What "Balanced" Means
In RawPawIQ, "balanced" refers to a recipe that meets NRC 2006 minimum nutrient requirements. The system compares your recipe's nutrient content against established scientific standards, expressed as a percentage of the requirement for each nutrient.
How It Works
- 1
NRC 2006 Sets the Baseline
The National Research Council published minimum nutrient requirements for dogs in 2006. These values are expressed per 1,000 kcal of metabolizable energy.
- 2
Requirements Scale to Your Dog
Based on your dog's weight and lifestage, the system calculates their daily energy needs and scales all nutrient requirements accordingly.
- 3
Recipe Nutrients Are Summed
The nutrient content of each ingredient in your recipe is added together, adjusted for the amount used.
- 4
Coverage Percentage Is Calculated
Each nutrient is shown as a percentage of the requirement. 100% means the recipe provides exactly the minimum requirement.
Coverage Thresholds
| Coverage | Meaning |
|---|---|
| < 100% | Below minimum requirement - nutrient gap exists |
| 100% | Exactly meets minimum requirement |
| > 100% | Exceeds minimum requirement |
Why This Exists
"Balanced" is a specific, measurable term in RawPawIQ - not a marketing claim. It means the recipe has been compared against peer-reviewed scientific standards. This allows you to make informed decisions about your dog's nutrition based on objective data rather than subjective opinions about what constitutes a complete diet.
Common Misinterpretations
"100% means perfect"
100% means minimum requirement is met. Many nutrients are safe and beneficial at higher levels. NRC minimums are floors, not targets.
"Balanced means complete"
A recipe can be balanced (meeting requirements) while still showing gaps for nutrients that weren't measured in the source data. See Explicit vs Generic Data guide.
"One meal must be balanced"
Balance is typically assessed over time, not per meal. A single meal doesn't need to meet 100% of all requirements.