Accurate estimation of metabolizable energy requirements (MER) is essential for appropriate dietary planning in dogs. However, standardized recommendations may not reflect the variability observed in clinical practice, particularly regarding individual factors such as neutering status, body condition, and age. This study aimed to retrospectively assess the MER factor in dogs treated at a Brazilian veterinary hospital, considering variables including sex, neuter status, body condition score (BCS), muscle mass score (MMS), body size, and life stage, and to compare the findings with those typically reported in the scientific literature. A total of 438 medical records from 2013 to 2025 were reviewed for this study. Data on demographic and clinical variables were collected, and MER factors were calculated based on energy intake and body weight. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the interactions between variables, particularly BCS and neutering status. The study population included 253 males (57.8%) and 185 females (42.2%), with 80.6% of them being neutered. The MER values varied widely across the subgroups. Neutered dogs had consistently lower energy factors than intact dogs (p < 0.0001), and energy requirements decreased progressively with increasing BCS, regardless of neutering status (p < 0.05). A significant interaction between BCS and neutering status was observed (p = 0.0089), although BCS alone was not a significant predictor (p = 0.9670). No substantial differences were observed based on sex, body size, or life stage. MER values observed in clinical practice differ from standard recommendations and are influenced by the interaction between neutering status and body condition. These findings reinforce the need for individualized nutritional assessments in companion animal medicine and call for further studies to refine clinical energy estimation models.

Gallbladder mucocele is a common extrahepatic biliary condition in dogs, traditionally managed with cholecystectomy, while conservative approaches combining clinical and nutritional strategies remain underexplored. This case series reports four dogs diagnosed with gallbladder mucocele, all presenting with hyperlipidemia, three with overweight or obesity, and one with hypothyroidism. The dogs were treated using a multimodal protocol combining pharmacological therapy with nutritional strategies. The pharmacological protocol included ursodeoxycholic acid, silymarin, S-adenosyl-L-methionine, bezafibrate, and omega-3 fatty acids, with doses adjusted according to body weight. Nutritional interventions were individualized and included weight-loss diets and a low-fat gastrointestinal diet. Clinical and ultrasonographic outcomes varied among cases, with partial or complete resolution observed over different follow-up periods. These findings suggest that clinical management combined with individualized nutritional protocols may be a potential approach for asymptomatic dogs with gallbladder mucocele, particularly when surgery is not feasible, and could inform future investigations.