A complete guide to understanding the caloric needs of dogs (2024)

It’s the age-old question that all dog owners have pondered at one time: how much food does my pup need to stay happy and healthy? Are you staring guiltily into a half-empty (or half-full) bag of kibble, wondering if your pup is eating too little or too much daily?

If so, don’t worry—we’re here to help. In this guide to canine caloric needs, we’ll understand how much food you should feed your beloved furry friend and the nutritional factors you should consider when planning meals.

So get comfy with some snacks, and let’s dive in.

What is the ideal caloric intake for dogs?

To calculate the ideal caloric intake for your pup, you’ll need to consider multiple factors. Generally speaking, use this formula inspired by the Veterinary Medical Center at Ohio State University:

Step 1: Calculate the dog’s weight in kilograms

It’s common practice in the vet world to use kilograms (kg) when calculating the caloric needs of a pet. So, if your pup weighs in at 10 pounds, convert that to 4.5 kg. See the formula:

Weight in LBS / 2.2 = Weight in KG

Step 2: Calculate RER calories

RER stands for Resting Energy Requirements and is the number of calories your pup needs to perform essential bodily functions like breathing, digestion, and circulation.

The formula for calculating RER for dogs is as follows: 70(Body Weight in kg)^0.75

For example, if your pup weighs 10 pounds (4.5 kg): 70 x (4.5 kilograms)^0.75 = 154 RER calories

Don’t worry if this becomes too complicated; we will provide a calculator tool at the end of this paragraph to give you an easier solution.

Step 3: Signalment

Once you have your RER calculation, this will be the baseline you can use to adjust for the signalment of your pup. Signalment is a term used to refer to whether your canine has been spayed/neutered or not.

An intact dog’s baseline is multiplied by 1.8x, and a spayed/neutered pup is multiplied by 1.6x. For example, if your 10-pound dog is neutered, you’ll need to multiply the RER of 154 calories by 1.6x and arrive at 246 total calories per day as a baseline caloric requirement for your pup.

Step 4: Activity level

The more active your dog is, the more calories it’ll need. If your canine is primarily inactive and spends most of the day snoozing in its bed, you can use its baseline needs as a guide.

However, if your dog is active and regularly goes on hikes or plays fetch for hours, you should increase their caloric needs to keep them fueled and healthy.

See the following table:

• Inactive (Injured dogs): 1x
• A bit active (Exercise a few days): 1.2x
• Active (Exercise every day): 1.4x
• Very active (Puppies and Working/Hunting Dogs): 1.6x

Once you’ve estimated your pup’s activity level, you can use this to determine their final caloric needs. For instance, if your 10-pound (4.5 kg) neutered dog has a baseline of 246 calories per day and is active, then you’ll need to multiply those 246 calories by 1.4x, resulting in a caloric need of 343 calories per day.

Step 5: Current bodyweight

Depending on your pup’s body weight, the caloric needs may vary from what is listed above. If your dog has extra pounds they need to shed, feed them less than what was calculated; however, if you want to help them gain some healthy heft, provide more calories than mentioned in the equation.

As a general rule, you can use the following table as a guide:

Underweight: 1.2x baseline caloric needs

Ideal weight: Baseline caloric needs

Overweight: 0.8x baseline caloric needs

For example, suppose your 10-pound (4.5 kg) neutered dog needs 343 calories per day and is currently underweight. In that case, you’ll need to provide 1.2x the baseline, resulting in 412 daily caloric requirements for your pup.

You can determine your pup’s caloric needs using the calculator below without calculating anything! Just plug in their size and activity level, and you’ll get a personalized recommendation for how much food your pup should receive daily.

Calorie calculator: The complete dog calorie intake calculator

Other factors affecting caloric needs in dogs

Although the above calculation is a great starting point for determining your pup’s daily caloric requirements, other factors can affect their needs.

Age

Puppies need more calories than adult dogs since they’re growing and developing, while senior dogs may require fewer calories as their metabolism tends to slow down. We recommend filling in a higher activity level for puppies that are still growing.

Breed

Also, don’t forget about the breed of your pup — certain dog breeds have higher calorie requirements due to their size and activity levels. Some larger breeds, like Great Danes, Rottweilers, and Mastiffs, will need more calories than smaller dogs, such as Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, and Yorkies. This is essentially included in the second step, where the dog’s weight is considered.

Health

Lastly, your pup’s health can affect its caloric needs if they have any medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Your vet can recommend an appropriate food to meet your pup’s nutritional requirements and help them stay healthy.

It’s important to note that no two pups are the same, so consider their characteristics when estimating daily food needs.

However, the calculator gives an excellent guideline for how much you should feed your pup daily to keep them happy and healthy.

Managing caloric intake

Knowing your dog’s caloric needs, it’s time to manage their intake. Feeding your pup doesn’t have to be a puzzle, but managing their caloric intake can sometimes seem like one.

Understanding the right amount of food per mealtime is critical to effective weight management for your dog. In addition to measuring out scientifically calculated portions, limit the treats and other appealing human foods that you share with Fido.

Even strategies can help dog owners manage their pup’s portion sizes. Such as apps, automatic feeders (when you have to leave the house), and even unique pet scales—so your pup never has to worry about feeling hungry again!

Final thoughts on caloric needs in dogs

Figuring out your pup’s ideal caloric intake can seem like a daunting task, and one they might not thank you for! But luckily, with a few simple steps and calculations, you can quickly become an expert in your pup’s nutritional requirements.

Plus, it’ll be well worth the effort – you can ensure your furry friend stays fit and healthy by getting their intake right.

Don’t be intimidated by these calculations. If you have questions about providing your dog with the right amount of food, consult your vet.

Tim Smith has been a passionate canine lover for over ten years and founded dogaspet.com, where he writes informative pieces on caring for your furry friends. With an unwavering commitment to educating, advocating, and uplifting dog owners all across the globe through his writing, Tim’s mission stands loud and clear: provide your pup with nothing but love!