👋 Meet the specialist
Real expertise. Plain English.
DIY Farmer is led by a small-animal nutrition specialist who's spent the last three years doing one thing — making complex pet nutrition simple enough for any pet parent to act on.
DIY Farmer turns confusing pet-food charts into one clear number — based on your pet's real weight, body condition, life stage and activity. The same formulas your veterinarian uses, in a tool that takes 60 seconds.
Each calculator is tuned to species-specific metabolism — the daily calorie need, ideal weight target, and feeding-amount math, done in under a minute.
Every calculation comes with the context you need to feed confidently — not just a kcal figure to scribble down.
If your pet is over or under condition, we show the healthy weight to aim for — plus a safe weekly pace to get there.
Puppies need 2–3× the calories of adults. Seniors need less. Our multipliers shift automatically based on your pet's age.
Enter the kcal/cup of your current food and we'll tell you exactly how many cups, grams or cans to serve daily.
Take a clean one-page summary to your next vet visit — or stick it on the fridge as a feeding cheat sheet.
10% treat allotment is built in by default so your pet still gets the good stuff without busting calorie goals.
Each result links to a relevant explainer so you understand exactly why the number is what it is.
DIY Farmer is led by a small-animal nutrition specialist who's spent the last three years doing one thing — making complex pet nutrition simple enough for any pet parent to act on.
For when the calculator isn't enough — comprehensive references covering the full nutrition or breed-specific picture.
The full nutrition picture for dogs and cats — protein, fats, carbs, vitamins, life-stage needs, label reading, and more. Read time: 25 minutes.
Read the guide →20+ popular dog and cat breeds, each with weight ranges, common health issues, and breed-tuned feeding advice. Browse all in one place.
Browse breeds →Practical, vet-reviewed reads for real households — not vet textbooks.
If your dog needs to drop weight, the food in the bowl matters more than anything else you can do. Daily exercise helps. Treat discipline helps. But the single ...
When a dog has chronic skin issues, recurring ear infections, or persistent digestive upset that won't quite resolve, food allergies are often the culprit — and...
Corgis are charming. They are also one of the most weight-prone breeds in the dog world. Their long backs, short legs, and historical role as low-effort herders...
DIY Farmer uses the standard veterinary formula RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75, multiplied by life-stage and body-condition factors drawn from NRC 2006 and WSAVA guidelines. Results sit within ±10–15% of true need for most pets — a strong starting point. Re-check body condition every 2–4 weeks and tweak portions if you see weight drift.
Always enter current weight. The calculator uses body condition score (BCS) to estimate the ideal weight and adjusts calories automatically — for maintenance, weight loss, or growth.
DIY Farmer is led by Dr. Marcus Whitfield, a small-animal nutrition specialist with three years of dedicated focus in companion-animal nutrition. Every article and calculator formula is cross-referenced against AAFCO, WSAVA, and NRC guidelines.
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. We don't collect, store or sell personal information from calculator users. See our privacy policy for details.
No — and never intended to be. DIY Farmer is an educational resource. For diagnosed conditions, prescription diets, surgical recovery, or any significant health concern, work with your veterinarian. We're the daily nutrition guide; your vet is the medical decision-maker.