How much should I be feeding my pet?

The right nutrition is key to any pet’s health. With a huge variety of brands and diets out there, how do we know how much to feed them according to their individual needs? In this article, we’ll guide you through some simple calculations to determine the right amount of calories for your pet.  

RER (Resting Energy Requirements) 

First, we need to calculate their Resting Energy Requirements. This is the amount of calories required for your pet’s body to maintain basic functions at rest.

The same equation can be used for any animal using their body weight (kg): 

RER = (30 x Body Weight) + 70 

Example: 

Fluffy’s weight: 4kg 

Thus, Fluffy’s RER = (30 x 4kg) + 70 = 190 kcal

DER (Daily Energy Requirements):

Unfortunately we’re not done yet! Every pet is unique and has different energy requirements. We need to multiply your pet’s RER according to their needs at different stages of life, with the table below: 


For example, if Fluffy is a sterilised adult cat, her DER would be: 1.2 x 190 = 228 kcal 

Therefore, Fluffy would need a total of 228 calories per day. 

What about treats? 

All pets love treats, and we love giving them. However, how much is too much? Excessive treats are a contributing factor to pet obesity rates. However, treats should be less than 10% of your pet’s total diet. 

Is my pet too skinny or too fat? 

  1. Rib Check - Feel the sides of your pet’s body. At a healthy weight, your pet will have a thin layer of fat over its ribs and spine that you can feel but not see. An overweight pet would have a thick layer of fat.

  2. Waist Check - Stand over your pet and look at it from above. At a healthy weight, your pet will have a visible waist behind its ribs, tapering slightly towards the hips with a slight indentation near the midsection. If this is not visible / or if your pet has a bulging waist, it may be overweight. 

  3. Tummy Check - Look at your pet from the side. At a healthy weight, your pet will have a slight tuck or upward slope in the tummy area. If the abdomen hangs low or is bulging, it may be due to the presence of abdominal fat.

  4. Weigh your pet regularly to track and monitor its weight. 


You may refer to this video https://youtu.be/U0RUHuXzGVQ?si=uMq8h9MbIeHAllp- for a visual demonstration on how to determine your pet’s BCS

Dangers of Obesity 

Why is your pet’s weight and BCS important? Obesity puts your pet at increased risk for various health problems such as: 

  • Heart Disease and Hypertension 

  • Joint Disease 

  • Diabetes Mellitus 

  • Cancer 

  • Urinary Issues 

  • Heat Exhaustion 

  • Cushing’s Disease 

  • Difficulty Breathing 

  • Skin Issues 

  • Shortened Lifespan


What to do if I suspect my pet is overweight/underweight:

Simply reducing food portions without a veterinarian’s advice is not advisable. Schedule a check up with your veterinarian for a proper assessment to determine if your pet is truly overweight or if there are underlying illnesses causing its obesity. They would then be able to create a weight loss plan and diet for your pet. 

SOURCES

Done by: Dr Jody