How Much to Feed a Chow Chow
Dignified and sedentary, Chow Chows need less food than their lion-like coat suggests. Using the veterinary RER/MER formula, an adult Chow Chow of about 60 lbs needs roughly 1335 kcal per day — around 351 g (3.5 cups) of typical dry food. The calculator below is pre-set for the Chow Chow: adjust the weight, life stage and food type to match your dog.
Chow Chow portion calculator
Veterinary RER/MER formula — daily calories, grams and cups.
RER 834 kcal × 1.6 (adult, neutered/spayed) = 1335 kcal, at 380 kcal/100g. Estimates for healthy pets — always confirm with your veterinarian.
Medium dogs like the Chow Chow are where feeding guides on the bag are least reliable, because the healthy weight range is wide and activity levels vary enormously. Our 1335 kcal estimate assumes the profile selected above; if your Chow Chow runs, hikes or works most days, recalculate with the “Active / working” setting before changing food brands.
A Chow Chow in good condition weighs about 60 lbs (27.2 kg). The RER formula (70 × kg^0.75) gives 834 kcal at rest, and the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.6 brings the daily target to 1335 kcal — approximately 3.5 cups of standard 380 kcal/100g kibble split into 2 meals of about 176 g each.
These numbers are a starting point, not a prescription. The calculator supports every life stage (puppy, puppy, adult, neutered/spayed, adult, intact, active / working, senior, weight loss plan) — a puppy can need two to three times the adult allowance, while a senior or a dog on a weight-loss plan needs noticeably less. Recheck the numbers after any change in weight, activity, food brand or neutering status, and always transition between foods gradually over 7–10 days. For medical conditions, pregnancy or lactation, follow your veterinarian's feeding plan instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much food should a Chow Chow eat per day?
A typical adult Chow Chow weighing 60 lbs needs about 1335 kcal per day (adult, neutered/spayed), which is roughly 351 grams — about 3.5 cups — of standard dry food, split into 2 meals.
How is the Chow Chow's daily portion calculated?
We use the standard veterinary formula: Resting Energy Requirement (RER) = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiply by a life-stage factor. For a 27.2 kg Chow Chow, RER is 834 kcal, and the adult, neutered/spayed factor of 1.6 gives 1335 kcal per day.
How many times a day should I feed my Chow Chow?
2 meals per day is the standard recommendation for a adult, neutered/spayed dog — about 667 kcal (176 g of dry food) per meal. Puppies and kittens need 3–4 smaller meals instead.
My Chow Chow seems hungry after meals — should I feed more?
Begging is not a reliable hunger signal, especially in food-motivated breeds. Judge by body condition instead: you should feel ribs easily under a thin fat layer. If your Chow Chow is truly losing weight at 1335 kcal per day, increase portions by ~10% and re-weigh in two weeks.