 instead of ×1.6) trims a 45.5 kg Akita from 1,962 to about 1,717 kcal/day — roughly 418 g of typical kibble. Make the change gradually and judge by body condition, not birthdays alone: a still-active older Akita may hold condition on the adult number.
Do Akitas need the active factor?
Only Akitas in genuine daily work: a 45.5 kg adult moves from about 1,962 kcal/day at ×1.6 to about 2,453 kcal/day at ×2.0. A pet Akita on normal walks holds condition on the standard factor — and because the breed's range is so wide, the portion must follow your dog's actual weight, not a breed average.
Why is my Akita fussy about food?
Akitas are often indifferent eaters rather than greedy ones — a skipped meal from a healthy, lean Akita is usually not a problem. Serve the measured 477 g/day at set times, don't top up with treats, and let appetite return at the next meal. A dog that skips meals and loses weight needs a vet check, not a tastier food.
Related calculators
Raw & BARF Calculator
Daily raw grams split into meat, bone, liver, organ and veg. BARF and PMR models.
Puppy Food Calculator
Growth portions by age in weeks and months, kibble or raw.
Dog Weight Loss Calculator
Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.