How to use the pet treat energy converter
- Enter kcal per 100 g from the pack.
- Weigh one treat and enter its weight in grams.
- Optional: add the pack size.
Worked example
A treat with 350 kcal per 100 g that weighs 4 g, in a 200 g pack.
- Energy (kcal per 100 g)
- 350
- Weight of one treat (g)
- 4
- Pack size (g) — optional
- 200
- Energy per 100 g
- 350 kcal
- Treat weight
- 4 g
- Treats per pack
- 50
Use this in the Dog or Cat Treat Calorie Calculator.
Example values are illustrative; this result is produced by the same calculator above.
How we calculate it
Sources: Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)
Understanding your result
Treat packs often show energy per 100 g, but the treat calculators need calories per treat. Multiply kcal per 100 g by the weight of one treat in grams and divide by 100.
A treat with 350 kcal per 100 g that weighs 4 g has 350 × 4 ÷ 100 = 14 kcal. A 200 g pack of such treats holds about 50 of them.
Weigh one treat, or ten and divide by ten, for the most accurate result. Then use the calories per treat in the Dog or Cat Treat Calorie Calculator.
Common mistakes
- Using kcal per kilogram as if it were per 100 g.
- Weighing one treat and rounding it too much.
- Counting the pack weight as the treat weight.
- Forgetting that treats vary in size within a pack.
- Ignoring training treats and chews.
Good to know
- Break treats into smaller pieces to cut calories.
- Treats should be no more than about 10% of daily calories.
- The Pet Food Energy Converter turns kcal per kg into kcal per 100 g.
Counting treat calories
Treat packs often list kcal per 100 g, which is not much use until you know how much one treat weighs. Weigh a few treats on a kitchen scale and divide to get the weight of one, then multiply by kcal per gram. A treat that weighs 5 g from a pack of 360 kcal per 100 g has 18 kcal.
Treats should make up no more than about 10% of the day's calories (WSAVA and AAHA). The Dog Treat Calorie Calculator and Cat Treat Calorie Calculator show how many treats fit that allowance for your pet.
Remember chews, dental sticks and food used to hide tablets, because they count too.
Frequently asked questions
Why convert to kcal per treat?
The treat calculators need calories per treat. Packs often show kcal per 100 g instead.
How do I weigh a treat?
Use a kitchen scale, or weigh ten treats and divide by ten.
What if the pack shows kcal per kg?
Divide by 10 to get kcal per 100 g, or use the Pet Food Energy Converter.
How many calories should a treat have?
Treats should be no more than about 10% of daily calories; use the treat calculators for your pet.
How do I weigh a treat?
Use a kitchen scale, or weigh ten treats and divide by ten.
What if the pack shows kcal per cup?
Use the Pet Food Energy Converter or weigh a cup of the treats.
Sources
- Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)
Guides about this
- Training Treats Without Weight GainHow to use treats in dog training without weight gain: count them within the 10% allowance, use part of the daily food and adjust meals on training days.
- Low-Calorie Dog Treats and Rewards: How to ChooseHow to choose low-calorie dog treats and rewards: reading kcal per treat, cutting pieces small, using the daily kibble, non-food rewards and a budget by size.
- How Many Treats Can a Dog Have a Day?How many treats a dog can have a day: the 10% rule, a chart of treat counts by weight and treat size, counting chews and training rewards and what to cut at meals.
- Dog Treat Calories: Reading Labels and CountingHow to find the calories in dog treats: kcal per treat or per 100 g, weighing a treat, worked label examples, a counting log and how treats fit into the daily total.
Related calculators
- Dog Treat Calorie CalculatorCheck how many treats your dog can have a day without unbalancing its diet — the 10% rule.
- Cat Treat Calorie CalculatorCheck how many treats your cat can have a day without unbalancing its diet: the 10% rule.
- Pet Food Energy ConverterConvert pet food energy between kcal per kg, per 100 g, per pound and per ounce.
- Pet Meal Size CalculatorSplit a daily food amount into meals and see how many grams (and calories) go in each bowl.
Estimates only. Every pet is different — confirm with your veterinarian.