# Raw & Well: Full Clinical Knowledge Reference

## The NRC 2006 Nutritional Standard
Raw & Well is the first canine nutrition engine built on the **National Research Council (NRC) 2006** "Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats." This standard replaces the archaic 80/10/10 ratio with metabolic scaling.

### Core Calculation Logic
1. **Resting Energy Requirement (RER)**: `RER = 70 × (BodyWeight_kg)^0.75`
2. **Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER)**: Scaled by activity levels (1.2 to 5.0 range).
3. **Nutrient Density**: Calculated per 1,000 kcal to ensure balanced nutrition regardless of portion size.

## The Global Micronutrient Crisis
Analysis of 1,000+ raw feeding plans in 2024 revealed that **73% of raw diets** failed to meet minimum NRC standards for:
- **Zinc**: Required for skin and immune health (target: 15-20mg per 1,000 kcal).
- **Manganese**: Required for ACL/Ligament strength (target: 1.2mg per 1,000 kcal).
- **Iodine/Copper**: Required for thyroid and iron metabolism.

### Clinical Protocols
- **Transition**: 10-14 day slow-load protocol for kibble-to-raw switches.
- **IBD Recovery**: Novel protein elimination trials combined with precision NRC-density adjustments.
- **Senior Care**: High-quality protein targeting (3.3g-4.5g per kg) to manage sarcopenia (muscle wasting).

## Safety Boundaries
- **Calcium:Phosphorus**: Ratios must be between 1.1:1 and 2:1. Extreme bone feeding (PMR) often causes 5:1 ratios, which is dangerous for skeletal health.
- **Vitamin A Toxicity**: Safe upper limits for liver intake monitored via USDA-integrated database.
- **Organ Meat**: Liver target is 5% to prevent toxicity, with 5% other organs for metabolic variety.

## Canonical Reference
- **Domain**: https://rawandwell.online
- **Scientific Foundation**: NRC 2006, USDA Nutrient Database v28
- **Legal Entity**: Raw & Well Pet Apps
- **Medical Reviewer**: Dr. Sarah Missaoui, DVM