How to use the dog treat calorie calculator
- Enter weight and life stage.
- Enter the calories in one treat (on the pack).
- Press Calculate.
Worked example
A neutered adult dog weighing 20 kg, given treats of 30 kcal each.
- Weight
- 20 kg
- Life stage
- Neutered/spayed adult
- kcal per treat
- 30
- Daily energy
- 1,059 kcal/day
- Treat budget (10%)
- 106 kcal
- Treats of this size
- 3
Example values are illustrative; this result is produced by the same calculator above.
How we calculate it
Sources: WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines · AAHA
Reference table
| Weight | Treat kcal/day |
|---|---|
| 2 kg | 19 |
| 5 kg | 37 |
| 10 kg | 63 |
| 15 kg | 85 |
| 20 kg | 106 |
| 25 kg | 125 |
| 30 kg | 144 |
| 40 kg | 178 |
| 50 kg | 211 |
Understanding your result
A common veterinary guideline is that treats should provide no more than 10% of a dog's daily calories. The calculator estimates your dog's daily energy need (MER) and takes 10% of it as the treat budget.
If you enter the calories in one treat, it also shows how many treats fit in that budget, rounded down so you do not go over.
The treat calories should come out of the meal portion, not be added on top, otherwise the dog slowly gains weight.
Common mistakes
- Adding treats on top of a full meal portion.
- Forgetting dental chews, bones, peanut butter and training rewards.
- Breaking a large treat into pieces but counting it as one small treat.
- Using the treat budget for a dog with a medical diet without asking your vet.
Good to know
- Small dogs have a small budget, so choose low-calorie rewards such as part of their usual kibble.
- If your dog is overweight, keep treats well under the limit.
- Chews count as treats because they have calories too.
Frequently asked questions
How many treats can a dog have a day?
Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories. The rest should come from complete and balanced food.
Do chews count as treats?
Yes — chews, dental sticks and table scraps all count toward the 10%.
What are low-calorie treats?
Small pieces of carrot or green beans, or breaking treats into smaller pieces, keep the count up and calories down.
How is the treat allowance calculated?
It is 10% of your dog's daily maintenance calories (MER). Divide that by the calories in one treat to see how many treats fit, rounded down.
What if my dog is on a weight-loss plan?
Keep treats within the new calorie budget. Use the Dog Weight Loss Calculator for the daily target, then count treats inside it.
Do training treats count?
Yes. Count every treat, chew and piece of food used for training toward the daily total, and use small pieces to keep the calories low.
Sources
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines (incl. 9-point BCS charts)
- AAHA (2014) Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
Related calculators
- Dog Food CalculatorFind out how many calories your dog needs each day and how many grams or cups of your dog's food that is — using the same energy formula vets use.
- Puppy Food CalculatorCalculate how much a growing puppy needs, how many meals a day, and how much per meal.
- Dog Calorie CalculatorSee your dog's resting energy requirement (RER) and daily maintenance energy (MER) for its life stage.
- Dog Food CalorieEstimate the calories in a dog or cat food from the guaranteed analysis on the label.
- Dog Food Cost CalculatorSee what it costs per day, month and year to feed your dog, from its calorie need and the price of the bag.
Estimates only. Every pet is different — confirm with your veterinarian.