Dog Nutrition Calculator – Daily Calories and Feeding Amount
Estimate Daily Dog Calories and Convert Them to Food Amount
This Dog Nutrition Calculator estimates your dog’s daily energy needs and converts that target into a practical feeding amount (cups or grams) using your food’s calorie density. The results are estimates and individual dogs can vary based on breed, age, health status, and real-world activity.
How the Calculator Works
The calculation starts with your dog’s Resting Energy Requirement (RER), then applies a scenario factor to estimate Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER).
RER is calculated using:
\[ RER = 70 \times (Weight_{kg})^{0.75} \]
Then MER is calculated using a scenario factor:
\[ MER = RER \times Factor \]
Treat Calories Adjustment
If you include treats, the calculator subtracts treat calories from the daily target before converting to food amount:
\[ FoodCalories = \max(0, MER - TreatCalories) \]
This helps keep total daily intake closer to the selected scenario target.
Convert Calories to Cups or Grams
Use the calorie density shown on your dog food label. The calculator supports:
kcal per cup
\[ Cups = \frac{FoodCalories}{kcalPerCup} \]
kcal per 100 grams
\[ Grams = \frac{FoodCalories \times 100}{kcalPer100g} \]
Protein Target (Minimum) Indicator
The table includes a simple protein minimum indicator expressed as grams per day. It is derived from grams per 1000 kcal guidance and scaled to your dog’s food calorie target:
\[ ProteinMin(g/day) = \frac{FoodCalories}{1000} \times ProteinPer1000kcal \]
This value is intended as a basic reference when comparing foods; always rely on a complete and balanced diet appropriate for your dog’s life stage.
Interpreting the Results Safely
If treats exceed the selected daily target, food calories are clamped to zero and a warning is shown. In that case, reduce treat calories or switch to a more appropriate scenario. For weight management, consult a veterinarian for an individualized plan.
Why a Scenario Table Helps
Energy needs can change meaningfully across common situations (adult maintenance, puppies, weight loss, and higher activity). The calculator shows multiple scenarios in one table so you can compare outcomes quickly, while still highlighting a single primary scenario for the summary cards.