Figuring out suitable meal sizes for your dog, often involves a little math. Read on to discover the4 mostcommon dog food calculatorconversions used when portioning dog food.
Tip!
Automated dog food calculators and dog calorie calculators are provided with WAGSTAweight plans.
1. Dog CalorieCounter andKilo-joule/Calorie converter
The calorie content of dog food is often referred toas Metabolizable Energy orMEcontent.
For commercial foods, thisstatement of calorie content is typicallylocated on the back or sides of packaging and is expressed as
ME (kcal/kg) = X
;where X will be a number, such as 3200. Representing 3200 kilocalories per kilogram of dog food.
The calorie content of a food (kcal/kg) is the key piece of information from which we are able to calculate suitable meal portions for our dogs.
In countries such as Australia, the energy content of pet food many be listed in Kilo-joules (kJ).
Both Kilo-joules and calories are measures used to state the:
⦁ energy contents of foods
⦁ the energy requirements of dogs
Their use is interchanged around the world e.g. America uses calories, Australia uses kilo joules and Europe uses a combination of the two!
So what’s the difference between a calorie and a kilo-joule?
TIP!
The energy content of pet food is typically provided in kilocalories (KCAL). Kilocalories are the equivalent of the calorie listings of human foods. (i.e one human food calorie equals one pet food kilocalorie).
In mathematical terms:
1 calorie is equal to 4.184 Kilo-joules.
and
1 kJ is equal to of 0.239 Calories
To convert from kilo-joules to calories, divide by 4.184
E.g. 986 kJto Calories:
986 divided by 4.184 = 236 calories (or 236 KCAL)
Learn more about dog calorie needsand low calorie dog food here.
2. Dog Food Calculator: Quantity Converter
The energy content of dog food is listed as number calories (kcal)per given quantity of food.
For example: Calories are listed as:
- kcal per cup or
- kcal per 100 grams
- kcal per kilogram or
- kcal per pound of pet food.
- Kilo joules are listed as:
- kilo joules per cup
- kilo joules per 100 grams
- kilo joules per kilogram
- kilo joules per pound of pet food
Please note-The terms kilocalories (kcal) in pet foods and calories in human foods are interchangeable!For example, a large apple is 120 human calories which if fed to a dog is counted as 120 kilocalories.
To convert to your desired quantity measurement use the following conversions:
To convert kcal/ kg to kcal/ lb divide by 2.2
E.g. 3250 Kcal/ kg = 1477 kcal per lb
To convert kcal/ kg to kcal/ oz. divide by 35
E.g. 3250 Kcal/ kg = 93 kcal per oz.
(To convert kcal/ oz. to kcal/ kg multiply by 35)
To convert kcal/ kg to kcal/ 100g divide by 10.
E.g. 3250 kcal/ kg = 325 kcal per 100 grams
(To convert kcal per 100 grams to kcal/kg multiply by 10)
NB. 1 ounce = 28.35 grams, 1 kg = 1000 grams
3. Dog Food Calculator: Protein Converter
Protein content is often listed as a percentage on packet labels. (Found in the nutritional analysis/typical composition panel).
Yet the protein figure used to identify the correct protein level for your dog is grams protein /1000 kilocalories.
If your dog’s food only provides a protein %, use this conversion equation:
Grams of protein per 1000 kcal =
(% protein divided by kcal/kg ME) X by 10,000
Example: dog food containing 21% protein and 3250 kcal/kg
(21/3250) X 10000 = 64.6 g protein per 1000 kcal
NB. kcal/ kg ME is the energy or calorie measurement of dog food.
This is usually listed as kilocalories or KCAL per kilogram.
However if the kcal figure is listed per lb, per oz or per 100 grams please convert to kcal/kg using Dog Food Calculator number 2.
Protein Calculator Tool
4. Dog CalorieCalculator : Kcal/cup quantity converter
Cup measurements listed on pet food refer to an 8 oz. standard measuring cup.
It is important to realize that the volume of a cup does not equal the weight of dog food in a cup. So if calorie content is on a per cup basis, to convert to kcal/kilogram or kcal/lb, the weight of the food per cup must be provided.
Example 1: Dog Food contains 310 kcal ME/cup. And the label states that one cup measure of food weighs 110 grams.
To convert kcal/ cup to kcal/ kg (when weight of food is in grams):
(1000 divided by weight of food per cup) X number of calories per cup 1000/110 x 310 = 2818 kcal ME/ kilogram.
Example 2: Dog Food contains 320 kcal/ cup. And the label states that one cup measure of food weighs 4 oz.To convert kcal/ cup to kcal/ kg (when weight is in ounces):
1000 divided by (weight in ounces x 28.35) X number of calories per cup1000/113.4 x 325 = 2866 kcal ME/kg
** NB. 1 ounce = 28.35 grams 1 kg = 1000 grams
Automated dog food calculators and dog calorie calculatorsare available to WAGSTA Weight planmembers.Learn how WAGSTAWellnesscan help your dog regain health and vitality and enjoy improved longevity.
