Dog Calorie Calculator
How many calories does your dog actually need? This calculator works it out the way clinics do — resting energy first (RER), then the life-stage multiplier (MER) — and turns it into grams of your actual food.
Enter your dog's details
Results update as you type.
Dog calorie requirements by weight
| Dog weight | RER (resting) | Daily target | Food per day | Per meal (×2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg · 7 lb | 160 kcal | 255 kcal | 62 g | 31 g |
| 5 kg · 11 lb | 234 kcal | 374 kcal | 91 g | 46 g |
| 8 kg · 18 lb | 333 kcal | 533 kcal | 130 g | 65 g |
| 10 kg · 22 lb | 394 kcal | 630 kcal | 153 g | 77 g |
| 15 kg · 33 lb | 534 kcal | 854 kcal | 208 g | 104 g |
| 20 kg · 44 lb | 662 kcal | 1,059 kcal | 258 g | 129 g |
| 25 kg · 55 lb | 783 kcal | 1,252 kcal | 305 g | 152 g |
| 30 kg · 66 lb | 897 kcal | 1,436 kcal | 349 g | 175 g |
| 35 kg · 77 lb | 1,007 kcal | 1,612 kcal | 392 g | 196 g |
| 40 kg · 88 lb | 1,113 kcal | 1,781 kcal | 433 g | 217 g |
| 50 kg · 110 lb | 1,316 kcal | 2,106 kcal | 512 g | 256 g |
| 60 kg · 132 lb | 1,509 kcal | 2,415 kcal | 587 g | 294 g |
Neutered adult (×1.6), food at 370 kcal/100 g, 10% treat allowance removed, 2 meals. Generated by the same engine as the calculator above.
RER vs MER: the two numbers that run every feeding plan
RER — the resting base
RER (Resting Energy Requirement) is the energy a dog burns at complete rest in a thermoneutral environment — breathing, circulation, digestion ticking over, cell repair. It is not a feeding target; it is the base every feeding target is built from.
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75MER — the feeding target
MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) is RER multiplied by a factor for real life: neutering status, activity, age and goal. Most pet dogs live between 1.2× (inactive, gains easily) and 1.8× (intact adult). Puppies run 2–3×. Weight loss is deliberately calculated at 1.0× — but of the target weight, never the current one.
MER = RER × life-stage factorThe honest caveat: individual dogs vary from any formula by up to ±50%. The formula gives the starting portion; the scale and body-condition score give the verdict. Weigh every 2 weeks and adjust the portion by 10% until weight is stable. The formulas are the standard published by the AAHA, the Pet Nutrition Alliance, the Merck Veterinary Manual and WSAVA alike.
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.
Frequently asked
How many calories should a 10 kg senior dog eat?
A 10 kg senior dog on the inactive factor (1.4×) needs about 552 kcal/day (RER 394 × 1.4) — roughly 134 g of typical kibble after the 10% treat allowance. An active senior holds condition on the adult 1.6× figure, about 630 kcal/day.
How many calories per kg do dogs need?
It is not linear — small dogs need more per kg than large dogs because of metabolic scaling. A 5 kg neutered dog needs ~75 kcal/kg; a 40 kg dog only ~45 kcal/kg.
Do treats count toward daily calories?
Yes. Treats should be capped at 10% of daily calories and that 10% comes out of the food portion, not on top of it — this calculator does that automatically.
How many calories does a 10 kg dog need?
A neutered 10 kg dog has an RER of 394 kcal and a daily target (MER) of 630 kcal. On typical kibble (370 kcal/100 g) that is about 153 g/day with the treat allowance already removed.
What is the most common calorie-counting mistake?
Forgetting treats and table scraps — they quietly add 20–30%. Everything that goes in counts inside the target, not on top of it.
Related calculators
Dog Food Calculator by Weight
Portions for every weight, 1 kg to 90 kg — table first, calculator second.
Dog Weight Loss Calculator
Safe deficit portions at target-weight RER, with a realistic timeline.
Dog Nutrition Calculator
Protein and fat grams per day, checked against AAFCO minimums.