Is Your Dog a Snack or the Whole Meal? Use This Body Condition Guide

Let’s talk calories! Specifically, the ones in your dog’s food. Yep, they do matter. A
lot!

While the back of a dog food bag may look like a science experiment gone rogue,
one of the most important things on that label is the calorie count (often listed as
“metabolisable energy”). And no, it’s not just there just to make your eyes glaze over.

What Actually ARE Calories?

Calories are a measure of energy—aka fuel—for your dog’s daily activities: chasing
tennis balls, barking at delivery drivers, or simply vibing on the couch. Just like us,
dogs need the right amount of calories to maintain a healthy weight, support organ
function, and keep their tails wagging.

Too many calories? You risk weight gain, joint issues, and chronic conditions like
diabetes. Too few? You risk nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, and a very hangry pup.
It’s Not One-Size-Fits-All!

Different dogs have different calorie needs. A hyperactive working dog needs way
more calories than a snoozy senior who moves only when the treat jar rattles.

Here’s what affects your dog’s daily calorie requirements:

• Size & breed – Bigger dogs generally need more fuel (but not always).
• Age – Puppies need more calories for growth; older dogs may need less.
• Activity level – Couch potato vs. cardio king.
• Health status – Some medical conditions affect metabolism.
• Desexed status – Fixed dogs often have lower energy requirements.

Calorie-Dense ≠ Nutrient-Dense

A high-calorie food isn’t automatically “better.” It’s easy to pack calories in with fillers,
sugars, or fat without offering much nutritional value. That’s like eating chips for
dinner—tasty, sure, but not what your body needs to thrive.

What your dog really needs is:

• High-quality protein
• Healthy fats
• Essential vitamins and minerals
• The right number of calories to support their lifestyle

How to Tell if Your Dog is Getting the Right Amount of calories:

• Body condition – Ribs shouldn’t be sticking out or buried in fluff.
• Energy levels – Zoomies should be spirited, not sluggish.
• Poop quality – Yes, the poop scoop is a calorie clue too.
• Too much = overfeeding.

Final Word: Knowledge Is Power (and Healthier Dogs):

Understanding calorie content is a game changer. Whether you feed raw, kibble,
freeze-dried or a mix, knowing how many calories your dog needs—and how many
they’re getting—is key to keeping them happy, healthy, and ready to party at the dog
park.

Need help figuring out what your dog’s ideal calorie intake is? Chat to your vet or pet
nutritionist. Don’t know one? Send us a DM and we will send you a few of our faves.