How Many Calories for a Dog to Lose Weight?

Quick answer A common weight-loss target feeds a dog 1.0 times the resting energy requirement of its goal weight: 70 × goal weight in kg ^ 0.75. A 30 kg dog with a 25 kg goal gets about 783 kcal a day, around 55% of the 1,436 kcal a neutered 30 kg adult would normally eat. Confirm it with your vet.

The most useful number in any dog weight loss plan is the daily calorie target. Pace, grams and treat allowances all follow from it, and so does the question of whether the plan is working. This article focuses on that one number: where it comes from, what it looks like for dogs of different sizes, how to turn it into food, and how to adjust it with your vet. For the pace, see our guide on how fast a dog should lose weight, and for the full routine, the dog weight loss plan.

The calorie rule for weight loss

The standard approach is to feed the energy a dog of the goal weight would need at rest:

weight loss calories = 1.0 × RER of the goal weight = 70 × goal weight in kg ^ 0.75

The factor of 1.0 comes from the Merck and WSAVA tables used by the Dog Weight Loss Calculator. The logic is straightforward: a dog fed for the weight it should be will slowly move towards that weight. The result is a lot lower than the dog’s normal feeding amount, which is why a written plan and a scale are so important.

Calorie targets by size

Current weight	Goal weight	Weight-loss calories	Normal calories at current weight (1.6 × RER)	Reduction
8 kg (17.6 lb)	6.5 kg	285 kcal	533 kcal	about 47%
12 kg (26.5 lb)	10 kg	394 kcal	722 kcal	about 45%
15 kg (33 lb)	12 kg	451 kcal	854 kcal	about 47%
20 kg (44 lb)	16 kg	560 kcal	1,059 kcal	about 47%
25 kg (55 lb)	20 kg	662 kcal	1,252 kcal	about 47%
30 kg (66 lb)	25 kg	783 kcal	1,436 kcal	about 45%
35 kg (77 lb)	28 kg	852 kcal	1,612 kcal	about 47%
40 kg (88 lb)	32 kg	942 kcal	1,781 kcal	about 47%
50 kg (110 lb)	40 kg	1,113 kcal	2,106 kcal	about 47%

These examples all have a goal around 20 to 25% below the current weight, which is a typical situation for a dog scoring 7 to 8 on the 9-point scale. The reductions in the last column look large, but they are the standard approach, and the 1 to 2% weekly pace keeps the loss controlled.

A worked example

A 30 kg neutered dog has a goal of 25 kg.

25 ^ 0.75 ≈ 11.18.
RER of the goal weight = 70 × 11.18 ≈ 783 kcal.
Weight-loss calories = 1.0 × 783 = 783 kcal a day.
For comparison, 1.6 × RER of 30 kg is 1.6 × 897 = 1,436 kcal.
783 ÷ 1,436 ≈ 55%, so the dog eats about 45% fewer calories.

The plan then expects loss of about 0.3 to 0.6 kg a week, which the scale will confirm or correct.

From calories to grams of food

Calories become food using the label’s energy value.

Goal weight	Calories	Grams of a 3,400 kcal/kg food	Grams of a 3,600 kcal/kg food	Grams of a 3,800 kcal/kg food
10 kg	394	116 g	109 g	104 g
16 kg	560	165 g	156 g	147 g
20 kg	662	195 g	184 g	174 g
25 kg	783	230 g	217 g	206 g
32 kg	942	277 g	262 g	248 g

Grams from a denser food are smaller, so a change of food needs a new calculation. The Dog Food Calculator works from your dog’s weight, but for weight loss enter the goal weight and the weight-loss stage in the Dog Calorie Calculator and use the calories to find grams. If you prefer cups, convert with the kcal per cup on the label and use a scale to check.

The treat budget

Treats are the usual way a diet quietly fails. WSAVA and AAHA suggest keeping them to no more than 10% of daily calories, and during weight loss they come out of the same limited budget.

Goal weight	Daily calories	Treat allowance (10%)
10 kg	394	39 kcal
16 kg	560	56 kcal
25 kg	783	78 kcal
32 kg	942	94 kcal

Counting every treat, chew and training reward is easier with the Dog Treat Calorie Calculator. A good trick is to use part of the day’s measured kibble as treats so that nothing is extra.

Should I change the food as well as the amount?

Reducing portions of an ordinary maintenance food is the simplest idea, but a calorie cut of 45% also cuts the supply of vitamins and minerals by the same share unless the food is designed for it. Weight management foods are formulated to supply the nutrients a dog needs at a lower calorie level, which is why Your vet may prefer them to simple portion cuts. Do not change the diet of a dog with a health condition without asking your vet.

Keeping track of the plan

A weight loss plan has three numbers to follow: calories fed, weight and body condition.

What	How often	Why
Food weighed on a scale	Every meal	Prevents drift
Dog weighed	Every 1 to 2 weeks	Checks the pace
Body condition scored	Monthly	Shows fat loss, not just weight
Vet check	As your vet advises	Adjusts the plan, checks health

The Pet Weight Change Calculator turns two weights and the weeks between them into a percentage per week, so you can see whether the calorie plan is producing a pace in the 1 to 2% range.

Adjusting the calories

If the pace is right, change nothing. If it is not:

Loss below about 1% a week for several weeks: recheck measuring, treats and other feeders before cutting calories. If the basics are right, ask your vet about a small reduction.
Loss above 2% a week: call your vet; do not keep cutting.
A plateau near the goal: the vet may recalculate the budget for the current weight or move to maintenance.

Small changes of about 10% are easier to evaluate than big ones.

When the calculator should not be used alone

The weight-loss figure is for healthy adult dogs. Puppies, pregnant or nursing dogs, dogs with health conditions and very old dogs need advice from a vet. If your dog is very overweight, has a medical condition or is on medication, a vet-supervised plan is essential. Our guide on dog body condition scores shows how to estimate a safe goal weight to take to the clinic.

Common mistakes

Feeding the goal-weight calories with the current weight in the formula.
Using a scoop instead of a scale.
Forgetting treats.
Changing food and keeping the same grams.
Cutting further when progress stalls for a single week.
Stopping weigh-ins after the first month.

Three example plans side by side

Seeing the calorie rule applied to different dogs makes the pattern clear. All three assume a neutered adult, a food of 3,600 kcal/kg and a 10% treat allowance.

	Dog A	Dog B	Dog C
Current weight	12 kg (26.5 lb)	20 kg (44 lb)	40 kg (88 lb)
Goal weight	10 kg	16 kg	32 kg
Weight-loss calories	394 kcal	560 kcal	942 kcal
Normal calories at current weight	722 kcal	1,059 kcal	1,781 kcal
Food a day	109 g	156 g	262 g
Two meals of	55 g	78 g	131 g
Treat allowance	39 kcal	56 kcal	94 kcal
Weeks at 1% a week	19	23	23
Weeks at 2% a week	10	12	12

Dog A’s whole treat allowance is about one small biscuit, while Dog C’s would stretch to three. That is the practical meaning of a small dog’s calorie budget, and it is why small-dog diets feel stricter: there is less room for anything outside the bowl.

If the food is a weight management food

Weight management foods usually have fewer calories per gram than a maintenance food, so the same calories become a larger bowl. If Dog B’s food is 3,200 kcal/kg instead of 3,600, the daily amount for 560 kcal is 560 ÷ 3.2 = 175 g rather than 156 g. A larger portion can make a dog feel more satisfied, which is one reason these foods are popular, but the calories are what count, so always divide by the energy value on the bag you are using. If your label gives kcal per cup, convert with the kcal per cup, and weigh one cup once to see how it compares with grams.

The first six weeks, week by week

A routine for the early weeks keeps a plan on track:

Week	What to do
0	See the vet, agree the goal weight and calorie target, weigh the dog and score body condition
1	Switch to measured meals on a scale; agree who feeds; remove or count all treats
2	First weigh-in and photo; expect a small change; do not alter anything yet
3	Check the log: are meals, treats and weights consistent?
4	Second weigh-in; compare the pace with 1 to 2% a week
5	Adjust only if the pace is clearly off, in a step of about 10% and with your vet
6	Re-score body condition; confirm the plan with the vet if needed

The reason for the quiet second week is that the early scale readings are noisy, because food in the gut and water move the numbers by a few hundred grams. Patience in the first fortnight prevents unnecessary changes.

Common situations and what to do

The dog seems hungry all the time. Some hunger is normal at the start. Spread the daily amount over three or four small meals, use a slow feeder or a puzzle toy, add a short walk before mealtime and ask your vet about a higher-fibre or weight management food. Do not give in with extra treats.

Two dogs share the house. Feed them separately, in different rooms or with a door closed, until the dog on a plan has finished its bowl. Dogs steal food from each other’s bowls more often than owners realise.

A visitor or a child feeds treats. Ask them to use treats from a labelled jar with the day’s allowance in it. A jar of kibble pieces works well because it is already counted.

The dog is on medication. Do not change the food without asking your vet, and count any food used to give medicine.

The dog is old or has stiff joints. Weight loss often helps comfort, but the plan should fit the dog’s health; your vet may choose a slower pace.

How the calories change over the plan

The weight-loss calories come from the goal weight, so in many plans the daily amount stays the same until the goal is reached. Your vet may adjust it if the pace is off. When the goal is reached, the calories rise towards the maintenance level for the new weight, 1.6 × RER of the goal for a neutered dog. For Dog B that is 1.6 × 560 = 896 kcal, a step up from 560, taken gradually over weeks while the dog’s weight is watched. Our guide on how many calories a dog needs explains the maintenance numbers.

Questions people ask about the maths

Why not just cut 20% from the normal amount? A cut of 20% may be too gentle for a dog that is 25% over its ideal weight and too crude for a very small dog, whereas feeding for the goal weight is tailored to the dog. It also keeps the plan consistent with the published approach and your vet’s advice.

Why is the reduction about 45 to 47%? Because the goal weight is lower, its RER is lower, and the weight-loss factor of 1.0 is lower than the 1.6 used for a neutered adult. Together these give about 53 to 55% of the normal amount.

Can a dog lose weight faster by eating even less? Faster is not safer, as our guide to how fast a dog should lose weight explains. Very low intakes risk muscle loss and nutrient shortages.

Quick summary

Feed 1.0 × RER of the goal weight: 70 × goal kg ^ 0.75 kcal a day.
A 30 kg dog with a 25 kg goal gets about 783 kcal, roughly 55% of its normal 1,436 kcal.
At 3,600 kcal/kg that is about 217 g of food a day, with up to 78 kcal of treats.
Weigh food and dog, and adjust only in small steps with your vet.
Count the pace: 1 to 2% of body weight a week.
Use the Dog Weight Loss Calculator for your dog.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories should my dog eat to lose weight?

A common starting point is 70 × goal weight in kg ^ 0.75. For a goal of 25 kg that is about 783 kcal a day. Your vet adjusts it from the scale and body condition.

Why use the goal weight and not the current weight?

Feeding for the current weight would keep the dog at that weight. Feeding for the goal weight creates the gap that leads to steady loss.

How much less is that than normal feeding?

Roughly 45% fewer calories than a neutered adult at the current weight. For a 30 kg dog that is 783 kcal against 1,436 kcal.

How many grams of food is that?

Divide the calories by the kcal per gram on the label. At 3,600 kcal per kg, 783 kcal is about 217 g a day.

Can I use the same dog food?

Sometimes. Cutting an ordinary food can leave a dog short of some nutrients, so ask your vet whether a weight management food is a better choice.

How many calories can treats have on a diet?

No more than 10% of the day's calories, which is about 78 kcal on a 783 kcal plan, and they come out of the same budget.

When do I change the calories?

When weight stalls or drops faster than 2% a week. Change by small steps with your vet, not on your own in large cuts.

Sources

Reviewed by the CalcuPaw Veterinary Review Team

Last reviewed 18 Oct 2026 · Meet the review team · This guide is general information, not veterinary advice.