In-depth guide · Food & weight
How many calories does my dog need? RER, MER and honest ranges
Why dog calorie calculators disagree: the resting-energy formula, AAHA and Merck factors, the WSAVA chart and a ±30% range, worked through for a 22-lb dog.
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Food & weight
Calories from the exact formula, cups and grams from the label, body condition in plain words and weight loss planned on the ideal weight — with your vet, never instead of them.
Food & weight guides
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Guide · Food & weight
Dog body condition score 1–9: how to check your dog
The 9-point body condition score in plain words: feeling ribs, waist and tuck, why owners score too low, and how a score becomes an ideal-weight estimate.
Guide · Food & weight
Dog food labels: finding kcal per cup and why it matters
Where the Calorie Content statement is on a dog food label, why a cup of one food isn’t a cup of another, why grams beat cups, and estimating calories.
Guide · Food & weight
Feeding a large-breed puppy: growth rate, calcium and when to switch
How to grow a big puppy slowly: 3.0 then 2.0 × RER, a lean body condition, no extra calcium, and when AAHA and Merck say to switch to adult food.
Guide · Food & weight
Helping an overweight cat lose weight safely
Why cats must lose weight slowly (hepatic lipidosis), how a target weight and calories are set, and how long 0.5–2% a week takes for a 14-lb cat.
Guide · Food & weight
How much to feed a cat: wet, dry and mixed feeding
Cat calorie needs from the cat factors (not dog ones), the ±50% spread between cats, and how to split a day between cans and kibble from the label.
Guide · Food & weight
How much to feed a puppy, by age and weight
Puppy calories from the guidelines: 3.0 × resting energy before 4 months, 2.0 after, turned into cups and grams for four example puppies, with ranges.
Guide · Food & weight
Weight loss for dogs: how fast and how many calories
How vets plan a dog’s weight loss: calories on the ideal weight, 1–2% of body weight a week, a 60% floor, treats in the budget and 10% adjustments.