Estimation of energy expenditure using the oral C-bicarbonate technique in privately owned adult and senior dogs of three different body sizes.

Knowledge about energy requirements (ER) of dogs is important in order to provide dogs with an appropriate energy supply. In this study, the oral C-bicarbonate technique (o CBT) was used to estimate energy expenditure (EE) in 50 privately owned dogs of different body sizes (small: Danish-Swedish Farmdog (DSF, n = 16), medium: Beagle (n = 15), large: Labrador Retriever (n = 19)), of different ages (adult: 2-7 years (n = 33), senior: ≥8 years (n = 17)). The aim was to evaluate the feasibility of the method in the field and to get more information about ER of dogs.