Enter your dog’s weight and life stage to estimate daily calories with the veterinary RER formula — and what that means in cups of food.
How vets estimate a dog’s calories
Veterinary nutrition starts from the Resting Energy Requirement — RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 — then multiplies by a life-stage factor: about 1.6 for a typical neutered adult, more for intact, active or growing dogs, less for weight loss. Enter the weight and pick the stage, and this calculator returns the daily estimate, the resting baseline, and a cups conversion you must re-check against your own food’s label.
How to use it
- Enter the dog’s weight in kilograms (pounds ÷ 2.2).
- Pick the life stage / activity factor.
- Read the daily kcal — then find your food’s kcal-per-cup on its label to portion it.
The formula
A worked example
A 20 kg neutered adult: RER is 662 kcal, and at the 1.6 factor the daily estimate is ≈1,060 kcal — roughly three cups of a typical 350 kcal/cup kibble, though foods range from 300 to 500 kcal a cup, which is why the label beats the average every time. The same dog on a weight-loss plan drops to around 660–790.
An honest boundary
These factors are population starting points — metabolism varies dog to dog, and body-condition score over weeks is the real feedback. Adjust portions by the dog in front of you, and involve your vet for weight loss, puppies, and any medical condition.