Title: (Optional) Calculate a dog’s total daily energy requirement to maintain a healthy weight.
Course: Veterinary Science I (18105-I) > Section: Understanding Animal Nutrition

Calculation should include using the following formulas:

Resting energy requirement (RER) is a function of metabolic body size. Energy expenditure is related to surface area, and body surface area decreases as body weight increases. The equation for RER is the same for both cats and dogs. It is used to estimate the daily energy needed to sustain essential bodily functions (e.g. respiration, circulation, digestion, metabolism) while the dog/cat is at rest in a thermos-neutral environment.

RER (kcal/day) = 70 * (BWkg)^0.75

For any animal not completely at rest, supplementary energy is needed to sustain additional work (e.g. activity, life-stage or physiologic condition, dealing with environmental conditions). These total daily energy requirements can then be ESTIMATED by multiplying the RER by an appropriate factor to estimate maintenance energy requirement (MER).

MER (kcal/day) = X * RER

Critical care X=1

Lactation X=2.6

Gestation X=1.6-2.0

Growth (puppies/kittens) X-2-3

Process/Skill Questions:

- What factors must be considered in determining the nutritional requirements for basic metabolic function?
- Why is calculating the maintenance energy requirement (MER) for an animal important?
- How might overfeeding lead to a problem for the animal?
- How do the nutritional requirements of an animal vary in relation to its age and life functions of growth, development, and reproduction?
- What is the difference between the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) and the Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)?

Teacher Resources:

“Calculating Calories: A Guide to Energy Expenditure”; VetFolio, North American Veterinary Community (https://www.vetfolio.com/learn/article/calculating-calories-a-guide-to-energy-expenditure)

"Calculate the perfect portion for pets" (https://www.dvm360.com/view/calculate-perfect-portions-pets)