Dog Food Portion Calculator
Enter your dog's weight, life stage and the energy figure on the food bag. The calculator applies the veterinary RER formula (70 × kg^0.75) with the right stage multiplier, then converts to grams per day and per meal.
Feeding guides on bags are biased high - food companies sell food. This one uses the maths vets actually use, exposes the measuring-cup error that quietly overfeeds most dogs, and hands the decision back to the body condition score.
How to use
- Weigh your dog (you - dog - you) rather than guessing; enter the bag's kcal/kg from the analysis panel.
- Pick the honest life stage - 'active' is for working dogs, not enthusiastic ones.
- Weigh the daily ration on a kitchen scale, feed in two meals, and adjust 10% monthly against the ribs test.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a 20 kg dog eat per day?
At 3,600 kcal/kg food, a neutered adult 20 kg dog needs roughly 1,290 kcal - about 360 g a day split in two meals. The bag often says more; the ribs test and monthly weighing say what is true.
Why do bag feeding guides overfeed?
They are printed to sell food: generous tables assume intact, highly active animals and end at the top of every weight range. Neutered pet dogs typically need 20-30% less than the bag's happy default.
Is a measuring cup accurate for dog food?
Not really - cup measures of kibble run up to 20% off either way, which is the difference between slim and overweight over a year. A 5-gram kitchen scale is the cheapest pet-health purchase there is.
How do I know if my dog is the right weight?
Body condition, not the scale alone: ribs findable under a thin layer, waist visible from above, belly tuck from the side. Score monthly and adjust the ration by 10% - the dog's silhouette is the portion calculator that never lies.