Retrospective Study of Energy Requirement Recommendations for Dogs in a Brazilian Veterinary Hospital (2013-2025)

Autor(es)

Marchi, Pedro Henrique ; Principe, Leonardo de Andrade ; Finardi, Gabriela Luiza Fagundes ; de Oliveira, Natalia Manuela Cardoso ; Moreno, Gabriela Pinheiro Tirado ; Pappalardo, Maria Carolina Farah ; Trindade, Felipe Sesti ; Balieiro, Julio Cesar de Carvalho ; Vendramini, Thiago Henrique Annibale

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ANIMALS; v. 15, n. 15, p. 15-pg., 2025-07-29.

Resumo

Accurate estimation of metabolizable energy requirements (MER) is essential for appropriate dietary planning in dogs. However, standardized recommendations may not reflect the variability observed in clinical practice, particularly regarding individual factors such as neutering status, body condition, and age. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the MER factor in dogs treated at a Brazilian veterinary hospital, considering variables including sex, neuter status, body condition score (BCS), muscle mass score (MMS), body size, and life stage, and to compare the findings with those typically reported in the scientific literature. A total of 438 medical records from 2013 to 2025 were reviewed for this study. Data on demographic and clinical variables were collected, and MER factors were calculated based on energy intake and body weight. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the interactions between variables, particularly BCS and neutering status. The study population included 253 males (57.8%) and 185 females (42.2%), with 80.6% of them being neutered. The MER values varied widely across the subgroups. Neutered dogs had consistently lower energy factors than intact dogs (p < 0.0001), and energy requirements decreased progressively with increasing BCS, regardless of neutering status (p < 0.05). A significant interaction between BCS and neutering status was observed (p = 0.0089), although BCS alone was not a significant predictor (p = 0.9670). No substantial differences were observed based on sex, body size, or life stage. MER values observed in clinical practice differ from standard recommendations and are influenced by the interaction between neutering status and body condition. These findings reinforce the need for individualized nutritional assessments in companion animal medicine and call for further studies to refine clinical energy estimation models. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 24/19186-1 - Análise multiômica do metabolismo de cães e gatos saudáveis e doentes
• Beneficiário: Leonardo de Andrade Príncipe
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 22/06499-6 - Análise multi-ômica do metabolismo e microbiota de cães e gatos saudáveis e doentes
• Beneficiário: Thiago Henrique Annibale Vendramini
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Projeto Geração
• Processo FAPESP: 23/09486-5 - Efeitos da ingestão de diferentes aditivos em variáveis fermentativas, imunológicas, inflamatórias, metabólicas, saciedade e microbiota fecal de cães obesos
• Beneficiário: Pedro Henrique Marchi
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 24/19916-0 - Avaliação dos efeitos da inclusão em níveis crescentes de colina de origem vegetal em variáveis de extrusão, digestivas, hepáticas, fermentativas, microbiota fecal, metabolômica sérica e palatabilidade de cães adultos
• Beneficiário: Gabriela Luiza Fagundes Finardi
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 23/07726-9 - Análise multi-ômica do metabolismo e microbioma de cães e gatos saudáveis e obesos
• Beneficiário: Natália Manuela Cardoso de Oliveira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado