Dog Food Calculator
Know exactly how much to feed your furry friend — backed by veterinary nutrition science.
The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Dog
Every dog food bag has a feeding chart, but those charts are just rough estimates based on average dogs. Your dog is not average — their calorie needs depend on breed, weight, activity level, age, and metabolism.
How Our Calculator Works
We use the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula, the same method used by veterinary nutritionists. RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. This base number is then adjusted by multipliers for activity (sedentary dogs need fewer calories than working dogs) and life stage (puppies need double, seniors need less).
Puppy vs. Adult vs. Senior
Puppies are growing machines — they need roughly 2× the calories per pound of body weight compared to adults. Senior dogs (7+ years for most breeds) often become less active and may need 20% fewer calories to avoid obesity.
Why Calories Per Cup Matters
Not all kibble is created equal. A premium grain-free food might pack 450 kcal per cup, while a budget brand might only have 280 kcal. This means you'd need 60% more cups of the cheaper food to meet the same calorie target — often making the "expensive" food the better value.
The RER Formula
This vet-standard formula accounts for metabolic scaling — larger dogs need proportionally fewer calories per pound than smaller dogs.