Let’s talk: how many calories a dog needs per day?

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Unfortunately, it is impossible to correctly calculate exactly how many calories a dog needs per day. There are so many variables! Think about what it takes to calculate a human’s calories. Experts use a person’s height, weight, activity level, hours of sleep, metabolic rate and more to calculate exactly how many calories that person needs to eat everyday. We can control many of the variables that effect our calorie requirements, but we can’t do the same for our dogs.

Yes, you can get your canine companion up off the couch and out for a walk, but can you control his activity level during the day while you’re away at work? Can you control how many hours he sleeps each day? Can you control the grass, bugs and other things that he eats while he’s outside?

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Not only that, but can you calculate your dog’s metabolic rate? What about his body mass index? Although we may not be able to get an exact figure, you can answer the question how many calories a dog needs per day with an accurate estimate.

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If you’re planning on feeding your pup based on his caloric needs, the best thing to do is consult our veterinarian to get the most accurate estimate possible.

Let’s Talk: How Many Calories A Dog Needs Per Day?

Many pet owners want to know how many calories a dog needs per day, but they are unaware of how to make the calculation. If you do decide to calculate your pet’s caloric needs, remember to use the number as an estimate only.

You’ll still need to monitor your dog’s weight, body condition and overall health and well-being to make dietary adjustments when needed.

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It’s also important to seek the advice of your vet, especially if your dog has any health conditions. Virtually every health ailment can be positively or negatively impacted by diet, so you don’t want to make any changes without being 100% sure it’s the best choice for your Fido.

Step 1: Finding RER

All dogs have a Resting Energy Requirement (RER), which is essentially the energy that their body needs to fulfill basic tasks such as breathing, digestion and heart function. According to the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, there is a simple equation that can help your find your dog’s RER.

First, you’ll need to figure out how many kilograms your dog weighs. You can easily type your dog’s weight in pounds into any search engine to find the conversion information.

I’ll use our 5-year-old boxer, who is currently at a healthy weight, as an example. She weighs 60 pounds, which is roughly 27 kg. Raise that number to the 3/4 power. 27 to the 3/4 power is about 12.

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Finally, you take that number and multiply it by 70. Our 60 pound, spayed female dog would need roughly 840 calories per day just to satisfy her RER.

Now, this number will be effected if your pet is not spayed or neutered and it will also vary depending on your dog’s current weight condition.

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