The practical formulation of a diet for puppies requires an estimate of the
energy requirements of growth. Historically, it was estimated stage by sta
ge, based on the percentage of growth. As it is possible ro predict the adu
lt weight oi ii dog knowing juri the weight and age of a puppy, the authors
present a new approach which allows the energy requirement of the puppy to
calculated: ERgrowth (kcal ME/day)= C x MER (kcal ME/day); where MER is th
e puppy maintenance energy requirement at its actual weight and C is a mult
iplier: C=3.2. [exp (-0.87 P)- 0.1], where P is the actual puppy weight (kg
)/estimated adult body weight (kg); with 0 < P < 1. The protein-calorie rat
io (g protein/Mcal ME) of the diet is also presented, depending upon the gr
owth stage and the breed size. A dietary plan for any puppy can then be eas
ily established.