Dog Food Portion Calculator

Resting Energy Requirement estimates the calories a dog uses at rest. The calculator uses RER = 70 x body weight in kg^0.75. A 10 kg dog has an RER of about 394 kcal per day, while a 30 kg dog has about 898. The calculator then applies one energy factor selected by age, adult energy category, body-condition goal, and reproductive status rather than multiplying several independent adjustments.

The calculator uses 3.0x RER for puppies younger than 4 months and 2.0x RER from 4 months through the end of its puppy stage at 12 months. It divides the daily estimate into 3 meals. Growth needs vary by breed and age, so every puppy result carries a veterinary-review flag instead of treating the estimate as a feeding prescription.

For an adult dog at ideal body condition, the calculator uses 1.2x RER for sedentary, 1.8x for active, and 3.0x for working. Moderate uses 1.6x for a spayed or neutered adult and 1.8x for an intact adult. A puppy factor or the 1.0x weight-loss factor takes precedence over these activity choices. Working-dog results are flagged for veterinary review because real needs vary widely with workload and environment.

The calculator does not apply a separate percentage reduction. For a moderate adult at ideal body condition, it uses 1.6x RER when spayed or neutered and 1.8x RER when intact. Puppy, sedentary, active, working, and weight-loss categories use their own single factors, so reproductive status is not compounded on top of them. Track weight and body condition because an individual dog's needs can differ from the estimate.

At an ideal body condition, ribs are easy to feel under a thin fat layer, a waist is visible from above, and the abdomen tucks upward from the side. When you select overweight, the calculator uses a 1.0x RER weight-loss starting factor and recommends veterinary monitoring. When you select underweight, it does not invent a calorie surplus. It keeps the applicable age or adult factor and flags the result for veterinary assessment.