🥣 Dog Food Calculator: How Much Should My Dog Eat?
The feeding guide on the bag is a rough range for every dog of a weight. This works out your dog’s own daily calories — the way vets do — and turns them into cups of your food.
The method vets use
First the resting energy requirement: RER = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75. Then a life-stage factor — 3.0 for young puppies, 1.6 for a typical neutered adult, around 1.3 for less active or senior dogs, and 1.0 of the target weight for weight loss. Divide by the calories in one cup of your food to get cups a day.
Why it is a starting point
Two dogs of the same weight can need 20–30% different amounts. Weigh your dog every two to four weeks and check its body condition — you should feel the ribs without pressing. Adjust by about 10% if the weight moves the wrong way.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups of food should my dog eat a day?
It depends on the calories in the food. A 40 lb neutered adult needs roughly 900–1,000 kcal a day — about 2½ cups of a food with 375 kcal per cup. Use the calculator with the kcal/cup on your bag.
Should I feed my dog once or twice a day?
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. Puppies need three or four smaller meals until about six months.
How many treats can my dog have?
Keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and reduce meals slightly on days with lots of training treats.
Sources
These calculators give general estimates for healthy pets. They are not veterinary advice — if your pet is unwell or has eaten something it shouldn’t, call your vet.