Dog Calorie Calculator
Daily calories for your dog from weight and life stage, with a realistic range and the amount of food that gives you.
Enter a weight to see the daily calories.
Not veterinary advice. PuppySizer gives estimates from published sources. It cannot examine your pet. For any health concern, ask your own veterinarian. Read the full disclaimer.
The formula
Veterinarians start with the resting energy requirement (RER), the energy a healthy animal uses lying quietly: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. Daily maintenance energy is RER times a factor for life stage, taken from the Merck Veterinary Manual:
| Life stage | × RER |
|---|---|
| Puppy, under 4 months | 3 |
| Puppy, over 4 months | 2 |
| Adult, spayed or neutered | 1.6 |
| Adult, not spayed or neutered | 1.8 |
| Adult, prone to weight gain | 1.4 |
Daily calories by weight
Calculated with the same formula, for the three adult stages. Puppies are in the calculator above.
| Weight | Neutered adult | Intact adult | Prone to weight gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 kg (4.4 lb) | 188 kcal | 212 kcal | 165 kcal |
| 5.0 kg (11.0 lb) | 374 kcal | 421 kcal | 328 kcal |
| 10.0 kg (22 lb) | 630 kcal | 709 kcal | 551 kcal |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 1059 kcal | 1192 kcal | 927 kcal |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 1436 kcal | 1615 kcal | 1256 kcal |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 1781 kcal | 2004 kcal | 1559 kcal |
Adjusting the number
Treat the result as day one of an experiment. Feed it for two weeks and weigh your dog. If the weight is steady and your dog feels lean when you run your hands along the ribs, keep going. If not, change the portion by about a tenth. Very active dogs, nursing mothers and dogs with health problems can need very different amounts, and for those your vet should set the target. Growing puppies are best tracked against their growth curve, so check the puppy weight calculator too.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does a dog need per day?
It depends on weight and life stage. A 10 kg (22 lb) neutered adult dog comes out at about 630 kcal a day with the veterinary formula used here: resting energy of 394 kcal times 1.6. The same dog as an intact adult is about 710 kcal, and a dog prone to weight gain about 550 kcal.
Why is there a range and not one number?
The Merck Veterinary Manual points out that two animals of the same weight can differ by as much as 30 % more or less in the calories they need to stay at an ideal weight. The figure is a starting point. Weigh your dog every two weeks and adjust the portion by about 10 % at a time.
Should I use my dog's current weight?
Use the weight your dog should be, not the weight on the scale, if your dog is overweight. The AAHA guidelines base energy calculations on ideal weight for that reason. For a weight-loss plan, ask your vet for a target and a food, because cutting a normal diet can leave out nutrients.
How much of the day's calories can be treats?
No more than 10 %, according to the 2021 AAHA nutrition guidelines, with a complete and balanced food supplying the rest. Count training treats, chews with calories and table scraps in that 10 %.
What about puppies?
The same method uses a higher multiplier: 3 times resting energy for puppies under 4 months and 2 times above 4 months. Puppies change weight every week, so recalculate often, and use the puppy food's own feeding guide as a cross-check.
Where do I find the kcal on my dog food?
Look for "metabolizable energy" or "kcal" on the bag or can. Some labels give kcal per cup, others kcal per kg or per 100 g. The calculator accepts all three. If the label has none, the maker's website or customer service will.
Sources
- Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. Read 2026-11-08. Used for: RER = 70 x (body weight in kg)^0.75; maintenance multipliers for dogs and cats by life stage and neuter status; up to 30 % individual variation.
- 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 57(3):153-178. Read 2026-11-08. Used for: A complete and balanced diet should supply at least 90 % of calories; treats and other foods no more than 10 %.
Facts last checked against their sources on November 8, 2026. Read how the numbers are built on the sources and method page.