Dog Food Portion Calculator
Estimate how much to feed each day from your dog's weight, activity level, and the calorie content of the food. A starting point to check against the bag and your dog's body condition.
Your results
Worked example
A 20 kg typical adult dog, eating a food with 350 kcal per cup:
- Resting energy: 70 × 200.75 = 70 × 9.46 = 662 kcal per day
- Daily needs with the typical adult factor: 662 × 1.6 = 1,059 kcal per day
- Cups: 1,059 ÷ 350 = 3.03 cups per day, about 3 cups, usually split across two meals
How this calculator works
The resting energy requirement (RER) is the standard veterinary starting formula. The activity factor adjusts it for real life: 1.2 for less active or senior dogs, 1.6 for a typical neutered adult, 2.0 for very active dogs. These factors are guidelines used widely in veterinary nutrition, and individual dogs commonly land 20 percent or more on either side of the estimate, which is why body condition, not the calculator, has the final say.
Common questions
Why does the bag suggest a different amount?
Bag feeding guides are written for a broad average dog and often lean generous, partly because they assume an intact, fairly active animal. If the bag and this calculator disagree, start nearer the lower figure, weigh your dog every two weeks, and adjust by about 10 percent at a time toward a healthy body condition.
When should I talk to a vet instead of using a calculator?
For puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, dogs with kidney, liver, pancreas, or thyroid conditions, and any dog that keeps gaining or losing weight on a measured portion. Those cases need an individual plan, and therapeutic diets follow different math entirely.
Guideline only, not veterinary advice. This estimate uses the standard RER formula and general activity factors. It does not account for breed, age beyond the activity choice, health conditions, treats, or the exact food. Monitor your dog's weight and body condition, and consult your veterinarian for feeding decisions, especially for puppies, seniors, and dogs with medical conditions.