Dog Food Calculator: How Much Should I Feed My Dog (or Cat)?
By the Bark.lk team · Updated
The feeding table on a bag of dog food is only a rough guide — it cannot know if your dog is neutered, a puppy, a lazy senior or a working guard dog. This calculator works out a starting amount from your pet’s weight, age and lifestyle and the calories in your food, using the same energy formula vets use.
Daily food calculator
Use the ideal weight if your pet is overweight.
If the pack shows kcal/kg, divide by 10.
Feed about
175 g per day
- 87 g per meal, 2 meals a day
- 630 kcal a day
- A 3 kg bag lasts about 17 days
A starting point, not veterinary advice. Adjust by 10% if your pet gains or loses weight.
How the calculator works
- Resting energy: a pet at rest needs about 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 calories a day. For a 10kg dog that is about 394 kcal.
- Life stage and lifestyle: that number is multiplied by a factor — about 1.6 for a neutered adult dog, 2–3 for a growing puppy, 1.2 for a neutered adult cat, and less for pets that need to lose weight.
- Your food: the daily calories are divided by the energy in your food. Dry food usually has 340–400 kcal per 100g; wet food 70–110 kcal per 100g. The exact figure is printed on the pack, often as kcal/kg (divide by 10).
Dog feeding chart by weight
For a neutered adult dog eating a typical dry food (360 kcal per 100g), the calculator gives:
- 3kg (Chihuahua, small Pomeranian): about 71g a day
- 5kg (Shih Tzu, Pomeranian): about 104g a day
- 10kg (Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, small mixed breed): about 175g a day
- 15kg (most Sri Lankan mixed breeds): about 237g a day
- 20kg (Border Collie, large mixed breed): about 294g a day
- 30kg (Labrador, Golden Retriever, Boxer): about 399g a day
- 40kg (German Shepherd, Rottweiler): about 495g a day
Puppies need much more for their size — see the puppy food guide for meals per day and when to switch to adult food.
Cat feeding chart by weight
For a neutered adult cat on a typical dry food (380 kcal per 100g): a 3kg cat needs about 50g a day, a 4kg cat about 63g, a 5kg cat about 74g and a 6kg cat about 85g. On wet food alone, a 4kg cat needs about 280g a day — roughly three to four 85g pouches. For kittens, see the kitten food guide.
Tips for getting it right
- Weigh the food with a kitchen scale for the first week — cups and scoops are surprisingly inaccurate.
- Check body shape every two weeks. You should be able to feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above. Gaining weight? Feed 10% less. Too thin? Feed 10% more.
- Count the treats. Biscuits, dental chews and table scraps should stay under 10% of daily calories — cut the main meal if you give a lot.
- Mixing dry and wet food? Work out each part separately: for example, half the daily calories from each.
- Hot weather: many dogs and cats eat a little less on the hottest days. Always keep fresh water out, especially on dry food.
Dog food at Bark.lk
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
 Reflex Premium Adult Dog Food High Energy - Beef | Rs. 6,850 |
 Royal Canin German Shepherd Adult | Rs. 10,850 |
 BlackHawk Puppy Large Breed - Lamb & Rice | Rs. 8,900 |
 VET-PRO Gastrointestinal Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 VET-PRO Renal Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 VET-PRO Mobility Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 VET-PRO Obesity Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 VET-PRO Hypoallergenic Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 VET-PRO Skin & Coat Dry Dog Food | Rs. 8,800 |
 Royal Canin Dry Food 3Kg - Adult Beagle | Rs. 5,850 |
 Seepet Dog Bites - Knotted Bone 4" | Rs. 350 |
 Royal Canin Dry Food 3Kg - Adult Labrador | Rs. 10,850 |
 Royal Canin Dry Food 3Kg - Adult Golden Retriever | Rs. 10,850 |
 Royal Canin Dry Food 3Kg - Labrador Puppy | Rs. 11,450 |
 Royal Canin Dry Food 1kg - Golden Retriever Puppy | Rs. 3,950 |
Not sure which food to buy? Compare the best dog food brands in Sri Lanka and dog food prices, or browse cat food.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I feed my dog per day?
Most neutered adult dogs need roughly 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 × 1.6 calories a day. On a typical dry food that is about 175g for a 10kg dog, 294g for a 20kg dog and 399g for a 30kg dog. Use the calculator above with the calories printed on your food for a more exact amount.
How many grams of food should a 10kg dog eat?
About 175g of dry food a day (two meals of about 88g), if the dog is a neutered adult and the food has around 360 kcal per 100g. An active or un-neutered 10kg dog needs about 200g, and a 10kg puppy considerably more.
How many times a day should I feed my dog?
Adult dogs: twice a day. Puppies: four meals a day until 3 months, three meals until 6 months, then two.
How much should I feed my cat per day?
A neutered adult cat of 4kg needs about 240 kcal a day — about 63g of a typical dry food, or around 280g of wet food. Kittens need more than double that for their size.
Why does the calculator give a different amount from the bag?
Feeding tables on packs are written for an average active dog and often overestimate, especially for neutered or indoor pets. Start with the calculator, then adjust by 10% based on your pet’s weight and body shape.