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Free dog calorie calculator for resting energy (RER) and maintenance-style (MER) from weight and life stage — compare bags and cans to a daily kcal budget. Educational; confirm with your veterinarian.
Last updated: May 24, 2026
Feeding cats? Cat calorie calculator
Small dogs to giant breeds—use a recent scale weight.
Estimate
About 727 kcal/day resting need (RER) × 1.6 (Adult neutered (maintenance)) → roughly 1164 kcal/day as a maintenance-style estimate (MER).
Weight (kg)
22.7
RER
727 kcal/day
Factor
× 1.6
MER (style)
1164 kcal/day
Adult neutered (maintenance)
727 kcal
50 lb dog · baseline metabolism
1164 kcal
× 1.6 adult neutered
2.9 cups
At 400 kcal/cup — check your label
20 lb
585 kcal
50 lb (default)
1164 kcal
80 lb
1656 kcal
25 lb puppy ×3
1298 kcal
RER (kcal/day) ≈ 70 × (weight_kg)^0.75
MER (kcal/day) ≈ RER × life_stage_factor
RER (kcal/day) ≈ 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 — standard small-animal veterinary form used for dogs and cats in many clinics.
| Stage | Factor | MER (kcal/day) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy (rapid growth, ~0–4 mo) | ×3 | 2181 | Highest growth demand; puppy formula + vet weigh-ins |
| Puppy (juvenile, ~4–12 mo) | ×2 | 1454 | Slowing growth; transition toward adult MER |
| Adult neutered (maintenance) | ×1.6 | 1163 | Common spayed/neutered adult default in many canine charts |
| Adult intact (maintenance) | ×1.8 | 1309 | Higher than neutered; intact metabolism and activity |
| Inactive / light activity | ×1.2 | 872 | Senior or low-activity indoor dogs |
| Weight loss (RER-style target; vet-supervised) | ×1 | 727 | At or near RER; clinic may cut further from maintenance based on BCS |
| Working / very active (moderate factor) | ×2 | 1454 | Sport, herding, long hikes — elite workloads may exceed ×2 |
| Late pregnancy (approximate) | ×1.6 | 1163 | Rises through gestation; individualized by week |
| Lactation (peak-ish average) | ×3 | 2181 | Litter size drives demand; often among highest MER periods |
| Size | Weight | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Toy / small | 5–15 lb · 2–7 kg | Chihuahua, Maltese, small terriers |
| Medium | 30–50 lb · 14–23 kg | Beagle, border collie, many mixes |
| Large | 60–80 lb · 27–36 kg | Labrador, golden retriever |
| Giant | 90+ lb · 41+ kg | Great Dane, mastiff — use actual scale weight |
| Food type | Example kcal | Portions at 1164 kcal MER |
|---|---|---|
| Dry kibble (typical) | 400 per cup — check label | ~2.9 units/day |
| Dry kibble (dense) | 500 per cup — high-calorie formulas | ~2.3 units/day |
| Wet food can | 300 per 12–13 oz can (varies widely) | ~3.9 units/day |
| Treats (limit) | 25 per medium biscuit — budget ≤10% MER | ≤116 kcal/day |
| Life stage | Typical factor | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (rapid growth, ~0–4 mo) | ×3 | Highest growth demand; puppy formula + vet weigh-ins |
| Puppy (juvenile, ~4–12 mo) | ×2 | Slowing growth; transition toward adult MER |
| Adult neutered (maintenance) | ×1.6 | Common spayed/neutered adult default in many canine charts |
| Adult intact (maintenance) | ×1.8 | Higher than neutered; intact metabolism and activity |
| Inactive / light activity | ×1.2 | Senior or low-activity indoor dogs |
| Weight loss (RER-style target; vet-supervised) | ×1 | At or near RER; clinic may cut further from maintenance based on BCS |
| Working / very active (moderate factor) | ×2 | Sport, herding, long hikes — elite workloads may exceed ×2 |
| Late pregnancy (approximate) | ×1.6 | Rises through gestation; individualized by week |
| Lactation (peak-ish average) | ×3 | Litter size drives demand; often among highest MER periods |
936 kcal/day
vs maintenance 1498 kcal
1668 kcal/day
Sport / herding workload
1615 kcal/day
RER 897 kcal
Help someone compare kcal/day to their bag label before the next vet visit.
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