Dog Food Calculator: How Many Cups of Your Food per Day
Enter your dog's weight, life stage and the calories per cup printed on your food's label to get a daily starting amount in cups. The calculation uses the AAHA 2021 formula: resting energy (70 × weight in kg0.75) times a life-stage factor.
Calculate cups per day
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A starting point, not a prescription: individual dogs can need about 30% more or less (WSAVA). Weigh your dog every few weeks and ask your veterinarian to check its body condition. Treats count too.
How many calories does a dog need per day?
A spayed or neutered adult dog of 50 lb needs about 1,020 to 1,160 kcal a day by the AAHA 2021 formula; the table gives the range for other weights.
| Weight | Resting energy | Spayed or neutered adult | Intact adult |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 218 kcal | 305–348 kcal | 348–392 kcal |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 366 kcal | 512–585 kcal | 585–659 kcal |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 496 kcal | 694–794 kcal | 794–893 kcal |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 615 kcal | 862–985 kcal | 985–1,108 kcal |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 727 kcal | 1,018–1,164 kcal | 1,164–1,309 kcal |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 834 kcal | 1,168–1,335 kcal | 1,335–1,501 kcal |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 936 kcal | 1,311–1,498 kcal | 1,498–1,685 kcal |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 1,035 kcal | 1,449–1,656 kcal | 1,656–1,863 kcal |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 1,131 kcal | 1,583–1,809 kcal | 1,809–2,035 kcal |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 1,223 kcal | 1,713–1,958 kcal | 1,958–2,202 kcal |
How many cups of food should a 50 lb dog eat a day?
It depends on the calories in your food: with a dry food of 350 kcal per cup, a spayed or neutered 50 lb adult needs about 2.9 to 3.3 cups a day as a starting point.
Foods range widely in calories per cup, so the same dog can need very different amounts of two brands. Always use the number printed on your bag.
Where do I find the calories per cup?
Look for "Calorie Content" on the bag: AAFCO's model rule asks for kcal per kg and per familiar measure, such as a cup or a can.
If the label gives only kcal per kg, weigh one level cup of the food on a kitchen scale and enter both numbers in the calculator.
Why is the result only a starting point?
Formulas estimate an average; WSAVA notes that a dog's real needs can vary by about 30% either way, so the amount is adjusted by watching weight and body condition.
Weight loss, pregnancy, nursing and hard work need a plan from your veterinarian, so this calculator does not cover them.
Next document for this dog
- Pet sitter instructions: put the amount and feeding times in the sitter's sheet.
- Pet health record: log the weight with its date.