Dog Calorie Calculator

Calculate your dog's Daily Energy Requirement (DER) using the veterinary RER formula. Get the exact calorie target for weight maintenance, loss or gain.

Dog's weight (kg)

Life stage

Activity level

Neutered / spayed?

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Enter your dog's details to calculate their precise daily calorie requirement.

Feed precisely, every time. A digital kitchen scale accurate to 1g ensures you're hitting the right calorie target — measuring cups can be off by 20–30%.

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The RER Formula Explained

Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. This represents the calories needed at rest. The Daily Energy Requirement (DER) multiplies RER by a life-stage factor: neutered adult ×1.6, intact adult ×1.8, senior ×1.4, weight loss ×1.0, puppy ×2.0–3.0, lactating ×4.0–8.0.

These are starting estimates. Individual dogs vary — some need 20% more or less than the formula predicts. Always adjust based on body condition score: reduce by 10% if gaining weight, increase by 10% if losing.

Treat calories add up quickly. Popular UK dog treats range from 5–30 kcal each. Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calorie intake. For a dog needing 800 kcal/day, that's a maximum of 80 kcal from treats — roughly 3–8 treats depending on size. Low-calorie options: carrot sticks (~4 kcal), cucumber pieces (~1 kcal), blueberries (~1 kcal each).

Outdoor dogs may need 10–30% more calories in cold weather to maintain body temperature. Indoor dogs in centrally heated homes generally don't need seasonal adjustment. Dogs that exercise less in winter may actually need fewer calories. Monitor body condition score seasonally and adjust accordingly.