How much should I feed my dog?
We use the formula from the American Animal Hospital Association's 2021 nutrition guidelines: Resting Energy (RER = 70 × weight0.75) scaled by an activity-and-life-stage factor to get daily calories (MER). Enter your dog's details and the food's calorie content for a starting daily amount.
Split the daily amount across meals - usually two for adults, three to four for puppies.
How we got there: RER = 70 × kg^0.75; daily calories = RER × activity factor. Then we divide by the calories per cup you entered. This is a starting point - adjust over a few weeks by watching your dog's body condition, not the scoop.
How this works
- Resting energy = 70 × weight in kg0.75 kcal a day, the formula in AAHA's 2021 nutrition guidelines.
- Daily calories = resting energy × a life-stage factor from the same AAHA table: neutered adult 1.4-1.6 (we use 1.6), intact adult 1.6-1.8 (1.8), weight loss 1.0, puppy under 4 months 3.0, puppy from 4 months 2.0, light work 1.6-2.0 (2.0), moderate work 2.0-5.0 (4.5). Seniors get 1.4, the low end of the neutered-adult range.
- Cups = daily calories ÷ the kcal per cup printed on your food.
What it leaves out:your dog's own metabolism - the Pet Nutrition Alliance notes real needs can differ by as much as 50% from the formula - so adjust by weighing your dog and checking its body condition every few weeks.
Sources: AAHA, 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines - energy box · Pet Nutrition Alliance, Calculating calories based on pet needs
These are healthy-adult estimates, not a prescription. Pregnant or nursing dogs, puppies of giant breeds, and dogs with medical conditions have special needs. The "ribs easy to feel, visible waist" body-condition check beats any formula - and your vet has the final word.
Feeding gear
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