Why it exists
Feeding guides on bags give a wide range, such as “2 to 3 cups for a 40 lb dog”. That gap is a lot of food, and it is the same for a couch potato and a dog that runs every day. Vets use a simple formula instead, but it needs the calories of the exact food, which are printed in small type on the label.
FeedingCalc puts the two together. You pick the food you actually buy, and it does the arithmetic.
How we keep the numbers honest
Every calorie figure comes from the manufacturer’s own page or a large retailer’s copy of the label, with a link and the date we checked it. If we cannot find the number, the food is not in the list. We never guess a calorie value.
The formula and the life-stage factors come from the 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines and the Merck Veterinary Manual. The full method is on the How it works page.
What we will not do
No pet food brand pays for a place in the calculator or for a better result. We do not rank foods as good or bad; we only tell you how much of each one your pet needs. And we do not replace your vet: for a pet that is ill, pregnant, nursing or on a prescription diet, ask them first.