Calculator · prices checked October 21, 2026
Puppy feeding calculator: how much to feed a puppy by age and weight
A 4-month, 15 lb puppy expected to reach 50 lb needs about 900 kcal a day by the FEDIAF estimate. The range between methods is 590–900 kcal; labels and prices were checked October 21, 2026.
Calories a day
900
kcal · methods 590–900
Nom NomBeef Mash
754g
$18.87 a day · $574 a month
1 of 23900 kcal a day for a 4-month puppy, 15 lb now, 50 lb expected. Nom Nom Beef Mash: 754 grams, $18.87 a day, $574 a month.
Estimates for healthy dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet; weigh monthly and adjust. How we calculate
Every bowl for this dog
4-month puppy, 15 lb now, 50 lb expected · 900 kcal a day. Recipes for all life stages first (brand’s words), then by price a day; “Show” puts the bowl next to your dog.
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NNNom Nom
754 g a day · 26.6 oz
$18.87a day · $574 a month
Beef Mash · Gently cooked · 1,194 kcal/kg checked Oct 21 all life stages
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $18.65 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $19.78 a day
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SDSundays for Dogs
166 g a day · 5.9 oz
after quizno open price
Beef · Air-dried · 5,417 kcal/kg all life stages
partner link -
STSpot & Tango
521 g a day · 18.4 oz
after quizbrand says from $2 a day
Beef & Brown Rice · Gently cooked · 1,726 kcal/kg all life stages
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.70 a day · Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $11.60 a day
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OOllie
693 g a day · 24.4 oz
after quizbrand says from $4 a day
Fresh Chicken · Gently cooked · 1,298 kcal/kg all life stages
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.70 a day · Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $11.60 a day
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MMaev
874 g a day · 30.8 oz
$17.24a day · $524 a month
Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $11.60 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $17.48 a day
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SSmallbatch
188 g a day · 6.6 oz
$17.48a day · $531 a month
Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 4,793 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
JFJustFoodForDogs
976 g a day · 34.4 oz
$18.65a day · $567 a month
Fish & Sweet Potato · Gently cooked · 922 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link -
SSmallbatch
180 g a day · 6.3 oz
$19.78a day · $601 a month
Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 5,004 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
partner link
Not enough open data yet
- DWDarwin'sNo calories on the open page, and the brand’s 2–3% rule is written for adult dogsCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- WFWe Feed RawNo calories on the open page, and the brand’s 2–3% rule is written for adult dogsCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- FDThe Farmer's DogPrice after the quiz; no calories or price on its open pages (Oct 21), Walmart showed no priceOur review of The Farmer's Dog
No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.70 a day · Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $11.60 a day
Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.
As the puppy grows
How do calories change as puppies grow?
For a puppy expected to reach 50 lb, the FEDIAF curve rises from 706 kcal a day at 10 lb to 1,284 kcal at 40 lb. Daily calories rise, but not in direct proportion to body weight.
The formula uses current weight relative to expected adult weight. That is why a puppy feeding chart needs more than today’s weight.
Use current weight and expected adult weight together, rather than scaling portions directly with pounds gained.
- 10 lb now20% of adult weight706 kcal
- 20 lb now40% of adult weight1,046 kcal
- 30 lb now60% of adult weight1,226 kcal
- 40 lb now80% of adult weight1,284 kcal
| 10 lb now | 706 kcal |
|---|---|
| 20 lb now | 1,046 kcal |
| 30 lb now | 1,226 kcal |
| 40 lb now | 1,284 kcal |
For the dog above
Your dog through the formulas
Both cards follow the dog you set in the calculator.
Four methods, one axis
| FEDIAF 2025, puppy formula, table VII-8a | 900 kcal |
|---|---|
| AAHA 2021, growth: RER × 2.0 | 590 kcal |
| We use | 900 kcal |
Sources: FEDIAF 2025 · AAHA 2021 · WSAVA 2020
The arithmetic, step by step
- Metabolic weight
- 6.8 kg0.75 = 4.21
- FEDIAF puppy formula
- [254.1 − 135 × (6.8 ÷ 22.7)] × 4.21 = 900 kcal
- AAHA check
- RER 295 × 2.0 = 590 kcal
- Grams
- 900 ÷ 1,194 kcal/kg × 1000 = 754 g of Nom Nom
- Price
- 754 g × $25.04/kg = $18.87 a day; × 30.4 = $574 a month
Puppy or adult, same weight
Can puppies eat an adult-sized portion?
Not simply because they weigh the same. The example puppy needs an estimated 900 kcal a day, compared with 443 kcal for a neutered adult at the same 15 lb.
The puppy estimate accounts for growth. An adult feeding guide does not give the same allowance, so matching portions by body weight alone misses that difference.
A puppy’s calorie estimate must account for growth, not just current size.
Puppy, 4 months
- FEDIAF
- 900 kcal
Adult, neutered
- FEDIAF / AAHA
- 443 kcal
AAHA factors
Why do calorie calculators give different answers?
AAHA multiplies resting energy by an age-based growth factor. At 4 months and older, its factor is 2.0, giving this puppy 590 kcal a day.
FEDIAF also considers expected adult weight, producing the higher estimate here. The 590–900 kcal range reflects different methods, not a precise daily requirement. The calculation method explains how estimates become portions.
Treat the calorie range as a starting point to discuss with your vet.
| Age | Factor | kcal a day, 4-month puppy, 15 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 months | 3.0 | 885 |
| 4 months and older | 2.0 | 590 |
Which recipes
Which recipes are labeled for puppies?
Nom Nom lists Beef Mash for all life stages; Ollie says the same for Fresh Chicken. JustFoodForDogs says Beef & Russet Potato is not intended for growing puppies. Viva Raw lists Beef for Dogs for adult maintenance, as A Pup Above does for Gently Cooked.
A calculated portion does not make an adult recipe suitable for growth. Compare life-stage statements first, then label calories: foods with different calorie densities need different gram portions for the same calorie target.
Check the recipe’s growth statement before comparing grams or price per day.
| Brand and recipe | Type | Grams a day | Per day | Per month | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | Raw | 527 g | $9.59 | $292 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato | Cooked | 477 g | $12.16 | $370 | One-time price; the first subscription box is $91.00 |
| Maev Raw | Raw | 722 g | $14.25 | $433 | Subscription price; one-time $206 |
| Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 155 g | $14.45 | $439 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato | Cooked | 807 g | $15.42 | $469 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| Nom Nom Beef Mash | Cooked | 623 g | $15.60 | $474 | PetSmart shelf price, not the subscription |
| Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 149 g | $16.35 | $497 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| A Pup Above Gently Cooked | Cooked | 538 g | $16.56 | $504 | One-time price, plus shipping |
| Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw | Freeze-dried | 155 g | $17.25 | $524 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash | Cooked | 853 g | $21.74 | $661 | Catalog price on the brand store |
| Ollie Fresh Chicken | Cooked | 573 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
| Spot & Tango Beef & Brown Rice | Cooked | 431 g | After quiz | — | price after quiz |
Percent rules
Does the raw-food percentage rule apply?
Darwin’s prints an adult rule of 2–3% of ideal body weight a day. That is a brand’s raw-food guideline, not a veterinary norm or a puppy calorie formula.
Viva Raw also says calorie needs are not directly proportional to body size. For a puppy, calculate growth calories and convert them using the recipe’s calorie content instead of borrowing an adult percentage.
Do not use an adult body-weight percentage as a puppy feeding target.
Adult rule
2–3% of body weight: not for puppies
Check as it grows
How should portions change over time?
Expected adult weight
from breed or your vet
Recalculate
as weight changes
Weigh
and adjust portions
Large breeds
ask your vet about growth food
Start with an expected adult weight from breed information or your vet. Recalculate as current weight changes, rather than keeping the first portion throughout growth.
Ask your vet about the estimate and growth food, especially for large-breed puppies. Weigh your puppy monthly and adjust portions with your vet’s guidance. FEDIAF describes its recommendations as starting points, not fixed allowances.
Recalculate during growth and use weight checks and veterinary guidance to adjust the starting portion.
Partner links
Where to check the price
- JustCheck price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Food Gently cookedFor Dogs - PetCheck price at PetPlate (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Plate Gently cooked - We Feed RawRawCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Viva RawRawCheck price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.
Questions
Short answers
How much should my puppy eat each day?
The example 4-month, 15 lb puppy expected to reach 50 lb has an estimated range of 590–900 kcal a day. The food’s label calories determine how much food supplies that energy.
Can I use a puppy food chart by weight alone?
Current weight alone misses part of the calculation. FEDIAF uses expected adult weight, while AAHA applies age-based growth factors to resting energy.
How does a puppy food calculator work out grams?
It divides daily calories by the label’s kcal ME per kg as fed, then converts kilograms to grams. The same calorie target can mean very different portions across recipes.
Which puppy calorie calculator result should I follow?
Use the estimates as starting points and ask your vet which target fits your puppy. Recalculate as weight changes and adjust portions based on weight checks.
Can I feed an adult recipe to my puppy?
A calorie calculation does not establish suitability for growth. Check the brand’s life-stage statement and ask your vet about an appropriate growth food.
Sources
- 1FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 2JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 3PetSmart: Nom Nom All Life Stages Frozen Dog Food Beefpetsmart.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 4Ollie: Ingredientsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 5A Pup Above: Fresh Dog Foodapupabove.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 6Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 7Darwin's: Natural Selections for Dogs Chickendarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 8Viva Raw: How Much to Feedvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026