Dog weight loss calculator: target weight, grams per day and how many weeks to the goal
A dog with a body condition score of 7 out of 9 needs to lose about 17 % of its weight: the target weight is the current weight divided by 1.2 (Flanagan et al., PLoS One, 2017, 926 dogs). For a 30 kg Labrador that means a target of 25 kg and 195–235 g of DELICATE a day, and reaching the goal takes 17–28 weeks: in a clinic, dogs lost on average 0.6 % of their weight per week (German et al., 2015, 143 dogs).
Calculation: Serhii Tverdyi, DELICATE production technologist · updated 2026-11-08
How does the calculator work?
- Target weight is the dog's weight in ideal condition, a score of 4–5 on the WSAVA scale. Each point above 5 adds about 10 % of body weight (German et al., 2009, 28 dogs), so the current weight is divided by 1.1 at a score of 6 and by 1.2 at a score of 7; the Flanagan 2017 study calculated the target the same way.
- Daily portion is the resting energy requirement RER = 70 × (target weight in kg)0.75 per NRC 2006, multiplied by 1.0–1.2 as recommended by AAHA 2014. The portion is never set below the RER of the target weight: along with the calories, vitamins and trace elements disappear from the bowl. The calculator suggests starting in the middle of the range, at a factor of 1.1, to leave room for cutting back.
- Grams are the kcal divided by the energy content of DELICATE food: 397 kcal per 100 g (calculated per NRC 2006).
- Time is the difference between the current and target weight divided by the rate of loss: 1 % of starting weight per week (the threshold below which the Flanagan 2017 program cut calories by 10 %) and 0.6 % per week (the median of 143 dogs, German 2015).
If the weight has not moved in two weeks, the portion is cut by about 10 %, but not below the RER of the target weight, as in the 926-dog program. At a score of 8–9 the calculator shows only the target: in that case the weight-loss plan should come from a vet.
How much to feed and how long to wait: table for scores 6 and 7
| Current weight | Score | Target weight, kg | Kcal per day | Grams per day | Weeks to target | UAH per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | 6 | 9.1 | 366–440 | 90–110 | 9–15 | 10.7 |
| 20 kg | 6 | 18.2 | 616–740 | 155–185 | 9–15 | 18.6 |
| 30 kg | 6 | 27.3 | 835–1002 | 210–255 | 9–15 | 25.3 |
| 40 kg | 6 | 36.4 | 1037–1244 | 260–315 | 9–15 | 31.3 |
| 10 kg | 7 | 8.3 | 343–412 | 85–105 | 17–28 | 10.2 |
| 20 kg | 7 | 16.7 | 577–693 | 145–175 | 17–28 | 17.5 |
| 30 kg | 7 | 25.0 | 783–939 | 195–235 | 17–28 | 23.3 |
| 40 kg | 7 | 33.3 | 971–1165 | 245–295 | 17–28 | 29.7 |
The daily cost uses the lower end of the portion and a 10 kg bag for UAH 1,188 including delivery. The time is the same for any weight with the same score, because the dog has to lose the same share of its weight: 9 % at a score of 6 and 17 % at 7.
How do you tell your dog's score?
Body condition is an assessment of a dog's fat reserves by hand and by eye, without scales, on the 9-point WSAVA scale (Laflamme, 1997). Place your palms on the rib cage and look at the dog from above and from the side.
- 4–5, ideal: ribs easily felt under a thin layer of fat, waist visible from above, belly tucked up from the side.
- 6: ribs felt under a slight excess of fat, waist visible from above but not prominent.
- 7: ribs felt with difficulty, fat deposits over the lower back and at the base of the tail, waist barely visible.
- 8: ribs under a thick layer of fat, felt only with firm pressure; no waist, the belly may be rounded.
- 9: massive fat deposits over the chest, spine and base of the tail, fat on the neck and legs, belly visibly enlarged.
Questions and answers
How long does it take a dog to reach its ideal weight?
At a score of 7 out of 9 the dog needs to lose about 17 % of its weight, and at a realistic rate of 0.6–1 % of starting weight per week that takes 17–28 weeks. At the University of Liverpool clinic, weight loss lasted a median of 200 days, and 61 % of dogs reached their target (German et al., 2015).
Why is the portion based on the target weight rather than the current weight?
That is what the AAHA 2014 guidelines recommend: the weight-loss portion is the RER of the target weight multiplied by 1.0–1.2. A portion calculated for the current weight is designed to maintain that weight.
What if my dog has not lost weight in two weeks?
Check that you weigh on the same scales, before a meal and at the same time of day. If the weight really has not moved, cut the portion by about 10 %, but not below the RER of the target weight, and recount the treats: in the 926-dog program calories were cut by 10 % when the rate fell below 1 % per week (Flanagan et al., 2017).
Can a dog lose weight with longer walks alone?
Hardly. In a randomized study of 13 dogs, calorie restriction gave a median loss of −10 % of body weight, while a one-third increase in activity alone gave −2 % (Chapman et al., 2019).
What should I do once my dog reaches its target weight?
Do not go straight back to the old portion. Of 33 dogs that lost weight successfully, 48 % regained more than 5 % of their weight over a median of 640 days (German et al., 2012). Increase the portion gradually and weigh the dog every two weeks; the amount for the new weight is shown by the food calculator.
More on causes, risks and the plan in our article on obesity in dogs. How many calories treats contain and how to fit them into the portion is in our article on treats.
Sources
- Flanagan J, Bissot T, Hours MA, Moreno B, Feugier A, German AJ. Success of a weight loss plan for overweight dogs: the results of an international weight loss study. PLoS One, 2017;12:e0184199. — 926 dogs, 27 countries, 3 months: target = weight ÷ 1.2 / 1.3 / 1.4 for scores 7 / 8 / 9; calories were cut by 10 % when the rate was below 1 % per week. Funded by Royal Canin. Europe PMC
- German AJ, Titcomb JM, Holden SL et al. Cohort study of the success of controlled weight loss programs for obese dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2015;29:1547–1555. — 143 dogs: median rate 0.6 % of starting weight per week, median duration 200 days, 61 % reached the target. WALTHAM (Mars) grant. Europe PMC
- German AJ et al. Research in Veterinary Science, 2009;87:249–254. — 28 dogs: each body condition point above 5 corresponds to a median of 10 % (5–15 %) of starting weight. PubMed
- German AJ, Holden SL, Morris PJ, Biourge V. Veterinary Journal, 2012;192:65–70. — 33 dogs after weight loss, median follow-up 640 days: 48 % regained more than 5 % of their weight. PubMed
- Chapman M, Woods GRT, Ladha C, Westgarth C, German AJ. Veterinary Journal, 2019;243:65–73. — 13 dogs, randomized: calorie restriction −10 % of body weight, activity +⅓ −2 %. PubMed
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee. Body Condition Score chart for dogs (after Laflamme DP, 1997). — description of scores 1–9. WSAVA
- Brooks D, Churchill J, Fein K et al. 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2014;50:1. — weight-loss portion 1.0–1.2 × RER of the target weight, not below the target RER. No link: the source is not on our list of non-commercial primary sources we link to.
- National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, 2006. — RER = 70 × kg0.75.
- DELICATE's own data: 397 kcal per 100 g — metabolisable energy calculated by DELICATE from the label composition (modified Atwater, NRC 2006); price of 10 kg UAH 1,188 including delivery (website). The table and the Labrador example were calculated by script on 2026-11-08 using the formulas above.