Fresh Dog Food Calculator
Fresh foods run 130–180 kcal/100 g — a third of kibble's density — so portions look big. That is correct. Enter your dog and the food's label kcal to get exact daily and per-pouch amounts.
Enter your dog's details
Results update as you type.
Fresh food portions by weight (155 kcal/100 g)
| Dog weight | RER (resting) | Daily target | Food per day | Per meal (×2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg · 7 lb | 160 kcal | 255 kcal | 148 g | 74 g |
| 5 kg · 11 lb | 234 kcal | 374 kcal | 217 g | 109 g |
| 8 kg · 18 lb | 333 kcal | 533 kcal | 309 g | 155 g |
| 10 kg · 22 lb | 394 kcal | 630 kcal | 366 g | 183 g |
| 15 kg · 33 lb | 534 kcal | 854 kcal | 496 g | 248 g |
| 20 kg · 44 lb | 662 kcal | 1,059 kcal | 615 g | 308 g |
| 25 kg · 55 lb | 783 kcal | 1,252 kcal | 727 g | 364 g |
| 30 kg · 66 lb | 897 kcal | 1,436 kcal | 834 g | 417 g |
| 35 kg · 77 lb | 1,007 kcal | 1,612 kcal | 936 g | 468 g |
| 40 kg · 88 lb | 1,113 kcal | 1,781 kcal | 1,034 g | 517 g |
| 50 kg · 110 lb | 1,316 kcal | 2,106 kcal | 1,223 g | 611 g |
| 60 kg · 132 lb | 1,509 kcal | 2,415 kcal | 1,402 g | 701 g |
Fresh/gently-cooked food at 155 kcal/100 g, neutered adult, 10% treat allowance removed.
Why fresh portions look 'too big' — and the subscription trap
Fresh food is 60–75% water. Kibble is ~10%. Equal calories therefore mean roughly 2.5× the grams — owners switching from kibble routinely underfeed for the first weeks because the bowl 'already looks full'. Trust the scale, watch body condition, and the dog will arbitrate within a fortnight.
The subscription trap is the reverse: plans sized by the brand's own questionnaire often land 10–20% above true MER — generous portions sell as 'tailored'. Run your dog through this calculator, compare with what the plan ships, and set your delivery to the calculated number; most services let you adjust.
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 much fresh food for a 10 kg dog?
About 365 g/day at 155 kcal/100 g for a neutered adult (630 kcal target, treats removed). At 130 kcal/100 g density it's ~435 g.
How many pouches is that?
Divide daily grams by pouch weight. 395 g/day on 500 g pouches ≈ 0.8 pouches/day, so a 7-day week needs about 5.5 pouches.
Is fresh food better than kibble?
Well-formulated versions of both can be complete diets. Fresh food's real advantages are palatability and digestibility data; its risks are cost, storage, and unbalanced copycat recipes.
How much fresh food does a 20 kg dog need?
At a 1,059 kcal target on typical fresh food (160 kcal/100 g): about 596 g/day. Fresh food is roughly 70% water, which is why the grams nearly triple versus kibble.
Can I switch from kibble to fresh overnight?
No — transition over 5–7 days with rising proportions. Sudden switches are the number-one cause of diarrhoea during a diet change.
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