📏 Feeding Amount
How to Calculate Dog Food Portions
A step-by-step guide to calculating your dog's daily calorie needs and translating that into grams of food per day.
1. Daily Calorie Formula (RER & MER)
Step 1 — Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75
Example: 5 kg dog → 70 × (5^0.75) = 70 × 3.34 ≈ 234 kcal
Step 2 — Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)
MER = RER × Factor (see table below)
RER is the minimum energy needed just to sustain life at rest. In practice, you multiply by a factor based on your dog's life stage and activity to get the MER — the actual daily need.
2. Factor Table — By Age, Neuter Status & Activity
| Situation | Factor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (under 4 months) | 3.0 | Supports rapid growth |
| Puppy (4 months – 1 year) | 2.5 | Continued growth, high energy |
| Adult — Neutered | 1.6 | Most common baseline |
| Adult — Intact | 1.8 | Includes hormonal energy use |
| Overweight-prone Adult | 1.4 | For weight loss or maintenance |
| Active Adult | 2.0–5.0 | Adjusted by activity level |
| Senior (7+ years) | 1.4 | Lower metabolism, reduced activity |
3. Converting Calories to Grams of Food
Find the calorie density on your food's packaging (usually listed as kcal/kg or kcal/cup).
Daily Amount (g) = MER ÷ (food kcal per 100g) × 100
Example: MER 320 kcal, food = 380 kcal/100g → 320 ÷ 380 × 100 = ~84g per day
4. Signs You Need to Adjust Portions
Reduce If You Notice
- !Can't feel ribs easily
- !Waist no longer visible from above
- !Decreased activity or lethargy
- !Stools too soft or frequent
Increase If You Notice
- ↑Ribs visible without touching
- ↑Spine or hip bones protruding
- ↑Always seems hungry
- ↑Low energy, dull coat
Calculate Instantly with the Feeding Calculator
Enter your dog's weight, age, activity level, and food's calorie density for an instant result.
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