Our Calorie Calculator









Read about what kind of nutrition your dog should get.

The calorie recommendations provided here for your pets are intended for general informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. These recommendations are based on averages and guidelines and may not account for individual variations in your pet's metabolism, activity level, or specific dietary requirements.

How this calculator works

Our calculator uses the same starting point vets use: Resting Energy Requirement, or RER. This is the number of calories your dog would burn in a day doing absolutely nothing, and it is worked out from their body weight. We then multiply that figure by an activity factor based on your dog's age, neutered status and lifestyle to give their full daily requirement, sometimes called Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER). A sofa-loving senior and a spaniel who runs five miles a day can weigh exactly the same and need wildly different amounts of food, which is why the multiplier matters so much.

What to do with your result

‍Treat the number as a well-informed starting point rather than a rule. Every dog's metabolism is slightly different, so feed the suggested amount for three or four weeks, then check your dog's body condition. You should be able to feel their ribs easily without pressing hard, and see a visible waist when looking from above. If they are gaining weight, trim the portion by around 10 percent and reassess; if they are losing weight they did not need to lose, add a little back. And remember that treats count towards the total. A good rule of thumb is that treats should make up no more than 10 percent of daily calories, so if you use a lot of rewards in training (we approve), reduce mealtimes to compensate. Our guide to a healthy canine diet covers what should be in the bowl, not just how much.

When to speak to your vet

‍This calculator is designed for healthy adult dogs and gives sensible estimates for most pets. Speak to your vet before changing food amounts if your dog is a young puppy, pregnant or nursing, significantly overweight or underweight, or has a medical condition such as diabetes, kidney disease or a thyroid problem. Sudden weight change without a change in feeding is always worth a vet visit in its own right.

FAQ

  • Description text goes hereIt varies hugely with size, age and activity. As a rough guide, a typical 10kg adult dog needs somewhere around 500 to 700 calories a day, while a 30kg dog might need 1,100 to 1,600. Use the calculator above for a figure tailored to your dog.

  • Yes. Once you know your dog's daily calorie target, check the calorie content of your dog's food (usually shown as kcal per 100g or per cup) to convert calories into grams per day. Feeding guides on packets are generic, so your calculated figure is usually more accurate.

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