Pet Calorie (RER) Calculator
Calculate your pet's Resting Energy Requirement (RER) and Daily Energy Requirement (DER) based on weight and life stage.
Results
What is it?
The Pet Calorie Calculator uses the veterinary standard Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula: RER = 70 x (body weight in kg)^0.75. The Daily Energy Requirement (DER) multiplies RER by a life-stage factor to account for activity, reproductive status, and growth.
How to use
Enter your pet's weight in kilograms, select the species, and choose the most appropriate life stage/activity level. The calculator outputs both RER (calories needed at rest) and DER (calories needed daily).
Example scenario
A 10 kg neutered adult dog: RER = 70 x 10^0.75 = 70 x 5.62 = 393 kcal/day. DER = 393 x 1.6 = 629 kcal/day. Check your pet food label for kcal/cup to determine feeding amount.
Pro tip
The RER formula (70 x BW^0.75) applies to both dogs and cats. Weight management: use 1.0x RER for weight loss programs. Always check the caloric density on your pet food label (kcal/cup or kcal/can) to calculate exact serving size. Your vet can assess body condition score (BCS) to fine-tune the target weight.