NRC Nutritional Requirements for Adult Dogs

Macronutrients for Adult Dogs


Macronutrients are the first piece in nutrition where they are necessary for optimal health. There are three primary macronutrients which include protein, lipids (fats), and carbohydrates. Each macronutrient is in nearly all foods and supply calories for energy.

Recommended Daily Allowances for Macronutrients


Macronutrients are a class of chemical compounds which are consumed in large quantities and provide the bulk of energy within the diet.


Protein


Fat


Carbohydrates


Water accounts for a large portion of the total amount of food ingested in a normal raw diet. Water does not provide any nutritional value. However, water is an essential nutrient necessary for optimal canine health and nutrition.

Micronutrients for Adult Dogs


Additionally, puppies have different micronutrient requirements in comparison to adult dogs. Puppies have higher requirements for amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals in comparison to adult dogs. Therefore, there must be a supply of these nutrients in sufficient amounts in the diet.

Recommended Daily Allowances for Essential Nutrients


Nutritional Research Council (NRC) provides the following Recommended Allowances (RA) for adult dogs 12 months and older per 1000kcal consumed:


Essential Amino Acids


Essential Fatty Acids


Essential Fat Soluble Vitamins


Essential Water Soluble Vitamins


Essential Macro Minerals


Essential Micro Minerals


When combining recommended allowances for essential nutrients with raw feeding ratio guidelines, a balanced raw diet using whole foods can be achieved to supply an adult dog with the appropriate nutrition to support optimal canine health and nutrition.

Raw Feeding Ratio Guidelines


A raw diet is divided into percentages, known as ratio guidelines, to provide an estimate on how much of each ingredient is needed. Ratios from BARF and PMR diets are guidelines for the amount of muscle meat, raw meaty bones, organs, vegetables, seeds, and fruit to include in a raw diet for an adult dog.


Similar to maintenance percentages, raw diet ratios are to be used as a guideline when selecting ingredients and creating a raw diet. Once maintenance percentages are calculated, ratio guidelines can be determined.

Example 1


Adult dog profile in english units:

6 Years Old

Moderate Activity

55 Pounds


Ideal Body Weight

1000 Daily Calories

18oz Intake


Estimated Daily Intake


Calculate ratio guidelines in english units:

PMR Ratios


18 x 0.8 = 14.4oz muscle meat

18 x 0.1 = 1.8oz edible bone

18 x 0.05 = 0.9oz liver

18 x 0.05 = 0.9oz other organ

BARF Ratios


18 x 0.7 = 12.6oz muscle meat

18 x 0.1 = 1.8oz edible bone

18 x 0.05 = 0.9oz liver

18 x 0.05 = 0.9oz other organ

18 x 0.07 = 1.26oz vegetables

18 x 0.02 = 0.36oz seeds/nuts

18 x 0.01 = 0.18oz fruit

Example 2


Adult dog profile in metric units:

6 Years Old

Moderate Activity

25 Kilograms


Ideal Body Weight

1000 Daily Calories

500g Intake


Estimated Daily Intake


Calculate ratio guidelines in metric units:

PMR Ratios


500 x 0.8 = 400g muscle meat

500 x 0.1 = 50g edible bone

500 x 0.05 = 25g liver

500 x 0.05 = 25g other organ

BARF Ratios


500 x 0.7 = 350g muscle meat

500 x 0.1 = 50g edible bone

500 x 0.05 = 25g liver

500 x 0.05 = 25g other organ

500 x 0.07 = 35g vegetables

500 x 0.02 = 10g seeds/nuts

500 x 0.01 = 5g fruit

Adapting Ratio Guidelines into a Balanced Diet


Ratio calculations provide a guideline on ingredients to include in a raw diet. Each ingredient provides essential nutrients to use when formulating a balanced raw diet for adult dogs.

Muscle Meat


The muscle meat portion of raw ratios assists in supplying protein, amino acids, fats, vitamins (water soluble B vitamins), and some minerals.

Raw Meaty Bones


The main role of the edible bone ratio is to supply calcium within a raw diet. Raw meaty bones provide muscle meat and edible bone which assists in supplying protein, amino acids, fats, and minerals (calcium and phosphorus).

Liver & Secreting Organs


The liver and other organ ratios assists in supplying protein, amino acids, vitamins (vitamin A and B vitamins), and minerals (iron and copper).

Vegetables, Seeds, Nuts, & Fruit


The vegetables, seeds, and fruit portion of raw ratios assists in supplying carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins (vitamin E and B vitamins), minerals (manganese and magnesium), and antioxidants.

CLOSING COMMENTS


Adult dogs can regulate nutrients, and their diet can achieve balance over time or daily. The diet must provide recommended allowances for essential nutrients to maintain optimal health.

Macronutrients


Macronutrients consist of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to provide calories for energy.

Micronutrients


Amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals are all essential nutrients necessary for optimal health.

Raw Diet Ratios


The ratios for muscle meat, raw edible bone, organs, and plant ingredients provide a guide on which ingredients to select to include in a raw diet for adult dogs.


Raw diet ratios provide guidance on which ingredients and their amounts to use when formulating an adult dog. However, it is important to note these are starting guidelines, these are not “rules,” and adjustments should be made to complete recommended allowances for essential macro and micronutrients.


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