1. What is Resting Energy Requirement (RER)?

Resting Energy Requirement (RER) represents the calories needed by a dog at rest in a thermoneutral environment. It's the basic caloric requirement before accounting for activity level, life stage, or health status.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the RER equation:

Where:

• \( weight_{kg} \) — Dog's weight in kilograms
• 70 — Metabolic constant for dogs
• 0.75 — Exponent accounting for metabolic scaling

Explanation: The equation accounts for the non-linear relationship between body size and metabolic rate in dogs.

3. Importance of RER Calculation

Details: RER is the foundation for determining a dog's daily caloric needs. It's used as the basis for calculating maintenance energy requirements (MER) by applying appropriate multipliers for life stage and activity level.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the dog's weight in kilograms. For accurate results, weigh your dog rather than estimating. The weight must be greater than 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How do I convert my dog's weight from pounds to kilograms?
A: Divide the weight in pounds by 2.205 to get kilograms. For example, 20 lbs ÷ 2.205 = 9.07 kg.

Q2: Is this the total calories my dog needs?
A: No, this is just the resting requirement. Actual daily needs are typically 1.2-1.8 × RER depending on activity level and life stage.

Q3: Does this work for puppies?
A: Puppies have higher energy needs. Their RER should be multiplied by growth factors (typically 2-3× for young puppies).

Q4: What about overweight dogs?
A: For weight loss programs, calculate RER based on ideal weight, not current weight, then multiply by 0.8-1.0.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides a good estimate for healthy adult dogs. Individual variations may require adjustment based on body condition and veterinary advice.