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Food is the fuel that provides an animal with energy.
It is necessary to estimate how many calories and animal will require
in a day so that we can offer adequate food, and it is especially
important to know how many calories an animal needs when it is being
hand fed or tube fed.
The animal's energy requirements change with differing levels of
activity, at various life stages, when it is injured or ill or with
changes in ambient temperatures. A growing animal needs more energy
per unit of body weight than does an adult animal. A sick or injured
animal needs more energy per unit of body weight than does a healthy
animal. A small species needs more energy per unit of body weight
than does a large species, and birds use more energy per unit of
body weight than do mammals.
An animal's energy requirements may be measured in Kilocalories
(Kcal).
To use the Kcal calculator, you will first have to weigh the animal.
Then:
- Select type (placental mammal, non-placental mammal, bird over
100 grams, bird under 100 grams, reptile or amphibian)
- Select condition (e.g. growing, head injury, emaciated, etc.)
- Enter weight (select grams, pounds, etc.)
The calculator will compute the kcal required per day, and gives
a maximum and minimum number. Use the average of the two numbers
and adjust upwards or downwards as necessary.
Each animal will differ somewhat in its kcal requirements, depending
on its life stage, condition and how digestible the diet is for
that animal.
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