Dog Calorie Calculator

RER (Resting Energy Requirement) is the calories a dog burns at rest — sleeping, breathing, basic body function. DER (Daily Energy Requirement) is RER multiplied by an activity factor that accounts for life stage, lifestyle, and neuter status. DER is the number you actually feed.

Neutered dogs have lower metabolic rates than intact dogs of the same weight, typically by about 10–20%. The standard veterinary multipliers account for this: an intact adult dog usually needs 1.8× RER while a neutered adult of the same size and activity needs 1.6× RER.

The RER formula (70 × kg^0.75) and the standard multipliers come from veterinary nutrition guidelines (AAHA, NRC) and are the figures most clinics use to set feeding plans. They produce reasonable starting points for most healthy dogs. Individual variation can be ±20% — we publish the math, but your vet should adjust for your specific dog's body condition and health.

For weight loss, vets typically prescribe 1.0× RER calculated against the dog's ideal weight (not current weight). For weight gain or recovery, multipliers can run as high as 3.0–4.0× RER under veterinary supervision. Don't try aggressive weight changes without professional guidance — too-fast changes can cause serious health problems.