Puppy feeding chart and calculator
Short answer
A puppy under 4 months old needs about three times its resting energy a day, and a puppy over 4 months about two times, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual. A 10-pound puppy at 3 months works out to roughly 650 calories a day. Enter your puppy’s details below for a starting amount, then adjust with your veterinarian.
This calculator gives a starting point, not veterinary advice. Your veterinarian can set an exact plan. See our medical disclaimer.
Key takeaways
- Daily calories = resting energy requirement (RER) times a life-stage factor. RER is 70 times body weight in kilograms, raised to the power 0.75.
- The factor is 3 for puppies under 4 months old and 2 for puppies over 4 months old (Merck Veterinary Manual).
- Treat the result as a starting point. Merck says an animal may need as much as 30 percent more or less than the formula gives.
- Check your puppy’s weight and body condition regularly, and change the amount if the result does not fit your puppy.
How many calories does a puppy need a day?
Veterinary nutrition starts from resting energy requirement, or RER. The Merck Veterinary Manual defines it as the energy a healthy but fed animal needs at rest in a comfortable temperature, and gives the formula for animals of any body weight:
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
Merck’s maintenance energy table then multiplies RER by 3 for puppies under 4 months old and by 2 for puppies over 4 months old. Worked example, calculated by us: a 10-pound puppy weighs about 4.5 kg, so RER is about 218 kcal. At 3 months old the factor is 3, which gives about 653 kcal a day.
How much should a puppy eat by weight and age?
The chart below applies the formula to common weights. Find your puppy’s weight, then read across for its age group.
| Weight now | In kilograms | Under 4 months (3 × RER) | 4 months or older (2 × RER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 2.3 kg | 388 | 259 |
| 10 lb | 4.5 kg | 653 | 435 |
| 15 lb | 6.8 kg | 885 | 590 |
| 20 lb | 9.1 kg | 1,098 | 732 |
| 30 lb | 13.6 kg | 1,488 | 992 |
| 40 lb | 18.1 kg | 1,846 | 1,231 |
| 50 lb | 22.7 kg | 2,182 | 1,455 |
| 60 lb | 27.2 kg | 2,502 | 1,668 |
| 80 lb | 36.3 kg | 3,105 | 2,070 |
| 100 lb | 45.4 kg | 3,670 | 2,447 |
How do I turn calories into cups?
Divide the daily calories by the calories per cup on your food’s label. For example, 650 kcal a day with a food of 400 kcal per cup is about 1.6 cups a day. The 400 is an example, not a brand: use the number on your own bag. Count treats and toppers toward the day’s total.
Why is the result only a starting point?
Merck states that “any specific formulas used to calculate energy requirements for dogs or cats should be considered a starting point,” and that an animal may need as much as 30 percent more or less than the calculated calories. Its table also notes that a calorie calculation may need to change based on how the animal responds. In practice that means watching your puppy’s weight and body condition and adjusting the amount with your veterinarian.
What is not covered here?
The calculator is for healthy puppies from 2 months to 18 months old. Puppies under 2 months, nursing or sick puppies, and puppies with a medical condition need a plan from a veterinarian.
Frequently asked questions
What is RER?
RER is resting energy requirement: the energy a healthy, fed animal needs at rest in a comfortable temperature, as defined by the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Should I enter pounds or kilograms?
Either. Choose the unit in the box next to the weight and the calculator converts it. One pound is 0.4536 kilograms.
How many meals should I split the amount into?
The calculator gives a daily total and shows an equal split for 2, 3 or 4 meals. Ask your veterinarian how many meals suit your puppy.
Does this work for large and giant breeds?
Merck’s table gives one set of factors for puppies. Large and giant breed puppies can have special needs, so ask your veterinarian for a plan.
Sources
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