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Vets work it out in two steps. First the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) - the calories a dog burns at rest - using the formula RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. Then RER is multiplied by a life-stage and activity factor to give the Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER): roughly ×1.6 for a neutered adult, ×1.8 for an intact adult, ×2–3 for growing puppies and ×1–1.4 for weight loss. SaluPaws applies these WSAVA / NRC formulas automatically from your dog’s weight, age, breed, neuter status and activity level, so you get a personalised daily calorie target without doing the maths.

The Resting Energy Requirement is RER = 70 × (ideal body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal per day. Daily needs - the Maintenance Energy Requirement - are then RER multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity, for example about 1.6 for a typical neutered adult dog. These are the WSAVA and US National Research Council (NRC) formulas vets use, and they are exactly what SaluPaws calculates for your dog.

Vets assess ideal weight with a 9-point Body Condition Score (BCS), where 4–5 out of 9 is ideal: you should feel the ribs easily and see a waist from above. Each point above ideal is roughly 10% over target weight, so a dog scoring 7/9 is about 20% overweight. In SaluPaws you set a goal weight and the app tracks progress toward it - confirm the exact ideal weight for your dog with your vet.

Feed to the calorie target for your dog’s goal weight rather than its current weight, keep treats under 10% of daily calories, and aim for gradual loss of about 1–2% of body weight per week - crash dieting is unsafe for dogs. SaluPaws sets the goal-weight calorie target, logs food and treats against it, and charts the weight trend. Always run a weight-loss plan past your vet.

For a healthy adult dog, monthly is usually enough to catch gradual changes. Dogs on a weight-loss or weight-gain plan should be weighed every 1–2 weeks so calories can be adjusted. SaluPaws stores each weigh-in and shows the trend over time, so small changes are easy to spot before they become a problem.

Yes. Neutering lowers a dog’s energy needs by roughly 20–30%, growing puppies need around 2–3 times an adult’s resting requirement, and seniors generally need less. Breed size and activity level shift the multiplier too. SaluPaws factors in age, breed, neuter status and activity so the calorie target reflects your individual dog, not a generic number.

Yes. SaluPaws generates a vet-ready PDF report covering calorie intake, weight trend, activity and medical history, so you can bring an accurate picture to your next appointment instead of trying to remember it.

The most dangerous everyday foods for dogs include chocolate and cocoa; grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants; xylitol (a sweetener found in some peanut butters, chewing gum and baked goods); onion, garlic, leeks, chives and shallots; macadamia nuts; avocado; alcohol; and caffeine. Some - especially xylitol, grapes and dark chocolate - can cause organ failure even in small amounts. If your dog has eaten any of these, contact your vet or an animal poison line immediately. SaluPaws checks the name of every food you log against this list - log “chocolate brownie” or “garlic bread” and you’re warned before the entry is saved.

Yes. SaluPaws checks the name and brand of every food you log against known dog toxins - chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onion, garlic, macadamia nuts and more. If the name matches, you get an immediate warning with vet guidance before the entry is saved, plus a timestamped record on the health calendar you can show your vet. It matches what you type or select, not a packaged product's hidden ingredient list, and the check works offline without AI.

SaluPaws has a free plan for everyday tracking, plus optional Companion and Family subscriptions that unlock extras like the AI nutrition coach, vet-ready reports and multiple pets. You can start free and upgrade any time.