How Much Wet Food to Feed a Dog Calculator

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Dog Wet Food Calculator

Calculate the exact amount of wet food your dog needs based on weight and activity.

Pounds (lbs) Kilograms (kg)
Adult (Neutered/Spayed) Adult (Intact) Inactive / Overweight Prone Active / Working Dog Puppy (0-4 months) Puppy (4-12 months) Weight Loss Program
Per Can/Tray Per 100 grams

Feeding Recommendation

Daily Calories
0
Amount to Feed
0

Note: This is an estimate based on the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) formula. Always monitor your dog's weight and adjust accordingly.

How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your Dog?

Transitioning to wet food or mixing it with kibble is a great way to increase your dog's hydration and offer a palatable meal. However, calculating the correct portion is crucial to prevent obesity. Unlike dry kibble, which is calorie-dense, wet food contains high moisture content, meaning the volume fed is often significantly higher.

Understanding the Calculation

This calculator uses the standard veterinary formula for Resting Energy Requirement (RER):

RER = 70 × (Body Weight in kg)^0.75

We then apply a "Maintenance Energy Requirement" (MER) multiplier based on your dog's life stage and activity level. For example, a growing puppy needs significantly more calories than a sedentary senior dog.

Real-World Feeding Example

Let's look at a realistic scenario for a typical family pet:

  • Dog: 20 lb (approx 9 kg) Neutered Adult
  • Activity Level: Average (1.6x multiplier)
  • Wet Food: 350 kcal per 13oz can

In this case, the dog's RER is roughly 365 calories. Multiplying by 1.6 gives a daily requirement of 584 calories. If the wet food contains 350 kcal per can, you would feed approximately 1.67 cans per day.

Tips for Wet Food Success

  • Check the Label: Calorie content (kcal) varies wildly between "loaf" styles and "stew" styles.
  • Split Meals: It is generally recommended to split the total daily amount into at least two feedings.
  • Storage: Once opened, wet food should be covered and refrigerated, and used within 2-3 days.
  • Transition Slowly: When moving from dry to wet food, mix them over 7 days to avoid digestive upset.
function calculateDogFood() { var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dogWeight').value); var unit = document.getElementById('weightUnit').value; var activityMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('activityLevel').value); var kcalValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('kcalValue').value); var kcalUnit = document.getElementById('kcalUnit').value; if (isNaN(weight) || weight <= 0 || isNaN(kcalValue) || kcalValue <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for weight and calories."); return; } // Convert weight to kg var weightInKg = weight; if (unit === 'lbs') { weightInKg = weight * 0.453592; } // Calculate RER (Resting Energy Requirement) // Formula: 70 * (weight_kg ^ 0.75) var rer = 70 * Math.pow(weightInKg, 0.75); // Calculate Daily Calories (MER) var dailyCals = rer * activityMultiplier; // Calculate Amount to feed var totalAmount = 0; var unitText = ""; if (kcalUnit === 'can') { totalAmount = dailyCals / kcalValue; unitText = "Cans per Day"; } else { // per 100g totalAmount = (dailyCals / kcalValue) * 100; unitText = "Grams per Day"; } // Update Display document.getElementById('dailyCalories').innerText = Math.round(dailyCals) + " kcal"; document.getElementById('dailyAmount').innerText = totalAmount.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('amountLabel').innerText = unitText; document.getElementById('dogResultArea').style.display = 'block'; }

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