Dog Calorie Calculator: Resting Energy Requirements

2022-06

Resting Energy Requirement (RER) in kcal/day = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75

Daily Energy Requirement (DER) = RER × activity multiplier.

Activity Multipliers

• Intact adult, sedentary: × 1.8
• Neutered adult, sedentary: × 1.6
• Active adult (moderate exercise daily): × 2.0–2.5
• Working dog (farm, police, sled): × 2.5–5.0
• Puppy (under 4 months): × 3.0
• Puppy (4–12 months): × 2.5
• Senior dog, sedentary: × 1.4
• Weight loss: × 1.0 (feed at RER only)
• Weight gain: × 1.7 for underweight dogs

Examples

• 20kg neutered Lab, moderately active: 70 × (20^0.75) × 2.0 = ~1,380 kcal/day
• 8kg Corgi, sedentary, neutered: 70 × (8^0.75) × 1.6 = ~540 kcal/day
• 22kg Veldtspitz, active: 70 × (22^0.75) × 2.2 = ~1,480 kcal/day

Converting Kibble

Check the kcal/cup or kcal/100g figure on the packaging (legally required in the UK). Divide your target daily kcal by this figure to get the correct daily portion. Most owners significantly overestimate what a cup of kibble contains.