The vet-backed formulas behind a healthy dog weight — and how SaluPaws works.
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.
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.
The Family plan supports up to 5 dog profiles. The free and Companion plans cover one dog.
Subscriptions are billed by the app store, so you cancel there. On iPhone: Settings → your name → Subscriptions → SaluPaws → Cancel. On Android: Play Store → profile → Payments and subscriptions → Subscriptions → SaluPaws → Cancel. You keep access until the end of the billing period.
In the app, go to Profile → Settings → Delete Account to permanently remove your account and all associated data (dog profiles, food logs, weight history) within 30 days. You can also delete your account without the app installed — see the account deletion page at salupaws.app/delete-account.html.
On the sign-in screen tap “Forgot password?” and enter your email address. We send a reset link from noreply@salupaws.app — check your spam folder if it doesn’t arrive within a few minutes.
Yes. Your data is stored on EU-based infrastructure, encrypted in transit and at rest, and only accessible to your authenticated account. We never sell your personal data. See our privacy policy for full details.
No. SaluPaws gives nutritional guidance based on established veterinary (WSAVA / NRC) formulas, but it is not a substitute for professional advice. Always consult your vet for dogs with health conditions, unusual weight changes or special dietary needs.
SaluPaws is built for iPhone and Android phones and is launching on the App Store and Google Play. It is designed for phones rather than tablets.