Skip to main content
menu sluit menu
Home Home
Login
Main navigation
  • Library
  • Calendar
  • e-Learning
  • News
    • Veterinary News In this section you find veterinary news
    • Recent Additions All content that was recently added to the IVIS library
  • Get involved
    • Donate Support IVIS, make a donation today
    • Media kit Promote your e-learning & events on IVIS
    • Add your e-learning & events to the IVIS calendar
    • Publish on IVIS Publish your work with us
  • About
    • Mission Our Mission Statement
    • What we do More info about IVIS and what we do
    • Who we are More info about the IVIS team
    • Authors See list of all IVIS authors and editors
  • Contact
User tools menu
User tools menu
Main navigation
  • Library
  • Calendar
  • e-Learning
  • News
    • Veterinary News In this section you find veterinary news
    • Recent Additions All content that was recently added to the IVIS library
  • Get involved
    • Donate Support IVIS, make a donation today
    • Media kit Promote your e-learning & events on IVIS
    • Add your e-learning & events to the IVIS calendar
    • Publish on IVIS Publish your work with us
  • About
    • Mission Our Mission Statement
    • What we do More info about IVIS and what we do
    • Who we are More info about the IVIS team
    • Authors See list of all IVIS authors and editors
  • Contact
Follow IVIS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Support IVIS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Library
  3. Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition
  4. Royal Canin Nutritional Information
Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition
Back to Table of Contents
Add to My Library
Close
Would you like to add this to your library?

Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

  • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
  • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
  • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
  • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
  • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
Sign in Register
Comments
Print this article
Share:
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter

Royal Canin Nutritional Information

Author(s):
Diez M. and
Nguyen P.
In: Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition by Pibot P. et al.
Updated:
NOV 15, 2007
Languages:
  • DE
  • EN
  • ES
  • FR
  • IT
Back to Table of Contents
Add to My Library
Close
Would you like to add this to your library?

Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

  • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
  • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
  • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
  • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
  • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
Sign in Register
Print this article
SHARE:
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter
    Read

    Royal Canin Nutritional Information

    Labrador
    The Labrador has a greater fat mass than other dogs of similar weight.
    The Labrador is one of the breeds at risk of developing obesity. (© Hermeline).

    Key Points to Remember:

    When Estimating the Energy Need of a Dog in Good Physical Condition

    There are many equations that attempt to describe the determina-tion of energy need as a function of weight. In the canine species, the body weight range is so wide that the maintenance energy require-ment (MER) cannot be directly expressed as a function of body weight (BW): a 50-kg dog clearly consumes less than two 25-kg dogs. The MER must be calculated on the basis of metabolic weight, using an allometric equation of the type:
    Maintenance energy requirement (MER) = a x Body Weight (kg) b
    (kcal of metabolizable energy / day).

    The problem is inherent in the evaluation of coefficients a and b, and the results differ slightly depending on the experimental conditions and the size of the groups: a few examples are shown in the table below.

    Examples of Equations Proposed for the Calculation of MER in Dogs

    MER in kcal BW in kg

    BW = 30 kg (kcal/24 h)

    BW = 50 kg (kcal/24 h)

    BW = 70 kg (kcal/24 h)

    (Blaza)

    MER = 121.9 x BW 0.83

    2050

    3175

    4145

    (Thonney)

    MER = 100 x BW 0.88

    1980

    3100

    4170

    (NRC 1974)

    MER = 132 x BW 0.73*

    1670

    2480

    3195

    (Heusner)

    MER = (132 to 159) BW 0.67

    1550

    2190

    2760

    (Burger)

    MER = 162 x BW 0.64

    1430

    1980

    2460

    *The coefficient of 0.73 is often rounded up to 0.75 (= 3/4) to facilitate the calculation of the metabolic weight.

    Development of the maintenance energy requirement depending on weight according to different authors
    Figure 12
    . Development of the maintenance energy requirement depending on weight according to different authors.

    The differences in the results are often clearer as the weight increases. In the literature, the most frequently used equation is given by the NRC 1974. It represents a good compromise between the various equations proposed. No single mathematical model is truly satisfactory. Indeed, even at a constant weight, the energy requirement varies considerably according to age, breed, sexual status, climate conditions, level of activity and lean body mass. For an equal weight, the maintenance requirement of two dogs can vary depending on their body composition.

    Examples of Theoretic MER Variations in Dogs in Good Physical Condition

    MER adjustment coefficient

    0.9

    1.1

    1.4

    Age

    Mature dogs (from 5 - 8 years according to size)

     

     

    Breed

    Labrador, Newfoundland, etc

    Boxer, German Shepherd, etc

    Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, etc

    Sexual status

    Neutering

    Climate conditions

    The homeothermic zone is 10 - 20 °C in dogs

    MER increased 20 - 40% at 0 - 10 °C

    Level of activity

    Every hour of activity increases the maintenance energy requirement by approximately 10%

    Whatever the basis used for the calculation, it is only a starting point: the precise adaptation of intake to actual energy expenditure can only be realized based on observation of fluctuations in body weight and body condition score. The MER actually varies considerably from one individual to another. While it is sometimes difficult to weigh a large-breed dog when it has reached its adult weight, there are parameters that allow its physical condition to be estimated. Ideally, the ribs and the vertebral column are not visible, but easily palpable, and the waist is also clearly discernable.

    Key Points to Remember:

    In the Estimation of the Energy Value of the Food

    In its 1974 and 1985 editions, the NRC proposed two different equa-tions for calculating the metaboli-zable energy (ME) value of a food:

    1. Equation proposed by the NRC in 1974 for the calculation of the energy for simple ingredients (also known as the Atwater equation). This equation has been used in human nutrition since 1902.

    ME (kcal/100 g) = (4 x % proteins) + (9 x % fats) + (4 x % nitrogen-free extract*).

    2. Equation advised by the NRC in 1985 (modified Atwater equation)

    ME (kcal/100 g) = (3.5 x % proteins) + (8.5 x % fats) + (3.5 x % nitrogen-free extract*)
    * Nitrogen-free extract (NFE) rough-ly represents total digestible carbo-hydrate. It is obtained by the difference:
    NFA = 100 - (% moisture + % protein + % fat + % mineral + % crude fiber)
    The differences between the coeffi-cients used reflect the different hypotheses with respect to the digestibility of the categories of nutrients:
    -The Atwater equation estimates the digestibility of protein at 91%, and those of fat and NFE at 96%.
    -The modified Atwater equation estimates the digestibility of pro-tein, fat and NFE at 80%, 90% and 85%, respectively.

    What is the best equation?

    The ideal equation depends on the dietary content, as shown by the graph below, which compares the energy value measured and the theoretical energy value calculated with the two equations.
    -The Atwater equation gives values close to the values measured, albeit slightly overestimated, when the food contains low levels of fiber and is consequently characterized by high digestibility.
    -The modified Atwater equation is a better reflection of the reality in the case of food containing a high level of fiber that is consequently characterized by low to medium digestibility.

    Correlation between calculated and measured metabolizable energy
    Figure 13. Correlation between calculated and measured metabolizable energy.  

    French Mastiff puppy
    French Mastiff puppy. (© Hermeline)

    Conclusion

    The lowest metabolizable energy level of a food is the value obtained after digestibility measurements are taken in dogs. In the absence of measured values, the Atwater equation should be reserved for highly digestible foods and home-prepared diets.

    The daily ration for a dog is obtained by dividing the daily energy requirement by the metabolizable energy value of the food.

    Back to Table of Contents
    Add to My Library
    Close
    Would you like to add this to your library?

    Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

    • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
    • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
    • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
    • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
    • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
    Sign in Register
    Print this article
    References

    1. Blaza SE. Energy requirements of dogs in cool conditions. Canine Pract 1982; 9: 10-15.

    ...
    Show all
    Comments (0)

    Ask the author

    0 comments
    Submit
    Close
    Would to like to further discuss this item?

    Get access to all handy features included in the IVIS website

    • Get unlimited access to books, proceedings and journals.
    • Get access to a global catalogue of meetings, on-site and online courses, webinars and educational videos.
    • Bookmark your favorite articles in My Library for future reading.
    • Save future meetings and courses in My Calendar and My e-Learning.
    • Ask authors questions and read what others have to say.
    Sign in Register
    About

    How to reference this publication (Harvard system)?

    Diez, M. and Nguyen, P. (2007) “Royal Canin Nutritional Information”, Encyclopedia of Canine Clinical Nutrition. Available at: https://www.ivis.org/library/encyclopedia-of-canine-clinical-nutrition/royal-canin-nutritional-information (Accessed: 08 February 2023).

    Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication

    1Department of Animal Productions, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
    2ENVN Atlanpôle, La Chantrerie, Nantes, France.

    Author(s)

    • Marianne Diez

      Diez M.

      Researcher, Lecturer
      PhD Dipl ECVCN Mast of Confer of Anim Nutrition
      Nutrition Unit B43, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège
      Read more about this author
    • P. Nguyen

      Nguyen P.

      DVM MS RDH Dipl ECVCN
      Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering
      Read more about this author

    Copyright Statement

    © All text and images in this publication are copyright protected and cannot be reproduced or copied in any way.
    Related Content

    Readers also viewed these publications

    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 8 N°1, Jan-Mar 2023

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      FEB 05, 2023
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 7 N°4, Oct-Dec 2022

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      JAN 16, 2023
    • Proceeding

      SFT - Theriogenology Annual Conference - Bellevue, 2022

      By: Society for Theriogenology
      JAN 10, 2023
    • Journal Issue

      Urgencias y cuidados intensivos - Argos N°244, Diciembre 2022

      In: Argos
      DEC 31, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine - Vol. 77(4), Dec. 2022

      In: Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine
      DEC 31, 2022
    • Proceeding

      ISCFR-EVSSAR Symposium - Italy 2022

      By: International Symposium on Canine and Feline Reproduction
      DEC 02, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Patología endocrina - Argos N°243, Noviembre 2022

      In: Argos
      NOV 27, 2022
    • Proceeding

      ACVIM & ECEIM - Consensus Statements

      By: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
      NOV 11, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Traumatología y neurología - Argos Nº242, Octubre 2022

      In: Argos
      NOV 10, 2022
    • Chapter

      Tibia and Tarsus

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      NOV 07, 2022
    • Chapter

      Femur and Stifle Joint

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      OCT 28, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Medicina felina - Argos Nº241, Septiembre 2022

      In: Argos
      OCT 24, 2022
    • Chapter

      Sacroiliac Joint, Pelvis, and Hip Joint

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      OCT 17, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 7 N°2, Apr-Jun 2022

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      OCT 07, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Veterinary Evidence - Vol 7 N°3, Jul-Sep 2022

      In: Veterinary Evidence
      OCT 04, 2022
    • Chapter

      Amputation of the Forelimb

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      OCT 02, 2022
    • Journal Issue

      Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine - Vol. 77(3), Sep. 2022

      In: Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine
      SEP 30, 2022
    • Chapter

      Carpus, Metacarpus, and Phalanges

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      SEP 26, 2022
    • Chapter

      Radius and Ulna

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      SEP 16, 2022
    • Chapter

      Humerus and Elbow Joint

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      SEP 10, 2022
    • Chapter

      Scapula and Shoulder Joint

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      SEP 05, 2022
    • Chapter

      Bone Grafts and Implants

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      SEP 03, 2022
    • Chapter

      External Skeletal Fixation

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      AUG 28, 2022
    • Chapter

      Plate-Rod Fixation

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      AUG 18, 2022
    • Chapter

      Fixation with Screws and Bone Plates

      In: Current Techniques in Small Animal Surgery (5th Edition)
      AUG 15, 2022
    • Load more
    Back To Top
    Become a member of IVIS and get access to all our resources
    Create an account
    Sign in
    Leading the way in providing veterinary information
    About IVIS
    • Mission
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Need help?
    • Contact
    Follow IVIS
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS) is a not-for-profit organization established to provide information to veterinarians, veterinary students, technicians and animal health professionals worldwide using Internet technology.
    Support IVIS
    © 2023 International Veterinary Information Service
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy