Daily calories and grams for a 4 kg (8.8 lb) dog
Resting energy for 4.0 kg is 198 kcal (70 × 4.00.75). Multiply by the factor for the life stage to get the day's energy, then divide by the food's kcal per gram.
| Life stage | kcal a day | g at 3,400 kcal/kg | g at 3,600 kcal/kg | g at 3,800 kcal/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutered adult | 317 | 93 | 88 | 83 |
| Intact adult | 356 | 105 | 99 | 94 |
| Inactive or prone to weight gain | 277 | 82 | 77 | 73 |
| Puppy under 4 months | 594 | 175 | 165 | 156 |
| Puppy 4 months to adult | 396 | 116 | 110 | 104 |
These are averages from the Merck/WSAVA energy factors. Your dog may need 10 to 20% more or less. Check the energy on your own food's label and use the calculator below.
Meals, treats, water and cost
| Two meals a day (neutered adult) | 44 g each |
|---|---|
| Three meals a day | 29 g each |
| Treat allowance (10% of calories) | 32 kcal: 11 pieces of 3 kcal, or 0.8 of 38 kcal |
| Water (about 50 mL per kg) | 200 mL (range 160 to 240); call the vet above 400 mL |
| Dry food as a share of body weight | 2.2% a day |
| Calories per kilogram of body weight | 79.2 kcal per kg |
Monthly food cost at example prices
Cost = grams a day × 30 ÷ 1,000 × price per kg. The prices are examples; use your own.
| Price per kg | 3.00 | 4.00 | 5.00 | 6.00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry food, 3,600 kcal/kg | 7.92 | 10.56 | 13.20 | 15.84 |
How long a bag lasts
| Bag size | 2 kg | 5 kg | 10 kg | 15 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days at 88 g a day | 23 | 57 | 114 | 170 |
A sample day for a 4 kg (8.8 lb) dog
One way to lay out a neutered adult's day on a 3,600 kcal/kg dry food, with treats counted inside the total.
| Time | What | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Meal | 40 g |
| During the day | Treats and training rewards (counted) | 32 kcal |
| Evening | Meal | 40 g |
| All day | Fresh water (about 200 mL) | Always available |
Meals are smaller than the table above because the treat allowance of 32 kcal is taken out of the day's 317 kcal: 285 kcal of meals is 79 g.
If you feed wet and dry together
Split the calories, not the grams. This uses a wet food of 1,000 kcal/kg and a dry food of 3,600 kcal/kg for a neutered adult needing 317 kcal.
| Share of calories from wet food | Wet food | Dry food |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | 79 g | 66 g |
| 50% | 158 g | 44 g |
| 75% | 238 g | 22 g |
Do not add wet food on top of the full dry amount: that doubles the calories it replaces.
How 4 kg compares with nearby weights
| Weight | kcal a day (neutered adult) | g of 3,600 kcal/kg food | kcal per kg of body weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 255 | 71 | 85.1 |
| 4 kg (8.8 lb) | 317 | 88 | 79.2 |
| 5 kg (11.0 lb) | 374 | 104 | 74.9 |
| 6 kg (13.2 lb) | 429 | 119 | 71.6 |
| 7 kg (15.4 lb) | 482 | 134 | 68.9 |
If your 4 kg dog is overweight
Using the rule that each body-condition point above 5 (of 9) is about 10% over ideal weight, here is what a weight-loss plan could look like. The calorie target is 1.0 times resting energy at the goal weight, and the pace is 1 to 2% of body weight a week (AAHA 2014). Your vet should confirm the goal and the plan.
| Body condition | Goal weight | kcal a day | g of 3,600 kcal/kg food | Weeks at 2% to 1% a week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 of 9 | 3.6 kg (8.0 lb) | 184 | 51 | 5 to 10 |
| 7 of 9 | 3.3 kg (7.3 lb) | 173 | 48 | 10 to 19 |
| 8 of 9 | 3.1 kg (6.8 lb) | 163 | 45 | 13 to 27 |
Not sure of your dog's score? The Dog Body Condition Score tool shows how to check, and the Dog Weight Loss Calculator works from your own goal weight.
Age and life stage if 4 kg (8.8 lb) is your dog's adult weight
Age charts group dogs by adult size. At 4 kg (8.8 lb) the size group is small, which adds 4 human years for each dog year after the second.
| Dog's age | Human years (size chart) | Human years (epigenetic formula) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 15.0 | 31.0 |
| 3 years | 28.0 | 48.6 |
| 5 years | 36.0 | 56.8 |
| 8 years | 48.0 | 64.3 |
| 10 years | 56.0 | 67.8 |
| 12 years | 64.0 | 70.8 |
Why a dog twice as heavy does not eat twice as much
Energy needs rise with body weight to the power 0.75, not in a straight line. Moving from 4 kg to 5 kg is a 25% weight increase but only about 18% more calories. At 4 kg (8.8 lb), the neutered figure is 79.2 kcal per kg of body weight.
What changes your dog's number
- Neutering and activity. The table shows a 10 to 30% spread between stages.
- The food. A richer food means fewer grams for the same calories.
- Treats. They count within the daily total.
- Weight trend. Weigh monthly, score body condition and adjust by about 10%.
- Health. A pet on a veterinary diet or with a health condition should follow the vet's plan.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a 4 kg (8.8 lb) dog eat a day?
A neutered adult of 4 kg (8.8 lb) needs about 317 kcal a day. On a 3,600 kcal/kg dry food that is about 88 g. Intact and inactive dogs need 356 and 277 kcal.
How many meals a day for a 4 kg dog?
Two meals of about 44 g, or three of about 29 g, using the same 3,600 kcal/kg food. Your vet may suggest a different pattern.
How many treats can a 4 kg dog have?
Treats should stay within about 10% of daily calories, which is 32 kcal: 11 pieces of 3 kcal or 0.8 pieces of 38 kcal. Subtract them from the meals.
My 4 kg dog is overweight. How many calories should it eat to lose weight?
If your dog is at body condition 7 of 9 (about 20% over ideal), a goal weight is about 3.3 kg (7.3 lb). A common weight-loss target is 1.0 times resting energy at the goal weight: about 173 kcal a day, or 48 g of a 3,600 kcal/kg food. At 1 to 2% of body weight a week that takes about 10 to 19 weeks. Your vet should confirm the goal and the plan.
How much water should a 4 kg dog drink?
About 200 mL a day (range 160 to 240 mL). Drinking more than about 400 mL a day is a reason to call your vet.
Other weights
Related guides
- How much should I feed my dog?
- Dog feeding chart by weight
- Why the bag's feeding guide is often off
- How many treats can a dog have?
How we calculate: RER = 70 × kg0.75, times the life-stage factor, as set out on Formulas & sources. This page is general information, not veterinary advice; ask your vet about your dog.