Calculate Meal Amounts & Calories for Adult Dogs

Calculate Daily Energy Requirements

A “calorie” is a unit to measure the energy in food, and is the starting point when formulating a balanced diet directly to nutrient requirements. Once the amount of daily calories is calculated, completing the diet with essential nutrients and whole foods is the next step.

The first step to determine calorie requirements is to calculate the dog’s resting energy requirements (RER). The RER is the amount of calories needed for basic biological functions such as digestion, heart rate, etc. This caloric amount does not factor in the activity level.

A scientific calculator (or equivalent cell phone app) will be helpful to accomplish the following equation. Enter the dog’s bodyweight in kilograms, press the exponent key, then enter 0.75. Then multiply the result by 70.

Once the RER is identified, daily energy requirements (DER) can be calculated using the RER. The DER is the total calories needed to sustain basic biological functions plus daily activity. Calculation amounts will vary in relation to the dog’s daily activity and individual metabolism.

Energy Needs for Adult Dogs

Energy needs variables for adult dogs are average starting guidelines. Energy needs provide a variable to calculate an estimate on how many calories a dog should consume in a day to sustain biological function plus daily activity. These calculations are to be taken as guidelines and not “rules.”

Always adjust to the dog’s individual requirements and metabolism. Low-energy or overweight individuals may require a lower energy need multiplier; whereas high-energy or underweight individuals may require a higher multiplier.

*Energy need multipliers are for dogs 12-18 months and older.

Once the appropriate multiplier is identified, DER can be calculated by multiplying the dog’s RER by the energy needs multiplier.

The DER calculations are to be taken as a guideline and should be adjusted according to the dog’s individual requirements. Since metabolism varies among individuals, the energy needs multiplier needs to be higher for high-energy or underweight individuals and lower for low-energy or overweight individuals. 

Calculate Daily Intake Estimates

An estimate on how much raw food an adult dog requires can be calculated by multiplying 19 ounces by the dog’s calorie requirement, divided by 1000 kcal.

Daily Food Volume for Adult Dogs

On average, 19-20 ounces (538-567 grams) of raw food equates to 1000 calories. This average food volume assumes an average amount of raw fat. Raw diets higher in fat will be lower in volume, while low-fat diets will be higher in volume. Always adjust to the dog’s individual needs in regards to fat content and food volume.

Once the DER is calculated, the dog’s daily intake can be estimated. Divide the dog’s calorie requirement by 1000. Then multiply the result by 19-20 ounces (538-567 grams).

Determine Feeding Frequency

Adult dogs can be fed multiple meals throughout the day or one singular meal. Either feeding option is suitable for most adult dogs. If multiple meals are fed throughout the day, divide the daily feeding intake by the frequency of meals fed throughout the day to calculate individual meal amounts.