How many calories does my dog need?
Calorie Guidelines
Step 1 - Find your dog's RER (Resting Energy Requirement)
There are several methods that can be used to calculate your dog's RER. Probably the least "math intensive" is the following:
RER (kcals) = (Weight in kg x 30) + 70
(To obtain the weight in kg, divide the weight in lbs by 2.2)
Using the example of my personal dog, a 45 lb Dalmatian, the RER would be...
(45/2.2 x 30) + 70 = 683 kcals
(To obtain the weight in kg, divide the weight in lbs by 2.2)
Using the example of my personal dog, a 45 lb Dalmatian, the RER would be...
(45/2.2 x 30) + 70 = 683 kcals
Step 2 - Multiply by Appropriate Factors based on Age & Lifestyle of Your Pet
A young, growing puppy will need more energy than an obese dog. An intact dog uses more energy than a spayed or neutered dog. These factors provide us with a general guideline on which to base the calorie intake of our pets. Every pet is different, and adjustments do need to be made, however. Use the body condition score chart at the bottom to help you assess if your pet needs to gain or lose weight. Your veterinarian's office is the best source of information about your pet's weight!
Neutered adult = 1.6 x RER
Intact adult = 1.8 x RER
Inactive or Obese Prone = 1.2 - 1.4 x RER
Weight loss = 1.0 x RER for ideal weight**
Weight gain = 1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight
Active, working dogs = 2.0-5.0 x RER
Puppy 0-4 months = 3.0 x RER
Puppy 4 months to adult = 2.0 x RER
**Note: This means that a dog weighing 100 lbs who SHOULD weight 80 lbs should be fed
at 1.0 x RER of an 80 lb dog, not the RER of a 100 lb dog!
Using these factors, I will continue to use my Dalmatian as an example. She currently has a 5/9 Body Condition Score based on the chart below, so we can see how accurately this measures up! She is a spayed female, and although she is only 3 years old, I would say she is relatively inactive (we do not participate in any endurance sports). I do note that I have to be fairly conscientious to prevent her from losing her waistline!
Her RER would be 683 kcals x 1.2 or 1.4 = 820 to 957 kcals/day
Intact adult = 1.8 x RER
Inactive or Obese Prone = 1.2 - 1.4 x RER
Weight loss = 1.0 x RER for ideal weight**
Weight gain = 1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight
Active, working dogs = 2.0-5.0 x RER
Puppy 0-4 months = 3.0 x RER
Puppy 4 months to adult = 2.0 x RER
**Note: This means that a dog weighing 100 lbs who SHOULD weight 80 lbs should be fed
at 1.0 x RER of an 80 lb dog, not the RER of a 100 lb dog!
Using these factors, I will continue to use my Dalmatian as an example. She currently has a 5/9 Body Condition Score based on the chart below, so we can see how accurately this measures up! She is a spayed female, and although she is only 3 years old, I would say she is relatively inactive (we do not participate in any endurance sports). I do note that I have to be fairly conscientious to prevent her from losing her waistline!
Her RER would be 683 kcals x 1.2 or 1.4 = 820 to 957 kcals/day
Step 3 - Consider the kcals in *all* of the foodstuffs your pet consumes throughout the day, and limit the total to the number of kcals you have calculated.
The following pages contain information on the numbers of calories in different food and treats to help you. It is simply not possible for me to collect the information for every food item or treat--manufacturers change ingredients and create new formulas every day! However, the kcal information for pet products should be listed on every bag or can. This information might help you to narrow down your search however.
Always double check the information here with your product, as it may have changed from the time of publication. I have pulled some of my information from other sources, so it is possible that errors have been made. Whenever possible, I have made efforts to fact check with the manufacturer.
Always double check the information here with your product, as it may have changed from the time of publication. I have pulled some of my information from other sources, so it is possible that errors have been made. Whenever possible, I have made efforts to fact check with the manufacturer.
Back to the example of my own dog.
She is fed 7/8 cup of dry dog food twice a day - Royal Canin HP Diet (304 kcals/cup).
She is receiving approximately 532 kcals/day in her dry dog food.
Many days, I will let her chew up to half of a 12" thick bully stick (about 29 kcals/inch = 174 kcals)
Running total so far...706 kcals.
She is fed 7/8 cup of dry dog food twice a day - Royal Canin HP Diet (304 kcals/cup).
She is receiving approximately 532 kcals/day in her dry dog food.
Many days, I will let her chew up to half of a 12" thick bully stick (about 29 kcals/inch = 174 kcals)
Running total so far...706 kcals.
As for the rest, we are training a service dog puppy right now, which means LOTS of reinforcement for going potty, sitting nicely, etc. And that means she gets treats when the puppy does too most of the time! We like using SMALL treats so we can give them often. I cut them into smaller pieces so we can give "more" rewards!
Common brands in my house: Zuke's Mini Naturals (3.2 kcals each), Bil Jac Original Liver Treats (8.3 kcals each), Wellness Soft Well Bites (8 kcals each). At the current time, this is easily making up 50 - 60 kcals/day. My dog doesn't eat dinner with me or get table food at home, but what she DOES get on occasion is Chick-fil-a French Fries if we are in the car! And she easily eats half of a medium order of fries (400 kcals/order). I never claimed to be perfect! But what I am doing is being ACCOUNTABLE for the calories my dog is consuming, and making sure they fit into her overall diet plan. |
My dog's calorie intake varies from day to day. On bully stick days, we don't also have Chickfila. If we have obedience class and use lots of treats, I might cut back a bit on dinner. It's all about being aware of the number of calories your dog needs and fitting in what you feed into that guideline.
Step 4 - Consider *all* members of the family who may be feeding Fido!
I am very lucky in that I am the only person feeding my dog! In a household with multiple people giving treats, this can be more of a challenge.
- If your pet's weight is a concern, set a family meeting to discuss this and get everyone on the same page. Print out the total kcals your pet should be eating and decide together what treats or other snacks (including table food) your dog is going to be allowed to have each day.
- I have suggested to some families that they consider putting a bowl or jar on the kitchen table with the allotted number of treats for the day in it each morning. When the treats are gone for the day, they are gone. No refilling the jar from the main supply until the next day.
- I have also suggested using kibble as treats if you have a dog like my lab puppy that isn't too picky. Most dogs just want to know they are getting SOMETHING. And it doesn't matter to them if it is a crumb or a huge bone. Most dogs like getting 10 tiny treats more than one big one. It's the anticipation of the treat...much like seeing all the unwrapped gifts at a birthday party!
- Also consider swapping out higher calorie treats for lower calorie ones. Some of the larger milkbones have HUGE numbers of calories!