1. What is the MER Equation?

The Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) equation estimates the daily calorie needs for dogs based on their weight and activity level. It helps ensure proper nutrition without overfeeding or underfeeding.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the MER equation:

Where:

• \( weight_{kg} \) — Dog's weight in kilograms
• \( factor \) — Activity level multiplier (see below)

Activity Factors:

• 1.8 — Puppy (0-4 months)
• 1.6 — Puppy (4-12 months)
• 1.4 — Active adult dog
• 1.2 — Neutered adult dog
• 1.0 — Sedentary/older dog
• 2.0 — Working/athletic dog
• 3.0 — Pregnant/lactating dog

3. Importance of Calorie Calculation

Details: Proper calorie intake is essential for maintaining healthy weight, supporting growth in puppies, and meeting energy needs for active or working dogs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Weigh your dog accurately and select the appropriate activity factor. For weight loss, reduce calories by 10-20% of MER. For weight gain, increase by 10-20%.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate but individual needs may vary by ±20%. Monitor your dog's weight and adjust as needed.

Q2: What if my dog is overweight?
A: Use ideal weight rather than current weight for calculation, and use the sedentary factor (1.0).

Q3: How often should I recalculate?
A: Recalculate whenever your dog's weight changes by 10% or more, or if their activity level changes significantly.

Q4: Does this work for all dog breeds?
A: The equation works for most breeds, but giant breeds may need slightly fewer calories and toy breeds slightly more.

Q5: What about very active working dogs?
A: For sled dogs, police dogs, or other highly active dogs, the factor may need to be increased to 2.5-5.0 depending on workload.