Generic feeding charts could be overfeeding your pet by 20%. Here is the precise math to fix it.
Bag guidelines are designed for the most active pets. If yours is a couch potato, you are likely building a caloric surplus every single day without realizing it.
Resting Energy Requirement (RER) is the exact number of calories your pet burns just by existing—for breathing, heart function, and digestion.
Precision starts with metric. Convert pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2. A 22lb dog is exactly 10kg. This is your foundation.
The math: 70 * (weight in kg) raised to the power of 0.75. For that 10kg dog, the base RER is roughly 393 calories. No more guessing.
Now, multiply RER by your pet's lifestyle. A typical neutered dog needs 1.6x their RER. A sedentary pet might only need a 1.2x multiplier.
Standard cups can be off by 20% depending on kibble size. A digital gram scale is the only way to ensure 100g of food stays exactly 100g of energy.
Treats, dental chews, and scraps count. They should never exceed 10% of total daily calories, or you risk diluting their essential daily nutrition.
Your hands are better than your eyes. You should feel your pet's ribs easily. If there's a thick layer of fat, your multiplier is too high.
Every metabolism is unique. If they aren't losing weight on the 'right' math, medical issues like hypothyroidism could be the hidden culprit.
Puppies are metabolic engines; seniors are slow burners. Recalculate your math every few months to keep up with their aging body.
Precise feeding isn't about restriction; it's about optimization. Moving from generic cups to scientific RER can add active years to your pet's life.
See the exact multipliers for your pet's breed and life stage in our full guide.