1. What is RER and MER?

RER (Resting Energy Requirement) is the number of calories your pet needs at complete rest. MER (Maintenance Energy Requirement) is the actual daily calorie need accounting for activity level and life stage.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses standard veterinary formulas:

Where:

• \( weight_{kg} \) — Pet's weight in kilograms
• \( factor \) — Multiplier based on life stage and activity level

Explanation: The RER formula accounts for metabolic scaling with body size. MER factors adjust for different energy needs.

3. Importance of Calorie Calculation

Details: Accurate calorie estimation helps prevent obesity (most common nutritional disorder in pets) or underfeeding. It's essential for weight management programs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Weigh your pet regularly. For weight loss, aim for 80% of MER. For growing pets, recalculate monthly as weight changes.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculator?
A: It provides estimates based on average needs. Individual pets may vary by ±20% due to metabolism differences.

Q2: What if my pet is very active?
A: Working dogs or highly active cats may need up to 2× the calculated MER. Adjust based on body condition.

Q3: How often should I recalculate?
A: Monthly for growing pets, every 3-6 months for adults, or whenever weight changes by 10%.

Q4: What about senior pets?
A: Use adult factors but monitor weight closely as metabolism slows with age (may need 10-20% fewer calories).

Q5: How do I convert pounds to kilograms?
A: Divide pounds by 2.205 to get kilograms (e.g., 10 lbs = 4.54 kg).