Find exactly how much to feed your dog — supports dry kibble, wet canned food, and raw diets. Personalized for your dog's body condition and needs.
Enter your dog's details below. We'll calculate exact daily portions — no guesswork.
Check your dog food packaging for caloric density and enter it here. Default values: dry kibble 380 kcal/cup, wet food 400 kcal/13oz can, raw food 40 kcal/oz.
This calculator uses the veterinary-standard Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula, then adjusts for your dog's individual profile — including body condition, spay/neuter status, pregnancy/nursing, and diet type:
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
Calculation formula based on AAHA canine nutritional guidelines (American Animal Hospital Association).
We then apply seven adjustment factors in sequence:
Over 56% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese (APOP, 2023). Feeding the right amount — adjusted for your dog's unique profile — is the single most important thing you can do for your dog's long-term health and lifespan.
Here's how we calculated the daily food recommendation for a 45 lb adult Labrador, ideal weight, neutered, medium activity, on dry kibble:
20.41 kg
672 kcal (resting energy)
941 kcal
941 kcal
941 kcal
706 kcal
1.86 cups/day
0.93 cups per meal
Notice how the spay/neuter adjustment alone reduces the daily portion from 2.48 cups to 1.86 cups — a 25% difference. Without accounting for this, you'd be overfeeding by a third of a cup every single day.
General daily feeding guidelines for adult dogs with ideal weight and medium activity, on standard dry kibble. Use the calculator above for a personalized recommendation that accounts for your dog's specific profile.
| Dog Weight (lbs) | Dry Kibble (cups/day) | Wet Food (cans/day) | Daily Calories | Example Breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 to 10 lbs | 1/3 to 2/3 cup | 1/3 to 2/3 can | 140 to 270 kcal | Chihuahua, Yorkie, Maltese |
| 10 to 25 lbs | 2/3 to 1 1/3 cups | 2/3 to 1 1/3 cans | 270 to 530 kcal | French Bulldog, Beagle, Corgi |
| 25 to 50 lbs | 1 1/3 to 2 1/4 cups | 1 1/3 to 2 1/4 cans | 530 to 880 kcal | Border Collie, Bulldog, Husky |
| 50 to 75 lbs | 2 1/4 to 3 cups | 2 1/4 to 3 cans | 880 to 1,200 kcal | Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer |
| 75 to 100 lbs | 3 to 3 2/3 cups | 3 to 3 2/3 cans | 1,200 to 1,470 kcal | German Shepherd, Rottweiler |
| 100 to 130 lbs | 3 2/3 to 4 1/2 cups | 3 2/3 to 4 1/2 cans | 1,470 to 1,790 kcal | Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard |
Most adult dogs do best with two meals per day — morning and evening. This helps regulate digestion, prevents hunger between meals, and reduces the risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), a serious condition more common in deep-chested breeds.
It depends on your dog's weight, age, body condition, and activity level. A medium-sized adult dog (30–50 lbs) at ideal weight typically needs 1.5 to 2.5 cups of dry kibble per day. Use the calculator above for a personalized estimate that adjusts for your dog's specific profile.
Wet food is roughly 75–80% water, so you need more volume to deliver the same calories as dry kibble. As a general rule, one 13 oz can of wet food provides approximately 350–450 calories. A 25 lb dog needs about 1 to 1.5 cans per day. Our calculator supports wet food mode — simply select "Wet/Canned" in the food type selector above for an exact recommendation.
Yes — by about 20–25%. After spaying or neutering, a dog's metabolism slows down due to hormonal changes. If you continue feeding the same amount, your dog will likely gain weight. Our calculator automatically applies this adjustment when you toggle "Spayed/Neutered" to on.
A 50 lb adult intact dog with medium activity and ideal weight typically needs around 880 to 1,000 calories per day, or about 2.3 to 2.6 cups of dry kibble. If the dog is neutered, this drops to about 660 to 750 calories (1.7 to 2.0 cups). For the most accurate number, enter your dog's exact details into the calculator above.
Puppies need significantly more calories per pound than adult dogs — roughly 1.8 times more — because they are growing rapidly. A 10 lb puppy might need 400–500 calories daily vs. 270 for an adult dog of the same weight. Feed 3 to 4 small meals per day until about 6 months of age to support steady growth and prevent hypoglycemia.
Daily calorie needs follow the RER formula, then adjusted by 5+ factors including body condition, spay/neuter status, and age. A 20 lb adult intact dog at ideal weight needs about 400–500 kcal/day; a 70 lb dog needs about 1,100–1,300 kcal/day. Our calculator handles all the math.
Use the rib test: run your hands along your dog's ribcage. You should be able to feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat. If you can't feel them without pressing, your dog is likely overweight. Also look for a visible waist from above and a tucked abdomen from the side. If your dog is overweight, select "Overweight" in the Body Condition Score above — the calculator will automatically adjust to a weight-loss portion.
Veterinarians recommend measuring by weight using a kitchen scale. A "cup" of kibble can vary by up to 20% depending on how densely it's packed and kibble size. This is especially important for dogs on a weight management plan where every calorie counts.
Wet (canned) food is roughly 75–80% moisture, while dry kibble is about 10%. As a general rule, one 13 oz can (approx. 400 kcal) replaces about 1 cup of dry kibble (approx. 380 kcal). But the exact conversion depends on the brand. Our calculator handles this automatically when you switch food types — or use the Advanced mode to enter your specific brand's caloric density.
Yes — and this is one of the most common causes of overfeeding. Treats and table scraps should make up no more than 10% of your dog's daily calorie intake. If your dog gets several training treats throughout the day, reduce their main meal portions accordingly.
No. This calculator provides general feeding estimates based on standard canine nutritional formulas. It is not a substitute for professional veterinary guidance. If your dog has obesity, diabetes, food allergies, kidney disease, or any other medical condition, consult your veterinarian for a customized feeding plan.
For most adult dogs, feeding twice a day — once in the morning and once in the early evening — works best. This helps regulate digestion, prevents hunger between meals, and reduces the risk of bloat. Avoid feeding immediately before or after intense exercise. You can select your preferred number of meals in the calculator above.
Stand behind your dog and run both hands along the sides of their ribcage with gentle pressure. Ideal weight: you can feel the ribs easily under a thin fat layer — similar to the back of your hand. Overweight: you have to press firmly to feel ribs — like your knuckles. Underweight: ribs are visibly protruding with no fat cover — like your knuckles when making a fist. Check your dog's body condition monthly, as gradual weight changes are easy to miss.
Raw diets can be safe when properly formulated, but they carry higher risks of bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli) for both dogs and household members. The FDA and AVMA advise caution, especially in homes with children, elderly, or immunocompromised individuals. If you choose raw feeding, work with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure nutritional completeness. Our calculator supports raw food mode to help with portion estimation, but it does not assess nutritional balance.
Always transition gradually over 7 to 10 days. Start with 75% old food + 25% new food for 2–3 days, then 50/50 for another 2–3 days, then 25/75, before switching fully. This prevents digestive upset and allows your dog's gut microbiome to adapt. The same gradual approach applies when adjusting portion sizes — don't cut or increase calories by more than 10–15% per week.
Spaying and neutering remove the sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) that play a role in regulating metabolism and appetite. After the procedure, most dogs experience a 20–30% drop in basal metabolic rate while their appetite may actually increase. This metabolic shift is permanent. If you keep feeding the same amount post-surgery, weight gain is almost guaranteed. Our calculator's spay/neuter toggle automatically applies a 25% calorie reduction.