How many calories does a dog need?

Even when taking into account a dog's lifestyle, age, activity level, etc., it is impossible to mathematically determine exactly how many calories (or kilocalories as they are called in veterinary medicine) a pet needs. Variations in metabolic rates can alter this figure by as much as 20 percent either way. read more

Here’s what the calculations look like for a neutered pet dog weighing 45 pounds that is at his or her ideal weight. 45 lbs / 2.2 = 20.5 kg; 70 x 20.5^0.75 = 674 kcal/day; 1.6 x 672 = 1075 kcal/day . Remember, this is just a ball park figure. This pet’s actual needs may actually be anywhere between 860 kcal/day and 1,290 kcal/day. read more

The canine calorie calculator uses a basic formula to determine the resting energy requirements (RER) of canines. The result is a good estimate of how many calories per day you should feed your dog in order to maintain body weight (calorie requirements). read more

(Resting Energy Requirements or RER), which can be calculated by multiplying the animal’s body weight in kilograms raised to the ¾ power by 70, for example, a 10kg (22lb) adult neutered dog of healthy weight needs RER = 70(10kg)3/4 ˜ or 400 Calories/day. read more