Dog Weight Loss Calculator: How Much to Feed an Overweight Dog
Enter your dog's current weight and whether they're spayed or neutered, and this calculator works out the calories — and cups — to feed to start losing weight. It uses the Merck Vet Manual's weight-loss starting point of 60% of maintenance calories. We don't sell or rank any food, and your vet sets the goal weight.
How much to feed your dog to lose weight
A 60-lb dog needs about 1335 kcal/day to hold its weight, so a weight-loss starting point is about 801 kcal/day — roughly 2.3 cups of a typical dry food — with treats under 80 kcal a day.
A safe starting point, not a prescription — aim for gradual loss, recheck with your vet, and let them set the goal weight and pace. Puppies, pregnant/nursing dogs, and medical cases need a vet's plan. Just need maintenance calories? Use the full calculator.
How this calculator works
We start with your dog's maintenance calories (MER) — the energy it takes to hold a steady weight, from the Merck resting-energy formula times the adult multiplier. For weight loss, the Merck Vet Manual's starting point is to feed 60% of that, alongside more exercise. It's a starting amount your vet adjusts as the weight comes down.
Is my dog overweight?
A quick body-condition check: you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing through a thick layer of fat, with a waist visible from above. Use that, with your vet, to decide whether your dog needs to lose weight and what a healthy goal weight is — we don't diagnose your dog or pick its ideal weight for you.
Do it safely
Aim for gradual, steady loss — not a crash diet. Measure portions to the calorie target rather than free-pouring, keep treats within 10% of the day's calories, recheck the weight regularly, and let your vet set the pace. A dog that's losing fast, not losing at all, or always ravenous should be seen by a vet to rule out a medical cause.
Common questions
- How many calories should my dog eat to lose weight?
- A common starting point is about 60% of your dog's normal maintenance calories (its MER) — the figure the Merck Vet Manual gives for starting a weight-loss program. The calculator above works that out from your dog's current weight; your vet fine-tunes from there.
- How do I know my dog's goal weight?
- Set it with your vet using a body-condition check — you should be able to feel the ribs without pressing through a thick layer of fat, with a visible waist from above. The calculator gives a starting calorie amount; it doesn't diagnose your dog or pick its ideal weight.
- How fast should a dog lose weight?
- Slowly and steadily — crash dieting isn't safe. Feed to the calorie target, recheck the weight regularly, and let your vet set the pace. The number here is a starting point, not a fixed prescription.
- My dog is overweight but always hungry — what do I do?
- Measure portions to the calorie target instead of free-pouring, keep treats within 10% of the day's calories, and bulk up meals with vet-approved low-calorie foods if needed. A dog that always seems hungry is easy to overfeed, which is usually the cause of the extra weight.
- How much should I feed an overweight dog?
- Start at about 60% of its maintenance calories — enter your dog's current weight above and the calculator turns it into a daily figure and cups. Keep the rest of the diet complete and balanced, and confirm the plan with your vet.