Managing the Overweight Dog
Obesity is a major health problem for pet dogs. Up to a third of pet dogs have been classed as obese. Being seriously overweight has many health implications. For example, complications that we see at this facility are:
Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
Ruptured cruciate ligaments/ruptured Achilles tendon
Heat and exercise intolerance
Respiratory difficulties, especially in miniature/small breeds
Diabetes Mellitus
Pancreatitis
Severely elevated blood fats with associated gastro-intestinal problems
Poor tolerance of General Anaesthesia
Urinary infections and formation of stones in the urine
Despite the lengthy list above, a major problem is that overweight pets become inactive, dull, lose their lust for life and get old before their time. Dogs that are seriously overweight live 2 years less, on average, than dogs of lean bodyweight. If you want your pet to get the most out of life, you have to address any weight problems.
CAUSES OF OVERWEIGHT
Some breeds, such as the Cairn Terrier, may be genetically inclined to obesity. However, the cause of obesity is the same in every case - eating more calories than you metabolise. Dogs are overweight because of lifestyle and diet.
LIFESTYLE
Some pets have a laid back lifestyle and don’t need as many calories. Older pets are less active and may develop “middle-aged spread” as they age.
EXERCISE – Never begin extended or vigorous exercise in overweight dogs – this can result in acute joint problems. Instead, gradually increase activity levels over a period of two months. Regular walks are a great form of exercise for pet and owner!
DIET
Beware the pet food manufacturer’s dietary recommendations. These are based on the energy requirements of very active dogs, including working dogs. The recommended daily intakes of either tinned or dried food are grossly excessive for some pets. Indeed, some dogs will maintain a healthy bodyweight on half the manufacturer’s recommended daily dietary intakes. Feed to effect, not on these recommendations.
Dogs are good at begging and training us to give them frequent snacks. These often provide a third of the dog’s daily calorie intake. You must alter this behaviour if you want a healthy pet.
Don’t feed snacks! Feed only from your pet’s bowl and feed at the same time each day. Do not indulge begging behaviour. Instead, reward your pet with walks, toys or by playing with them. If you must feed snacks, offer carrot or some fruit (note – don’t give grapes to dogs - they are poisonous in this species).
Appetite is always a sign of good health. Pet owners often worry when their pet won’t eat their dinner. It is tempting to offer increasingly palatable (usually higher fat) foods to encourage them to eat. However, our estimation of how much food a pet should eat is often skewed – the usual cause of poor appetite is, of course, that the pet is not hungry. The correct approach to the fussy eater is to offer a little less food each day until the appetite returns.
METABOLIC PROBLEMS
A small percentage of dogs may be overweight because of concurrent metabolic problems. Hypothyroidism, Diabetes, Cushing’s Disease and some drug treatments, such as steroids, can all result in obesity. However, in almost all cases there will be other signs of ill health. The investigation of metabolic problems can be time-consuming and expensive. Further investigations are not appropriate if no other signs of ill-health are present. If proper calorie restriction has not resulted in weight loss within 2 months, we would then suggest a blood screening test.
THE WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMME
Severely overweight dogs need their calorie intake reduced by 30-40% per day. This is not feasible using either “Light” dietary formulations or home-cooked diets. Several manufacturers now supply low calorie diets that are very well balanced nutritionally and that provide an appropriate amount of food for “gut fill”. This minimises problems with your pet stealing food or bin raiding.
Feed for the target weight. Feed for the normal lean bodyweight expected of your breed.
Calculate the amount of food to be fed and measure it out into a jug or beaker. Draw a line on the outside of the container – this is the amount to be fed daily
Monitor the weight loss. Weigh your pet every two weeks. If weighing is difficult, take the pet’s waist measurement with a tape.
Aim for a weight loss of 1-1.25% of bodyweight per week. It is unrealistic to expect weight loss in excess of this rate. At this rate, most dogs will take 5 to 6 months to return to normal body weight
Once a target weight has been achieved –prevent weight rebound. Continue to monitor weight, feed appropriate amounts of a light diet and do not revert to former feeding behaviours
Make use of our nurses. Our nurses will help you by weighing your pet for you regularly and will give advice on dietary requirements and feeding
Don’t get discouraged if your pet isn’t losing weight as quickly as you would like. A diet is not about reducing your pet’s food for a few weeks or months but about building long-term changes into the way you feed and manage your pet. Aim to get your pet fit for life.
