1. What is the Homemade Dog Food Calculator?

This calculator helps determine the appropriate amount of homemade dog food to feed based on your dog's caloric needs and the energy density of the food you prepare. It converts caloric requirements into grams of food to feed daily.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses this simple formula:

Where:

• MER — Maintenance Energy Requirement (your dog's daily caloric needs)
• Homemade kcal/gram — Energy density of your homemade dog food

Explanation: The formula converts your dog's daily caloric needs into grams of food based on how many calories are in each gram of your homemade recipe.

3. Importance of Proper Dog Food Measurement

Details: Properly measuring homemade dog food is crucial for maintaining your dog's ideal weight and health. Overfeeding can lead to obesity while underfeeding can cause malnutrition.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Determine your dog's MER (consult your vet or use a dog calorie calculator)
• Calculate the kcal/gram of your homemade recipe (total recipe calories divided by total grams)
• Enter both values to get the daily food amount in grams

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I determine my dog's MER?
A: MER depends on weight, age, activity level and neuter status. Your veterinarian can help calculate this, or use a reputable online calculator.

Q2: How do I calculate my recipe's kcal/gram?
A: Sum the calories of all ingredients, then divide by the total weight in grams. Many nutrition apps can help with this calculation.

Q3: Should I feed this amount all at once?
A: Most dogs do better with 2-3 smaller meals per day rather than one large meal.

Q4: How often should I recalculate?
A: Recalculate whenever your dog's weight changes significantly or when you change your recipe.

Q5: Is homemade dog food nutritionally complete?
A: Only if properly formulated. Consult a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your recipe meets all nutritional requirements.