The rule
The UC Davis Nutrition Support Service says treats and extra foods shouldn't exceed 10% of daily calories, with at least 90% coming from a complete and balanced diet. Tufts veterinary nutritionists use the same 10% guideline.
Estimating your dog's daily calories
Veterinary nutrition references start with the resting energy requirement (RER): RER in kcal a day = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 (Pet Nutrition Alliance). That number is then multiplied by a factor for the dog's life stage.
- Neutered adult: 1.6 × RER
- Intact adult: 1.8 × RER
- Obesity-prone adult: 1.4 × RER
- Puppy under 4 months: 3 × RER
- Puppy over 4 months: 2 × RER
These factors come from the Merck Veterinary Manual's table of daily maintenance energy requirements. The Pet Nutrition Alliance notes individual dogs can differ from these estimates by as much as 50%, so your veterinarian and your dog's body condition are the real guide.
Examples for neutered adult dogs
- 10 lb (4.5 kg): RER about 218 kcal, neutered adult about 348 kcal a day, treat budget about 35 kcal
- 20 lb (9.1 kg): RER about 366 kcal, neutered adult about 585 kcal a day, treat budget about 59 kcal
- 50 lb (22.7 kg): RER about 727 kcal, neutered adult about 1164 kcal a day, treat budget about 116 kcal
- 80 lb (36.3 kg): RER about 1035 kcal, neutered adult about 1656 kcal a day, treat budget about 166 kcal
What fits in a small budget
- One medium strawberry: about 4 kcal (UC Davis)
- One baby carrot: about 5 kcal (Tufts)
- A quarter cup of blueberries: about 20 kcal (Tufts)
- Half a cup of chopped apple, without seeds or core: about 30 kcal (Tufts)
- A quarter cup of banana: about 34 kcal (Tufts)
Dogs with medical conditions or on special diets may need a different plan. Ask your veterinarian.