dog homemade food calculator
Homemade Dog Food Calculator
Providing fresh, homemade food for your dog is one of the best things that you can do for his health and well-being and you can do it using a homemade dog food calculator.
Whenever pet owners broach this subject with me, they often bring up how difficult a homemade dog food calculator can be.
Yes, creating recipes to meet your dog's nutritional needs can be a challenge. But, thishomemade dog food recipe calculator will make the process a little easier.
Many pet owners believe that they can feed their dog the same quantity of homemade food as recommended by their old commercial kibble brand.
That could not be more wrong!
Homemade dog food is more nutritionally dense than most commercial foods. This means that your dog won't need as much to get the same nutritional benefits.
I've also heard pet owners share misinformation about watching a dog's weight and adjusting the serving sizes accordingly. That's why it is important to use a homemade dog food calculator.
If the dog is gaining weight, lessen the serving size. If he's losing weight, increase the serving size.
Why Do We Calculate Dog Food?
The consequences of feeding your dog too much food are obvious.He'll become obese, which could lead to a slew of other health conditions like diabetes, joint problems, certain types of cancer, and heart and respiratory issues.
Did you know that feeding your dog too much food can also lead to nutrient toxicity? In the case of nutrition, too much of a good thing could be very bad! For example, Vitamin A toxicity can cause bone spurs, lethargy, constipation, stiffness, and limping.
On the other hand, if you're not feeding your dog enough, he couldbecome nutrient deficientquite quickly. If you don't realize your dog isn't getting the proper nutrients, he may become weak and his organs could start to fail. Ultimately, nutrient deficiency can lead to death if it's not corrected.
In short, it's crucial that you discuss a switch in your dog's nutrition with your veterinarian. It's also important to use this homemade dog food recipe calculator as a guideline for figuring out how much food to feed Fido at each serving.
Calculating Homemade Dog Food Recipe
The first thing you'll need to do when following a homemade dog food recipe calculator is to figure out your pet'sDaily Energy Requirements (DER). This is the amount of energy (also called calories) that your dog's body burns in a typical day.
Before you can find the DER, you'll need to find Fido's Resting Energy Requirement (RER).RER is the energy that your pooch needs to perform essential bodily functions like heart functions, brain functions, digestion, and respiration.
To find your dog's RER, you'll need to multiply his body weight in kilograms raised to the 3/4 power by 70. In equation form this looks like this:
70(body weight in kg. ^.75)
Let's take a look at an example. If your dog weighs 53 pounds, that converts to 24 kg. Now, raise 24 to the .75 power and you get 11.2 (rounded to the nearest tenth). The last step is multiple 70 x 11.2, which equals 784. A 53-pound dog's RER is 784.
Once you figure out the RER, you can move on to the DER. This gets a little trickier. To find the DER, you'll need to multiple the RER by a certain factor that meets Fido's description.
According to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, these are the factors that you can choose from:
| Neutered adult | =1.6 x RER |
| Intact adult | =1.8 x RER |
| Inactive/obese prone | =1.2-1.4 x RER |
| Weight loss | =1.0 x RER for ideal weight |
| Weight gain | =1.2-1.8 x RER for ideal weight |
| Active, working dogs | =2.0-5.0 x RER |
| Puppy 0-4 months | =3.0 x RER |
| Puppy 4 months to adult | = 2.0 x RER |
Summary of Homemade Dog Food Calculator
Remember, these are just estimates. They can vary by as much as 50%, so you have to understand that these numbers are just a general starting point. The best thing that you can do is discuss your homemade dog food diet with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist who can help you understand your dog's caloric needs better.
READ NEXT: How Seasons Affect Your Dog's Dietary Needs
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Vet Nutrition Specialty Services
Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospitals
Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospitals
Colorado State University
Ethos Veterinary Hospitals
Friendship Hospital for Animals
Heart of TX Vet Specialty Center
North Carolina State University
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
Royal Veterinary College, UK
So Paulo State University, BR
University of Ljubljana, SI
University of Montreal, CA
University of Pennsylvania
University of Perugia, IT
University of Saskatchewan, CA
Vet Nutrition Specialty Services
Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospitals
Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospitals
Colorado State University
Ethos Veterinary Hospitals
Friendship Hospital for Animals
Heart of TX Vet Specialty Center
North Carolina State University
Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
Royal Veterinary College, UK
So Paulo State University, BR
University of Ljubljana, SI
University of Montreal, CA
University of Pennsylvania
University of Perugia, IT
University of Saskatchewan, CA
Vet Nutrition Specialty Services
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For two decades, weve provided proven solutions for feeding dogs and cats fresh food.
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How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
Our Puppy and Dog Food Calculator
JustFoodForDog's puppy & dog food calculator is the easiest way to discover how many calories your dog should eat. ...
Welcome to the JustFoodForDogs puppy & dog food calculator. We know that no two dogs are the same so we made it easier for you to discover how many calories your dog should eat, the specific amount you should be feeding them, and recipes theyll love.
Our team of veterinarians created the calculator to take into account key factors such as your dogs current weight, breed, age, and activity level. It also examines issues such as allergies, digestion, or picky eating, along with your goals to boost wellness or achieve a healthy weight. All of these factors are used to determine the number of calories per day, as well as recommending recipes that help your dog to live a happy and healthy life.
How much should I feed my dog? Our dog calorie calculator can be used for dogs of all ages which makes it the perfect puppy food calculator as well.
Food quantity isnt the only factor to consider. You might be wondering, How many calories should my dog eat? Good news: this is also a dog feeding calculator by weight. Once you know the correct amount of food and calories needed, youre on your way to making sure your dog enjoys the food necessary to feel fit and healthy.
Our recipes are formulated by our team of veterinarians for complete, balanced nutrition. Concerned about weight? We have daily recipes that are lighter by natureas well as special diets that are lower in fat. Keep in mind that the number of treats you feed your dog a day (on average) will affect the results of the dog calorie calculator. Not sure which treats are healthy for your dog? JustFoodForDogs offers a variety of healthy dog snacks that pets love. Made from restaurant-quality ingredients, JustFoodForDogs treats are a great way to reward good behavior and promote a healthy lifestyle.
Not only will our dog food calculator generate a daily feeding guide with recommended calories per day and serving sizes, but it will also recommend a curated selection of our nutritious #1 vet-recommended fresh dog food. Our recipes are crafted by an incredible team of veterinarians and specialists. You can make your own homemade version with our DIY homemade dog food kits, using the same effective recipes as our Fresh Frozen meals.
Did you know that dogs, puppies, and cats have different dietary needs? If youre a cat parent and are interested in the importance of providing your pet a whole-food diet, JustFoodForDogs offers a nutritious cat food recipe with restaurant-grade ingredients for the feline in your life.
Dog Food Calculator
The Dog Food Calculator can help you estimate the proper serving size for your pet. Its based upon a study published by the respected Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in Leicestershire, England. 1
To use the calculator, youll need to know your dogs ideal weight. This is what you believe your pet should weigh.
Youll also need to know the number of calories in the specific dog food youre feeding him.
The calculators formula2 uses a dogs metabolic weight to suggest an approximate serving size.
Dog Food Calculator Guidelines
The Dog Food Calculator was designed for adult dogs only not for puppies.
And it should never be used for pregnant or lactating females.
Small breeds are considered adults at about 9 to 12 months of age. And medium breeds at about 12 to 14 months.3
However, large and giant breeds shouldnt be fed as adults until they reach around 1 to 2 years depending upon the breed.4
What's the best dog food?
Overweight Dogs
If you believe your dog might be overweight, be sure to choose the Overweight option for Your dogs activity level.
Otherwise, the recommended serving size will likely be too high.
And for help, be sure to visit our Best Dog Foods for Weight Loss article.
Senior Dogs
Older dogs have significantly lower energy needs than younger ones.So, its easy for them to put on extra weight.
In general, small to medium dogs are considered seniors at about seven years of age. However, larger breeds reach senior status much sooner some as early as five.5
Converting From Calories to Serving Size
Once youve entered your dogs ideal weight and activity level, youll know the number of calories per day.
However, to convert calories into something you can use, youll need to enter the number of calories in your dogs food.
The number of calories in a given amount of dog food is known as its metabolizable energy (ME, for short). Its usually reported somewhere on a dog food package like this
- Calories per cup (kcal/cup)
- Calories per kilogram (kcal/kilogram)
By the way, the calculator assumes youre feeding your dog just once a day.
If you prefer to feed your dog twice a day, be sure to divide your result in half so that both meals add up to the full daily calories suggested.
The Bottom Line
Since every dog is unique, its impossible to predict the serving size thats perfect for each pet.
So, start with the packages feeding instructions or the amount suggested by our calculator.
And be sure to weigh your dog every few weeks.
Then, simply adjust that suggested serving size up or down to reach and maintain your pets ideal weight.
