Explore a starting daily calorie estimate for a healthy, fully grown adult dog. Use the exact food’s declared energy to convert calories to grams. This tool does not generate diets for puppies, pregnancy, lactation, illness or weight loss.
How the estimate works
Resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × body weight in kilograms to the power 0.75. The maintenance estimate multiplies RER by 1.6 for a healthy neutered adult or 1.8 for a healthy intact adult. These are starting factors, not a personalised assessment of activity, age or body condition.
Convert calories to a food amount
Food grams per day = (daily calorie estimate − calories from other food) ÷ food kcal/kg × 1,000. For an illustrative 10kg neutered adult with no treats and a food at 3,500 kcal/kg, the result is about 630 kcal and 180g daily. This is a worked example, not a ration for every 10kg dog.
Read the energy unit carefully
Multiply kcal per 100g by 10 to get kcal/kg. Do not enter a protein percentage, kilojoules, or calories per cup as if it were kcal/kg. Use the manufacturer’s grams-per-cup value if a volume conversion is needed; there is no universal cup weight.
When to use individual guidance
Growth, pregnancy, nursing, athletic work, obesity, suspected allergies and diagnosed conditions need an individual plan. Actual maintenance needs can differ substantially from a formula. Use body-condition and weight trends with your veterinary team to assess the starting estimate.
Source and assumptions
Formula and adult factors checked 30 October 2026 against the Merck Veterinary Manual nutrition overview. This calculator does not constitute a clinical review or prescription.