Abstract
A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the maintenance energy requirements of adult dogs. Suitable publications were first identified, and then used to generate relationships amongst energy requirements, husbandry, activity level, methodology, sex, neuter status, dog size, and age in healthy adult dogs. Allometric equations for maintenance energy requirements were determined using log-log linear regression. So that the resulting equations could readily be compared with equations reported by the National Research Council, maintenance energy requirements in the current study were determined in kcal/kg0.75 body weight (BW). Ultimately, the data of 70 treatment groups from 29 publications were used, and mean (± standard deviation) maintenance energy requirements were 142.8±55.3 kcal.kgBW−0.75.day−1. The corresponding allometric equation was 81.5 kcal.kgBW−0.93.day−1 (adjusted R2 = 0.64; 70 treatment groups). Type of husbandry had a significant effect on maintenance energy requirements (P<0.001): requirements were greatest in racing dogs, followed by working dogs and hunting dogs, whilst the energy requirements of pet dogs and kennel dogs were least. Maintenance energy requirements were less in neutered compared with sexually intact dogs (P<0.001), but there was no effect of sex. Further, reported activity level tended to effect the maintenance energy requirement of the dog (P = 0.09). This review suggests that estimating maintenance energy requirements based on BW alone may not be accurate, but that predictions that factor in husbandry, neuter status and, possibly, activity level might be superior. Additionally, more information on the nutrient requirements of older dogs, and those at the extremes of body size (i.e. giant and toy breeds) is needed.
Highlights
In 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) published the latest version of the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, in which there was considerable detail on maintenance energy requirements of dogs [1]
Study selection and study characteristics After adjusting for duplicate records, the initial searches identified a total of 102 publications, with an additional two publications identified from interactions at conferences [4,6] increasing the dataset to 104 publications (Figure 1)
The remaining treatment groups were removed because dogs were classed as overweight or obese (10 treatment groups), data were reported in graphical form only (5 treatment groups), maintenance energy requirements were based on survey data (5 treatment groups), bodyweight was unstable (1 treatment group), or because the publications were deemed to be outliers (1 treatment group with energy requirements of 11257 kcal/day [25])
Summary
In 2006, the National Research Council (NRC) published the latest version of the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, in which there was considerable detail on maintenance energy requirements of dogs [1]. Based upon a review of the available literature at the time, maintenance energy requirements for adult pet dogs varied between 95 and 200 kcal/kg0.75 depending on breed, activity level or husbandry type (i.e., laboratory or home) [1]. A number of recent studies have estimated maintenance energy requirements in populations of pet dogs [3,5,6,7,8]. All studies, both recent and historical, have their place and can provide a valuable contribution. Most commonly used to determine the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, the principles can readily be used to assess other scientific questions on which sufficient published data exist
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