Dog Calorie Calculator
Estimate a dog's resting energy requirement (RER) with 70 × kg^0.75, then scale to maintenance energy (MER) using life-stage factors such as neutered adult, puppy, senior, or working. Veterinary rule of thumb, not a substitute for a vet feeding plan.
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How to estimate dog calories
- Choose kilograms or pounds for the dog's weight.
- Enter current body weight.
- Select the life-stage factor that best matches the dog.
- Read RER, MER, and the factor used.
- Confirm feeding changes with a veterinarian. Nothing is uploaded.
Canine maintenance energy
RER × life-stage factor
| RER | 70 × kg^0.75 |
|---|---|
| MER | RER × life-stage factor |
| Neutered adult factor | 1.6 (default) |
| Puppy factors | 3.0 under 4 months; 2.0 from 4 to 12 months |
| Inputs | Dog weight and life stage |
| Advice | Rule of thumb. Not a vet prescription. |
What dog calorie estimates cover
RER sketches resting energy from metabolic body weight. MER multiplies RER by a life-stage factor so puppies, working dogs, and weight-loss plans sit on different lines. Treat the output as a starting discussion point with a veterinarian.
How RER and MER are built
RER = 70 × (body kg)^0.75. MER = RER × factor. Examples: neutered adult 1.6, intact 1.8, weight loss 1.0, weight gain 1.7, puppy under 4 months 3.0, puppy 4-12 months 2.0, senior 1.4, working 2.0.
Canine nutrition and safety tools
Entities include RER, MER, and life-stage factor. Fluid sketches sit on dog water intake. Chocolate exposure math is dog chocolate toxicity. Whelping calendars live on dog pregnancy.
Use cases
Comparing puppy and adult factors for the same weight. Translating a scale weight into a kcal discussion before a vet visit. Classroom demos of metabolic body size. Not brand-specific cup conversions.
Default numbers
At 20 kg, RER = 70 × 20^0.75 ≈ 70 × 9.46 ≈ 662 kcal. Neutered adult MER ≈ 662 × 1.6 ≈ 1059 kcal/day.
Limits
Breed, illness, lactation, and body-condition scoring need veterinary judgment. Weight-loss factors on this page still require professional supervision. Informational only. See the disclaimer. CZNull does not receive pet data.