How much to feed
How many calories should I cut to help my dog lose weight?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A common, safe starting point is to reduce your dog's current daily calorie intake by around 10 to 20 percent, then reassess after two to three weeks based on how the weight actually responds. Cutting too aggressively can leave a dog hungry, irritable, or lacking energy, so a gradual reduction tends to produce steadier, more sustainable results than a large sudden cut.
Working out the starting reduction
First, estimate what your dog is currently eating in calories, using the food's label and the amount actually served, since this is sometimes different from what an owner assumes is being fed.
From that current total, cut 10 to 20 percent to set the new target, favoring the lower end of that range for a dog only slightly overweight and the higher end for a dog more significantly overweight, always with your vet's input for a meaningful amount to lose.
Why gradual works better than aggressive
A very large sudden calorie cut can leave a dog constantly hungry, which often leads to counterproductive behaviors like begging, scavenging, or raiding bins, undermining the plan.
Gradual, steady loss, generally around 1 to 2 percent of body weight per week, is considered a safer and more sustainable pace than rapid weight loss for dogs.
Adjusting the plan over time
Weigh your dog every two weeks and compare against the previous weigh in. If loss is too slow after a month, cut a further 5 to 10 percent. If loss is faster than expected, ease off slightly.
Keep your vet involved for a dog with a significant amount to lose, since they can help set a realistic target weight and check that the pace of loss is appropriate for your dog specifically, particularly if any other health conditions are involved that might affect the plan.
Key takeaways
- A 10 to 20 percent reduction from current intake is a reasonable starting point for weight loss.
- Base the current intake calculation on what is actually being served, not just an assumption.
- Gradual weight loss, around 1 to 2 percent of body weight a week, tends to be more sustainable than a rapid cut.
- Involve your vet for dogs with a significant amount of weight to lose.