How Much Should I Feed My Dog? A Simple Guide
“How much should I feed my dog?” is one of the most searched questions in pet care, and the honest answer is: it depends on your dog. Weight, age, activity level, neutering status and the food itself all matter. This guide shows you how to estimate a sensible starting amount.
Step 1: Find your dog’s daily calories
Vets often start with the resting energy requirement (RER): 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. That number is then multiplied by a factor. Typical factors are about 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact adult, 1.0 to 1.2 for weight loss, 2.0 to 3.0 for puppies, and 1.2 to 1.4 for less active seniors. A neutered 10 kg adult has an RER of about 394 kcal, so roughly 630 kcal a day. Skip the maths with our pet food portion calculator.
Step 2: Check the calories in your food
Look on the bag or can for “kcal per cup” or “kcal per kg”. Dry food is often 300 to 400 kcal per cup. Divide daily calories by this number to get cups per day. For example, 630 kcal ÷ 350 kcal per cup is 1.8 cups.
Step 3: Split into meals
Most adult dogs do well with two meals a day. Puppies need three or four smaller meals. Measure with a proper measuring cup or, better, a kitchen scale.
Step 4: Watch your dog, not just the chart
Every dog is different. You should be able to feel the ribs easily without seeing them, and your dog should have a visible waist when viewed from above. If your dog is gaining weight, reduce food by about 10 percent; if losing, increase by about 10 percent, and re-check in two to three weeks.
Don’t forget treats
Treats, chews and table scraps count. Keep them under roughly 10 percent of daily calories.
When to ask your vet
Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, seniors, and dogs with health problems have special needs. If your dog is overweight, ask for a weight-loss plan; crash diets can be dangerous.
Quick tips
- Feed at consistent times each day.
- Change foods gradually over 7 to 10 days.
- Always provide fresh water.
Use the calculator above as a starting point, then adjust based on your dog’s body condition. For more on safe foods, read foods dogs can and cannot eat.