Dog Calorie Calculator
A dog’s daily calories are estimated as RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, multiplied by a life-stage factor (for example 1.4–1.6 for a neutered adult). Divide by your food’s calories per cup or per kg to get the amount to feed.
Example: a 10 kg (22 lb) neutered adult dog has an RER of about 394 kcal and needs about 551–630 kcal a day. With a 350 kcal/cup food and 10% for treats, that is about 1.4–1.6 cups a day.
How it works
The resting energy requirement (RER) is the energy a dog uses at rest:
RER (kcal/day) = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 Daily calories (MER) = RER × life-stage factor Food per day = MER × (1 − treat share) ÷ kcal per cup (or ÷ kcal per gram)
The factors come from the 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines (Box 1). Where AAHA gives a range (for example 1.4–1.6 for neutered adults), we show the whole range. These are starting points: the Pet Nutrition Alliance notes that individual pets can vary by as much as 50% from the predicted values.
How to work out how much to feed your dog
- Weigh your dog. For weight loss, use the ideal weight your vet suggests, not the current weight.
- Choose the life stage. Pick neutered, intact, puppy, working, pregnant or nursing. Each has an AAHA factor.
- Enter your food’s calories. Find kcal per cup or kcal per kg on the bag (“calorie content”). 350 kcal/cup is only an example.
- Set treats and meals. Keep treats to 10% of calories or less, then split the food into the number of meals you feed.
- Adjust over time. Weigh your dog every few weeks and adjust the amount using the body condition score.
Life-stage factors (AAHA 2021)
| Life stage | Factor | kcal/day for a 10 kg (22 lb) dog |
|---|---|---|
| Neutered or spayed adult | 1.4–1.6 × RER | 551–630 |
| Intact adult | 1.6–1.8 × RER | 630–709 |
| Inactive or obesity-prone adult | 1–1.2 × RER | 394–472 |
| Weight loss (enter ideal weight) | 1 × RER | 394 |
| Puppy under 4 months | 3 × RER | 1,181 |
| Puppy 4 months to adult size | 2 × RER | 787 |
| Light work | 1.6–2 × RER | 630–787 |
| Moderate work | 2–5 × RER | 787–1,968 |
| Heavy work | 5–11 × RER | 1,968–4,330 |
| Pregnant, last 21 days | 3 × RER | 1,181 |
| Nursing (lactation) | 3–6 × RER | 1,181–2,362 |
RER for 10 kg = 70 × 100.75 = 394 kcal/day. Lactation can exceed 6 × RER at peak with big litters.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does my dog need a day?
Multiply 70 by your dog’s weight in kg to the power 0.75 to get the resting energy requirement, then multiply by the life-stage factor. A 10 kg neutered adult needs about 551–630 kcal a day; a 30 kg neutered adult about 1,256–1,436 kcal.
How many cups of food should I feed my dog?
Divide the daily calories (minus treats) by your food’s kcal per cup from the label. Most commercial dry foods are about 300–400 kcal per cup, but the range is wide, so always use your own food’s number.
What factor should I use for a senior dog?
AAHA does not give a separate senior factor. Many older dogs are less active, so the inactive factor (1.0–1.2) may fit better than the neutered adult factor. Ask your vet and adjust using body condition.
How much should a puppy eat?
AAHA uses 3.0 × RER for puppies under 4 months and 2.0 × RER from 4 months until adult size. Use your puppy’s current weight and recalculate as it grows.
How many treats can my dog have?
WSAVA advises that treats make up no more than 10% of daily calories. The calculator takes your treat share out of the food amount.
How do I feed for weight loss?
AAHA uses 1.0 × RER of the ideal weight. Weight loss should be planned and checked by your vet, who can confirm the ideal weight and rule out medical causes.
When to see a vet
- Your dog is gaining or losing weight without a change in diet.
- You want to start a weight-loss plan (your vet sets the ideal weight).
- Your dog is pregnant, nursing, a growing large-breed puppy, or has a health condition.
- Sudden change in appetite or thirst.
This is an estimate for general information, not veterinary advice. Every pet is different. Ask your veterinarian before changing your pet's diet, especially for puppies, kittens, pregnant or nursing pets, seniors, or pets with health conditions.
Sources
- AAHA. 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, Box 1: Energy requirement calculations (RER/MER life-stage factors). www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/2021-nutrition-and-weight-management/resourcepdfs/nutritiongl_box1.pdf
- AAHA. 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. www.aaha.org/resources/2021-aaha-nutrition-and-weight-management-guidelines/
- Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals; table: Daily maintenance energy requirements for dogs and cats. www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
- Pet Nutrition Alliance. Calculating Calories Based on Pet Needs (RER/MER factors). petnutritionalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MER.RER_.PNA_.pdf
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Global Nutrition Guidelines and toolkit (body condition score charts). wsava.org/global-guidelines/global-nutrition-guidelines/
- WSAVA. Feeding treats to your dog (treats no more than 10% of daily calories). wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Feeding-treats-to-your-dog-v2.pdf
- Tufts Petfoodology. What Nutritionists Wish You Knew: 5 Homecooked Diet Mistakes & Misconceptions (most dry foods 300–400 kcal per cup). sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2023/03/31/5-homecooked-diet-mistakes-misconceptions/
- Tufts Now. Wide Variation in Calorie Content among “Low Calorie” Pet Foods (2010). now.tufts.edu/2010/01/26/wide-variation-calorie-content-among-low-calorie-pet-foods
Full methodology: sources and methodology. Last reviewed 20 October 2026.