Obesity and Weight control in dogs

In the U.K alone, over 50% of dogs are overweight. The definition of which is, when a pets weight is up to 15% above it’s ideal weight then it can be considered as being overweight. If it is more than 15% above it’s ideal weight then it is considered to be obese.

Weight gain in pets is normally as a result of an increase in body fat. The most common cause is a pet eating too many calories (just like ourselves) We often like to treat our pets, but sometimes giving them "human" treats such as crisps and chocolate can contain up to half of their daily required calorie in-take. Too many calories combined with a lack of exercise can also exacerbate the problem. If more energy is being gained from food than is being used, the surplus will be stored as fat.

Facts about Fat

• Fat is a rich source of energy. Per unit of weight it contains over double the amount of energy when compared to proteins or carbohydrates. When food energy is available in plenty then fat is laid down in the body. This is then converted back to energy when it is needed.
• Fat is stored in various places in the body. It is associated with internal organs such as the liver and kidneys, but is also laid down under the skin.
• Although fat is often looked upon negatively, it is actually a very important nutritional requirement in animal diets. As well as supplying energy, fats contribute to palatability and carry essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins. A deficiency of these components can lead to impaired wound healing, poor coat condition and dry skin.
• The fact that fats are so palatable means that they are often included in commercial diets at high levels to make the food more appealing to the animal.

Other causes, include:

Medical Disorders - sometimes weight gain is associated with a medical disorder, which may require investigations and or treatment - speak to your vet.

Neutering or Spaying - Pets, which have been neutered, have a higher risk of weight gain because of their altered metabolism.(However neutering has many other positive health benefits).

Age - Older pets are often less active and if so require fewer calories.

Breed Type - Some breeds are genetically predisposed to over eating and excessive weight gain - speak to your Vet, who will advise you.

How do I know if my dog is overweight?

The best thing to do is visit your veterinary practice regularly, to have your dog assessed and weighed. Many practices offer pet weight control clinics as a free service, because they understand the importance of preventative health and your dogs weight could, be associated with some other health problems such as:

Heart Disease
Skin Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Arthritis or other joint problems
Breathing difficulties
An increased surgical risk
Other signs that your dog is overweight are:

You cannot feel your dog's ribs
Loss of your dog’s waist and more bulk around their hips
Slow to move and difficulty in walking
No energy and sleeps a lot
Short of breath

How can I reduce my dog's weight without starving them?

Just reducing the amount of food your dog normally eats will usually fail, as your dog will become very hungry and will be begging for more food, the added problem is by decreasing the amount of their normal food, not only reduces the calorie content but also reduces all of the other vital nutrients, such as protein, vitamins and minerals.

Fortunately today, we have available to our pets special therapeutic diets which are carefully nutritionally balanced, yummy to eat, low in calories, available in canned and dry and make the dog feel full with fibre, so he will not continually badger you for more food (it is a pity that they have not produced one for people) Your Veterinary Surgeon will be the best person to advise and support you through this process.

Reasons for Pet Obesity

• Excess dietary energy
• Inappropriate diet
• Inappropriate tit bits and treats.
• Bad behaviour (begging, stealing)
• Inadequate exercise
• Breed susceptibility
• Neutering
• Underlying disease (very rare)

Many commercial pet foods have high levels of fat which is incorporated into the diet to lend palatability. This highly palatable energy dense diet is essentially concentrated nutrition which often needs to be fed in smaller amounts than is actually given. However many owners don’t understand this and so tend to overfeed. Most commercial pet food companies also use grain as the main component of the food since this is cheap. Grain is essentially mainly carbohydrate which increases the energy content of the food even further. Cats and dogs in the wild wouldn’t usually eat a diet so heavily based on carbohydrate so in a domestic situation they are being subjected to a diet which tends them towards obesity.

Tit Bits and Treats

Tit bits are often the greatest problem in the fight against obesity. Owners often aren’t even aware how much they feed their animal. Even though you don’t think your feeding a lot of food the majority of pets will get tit bits. These are essentially extra energy that your pet isn’t using. There are usually other members of the family that are giving tit-bits that you may not even be aware of. Children are especially prone to feeding a little bit of what they are eating. You must also consider the size of your pet. Giving a biscuit to a small dog is equivalent to us eating the whole packet!

Extra food ? extra energy ? fat deposition ? obesity!
Instead of feeding treats, try and reserve a small portion of the daily allocated food to use as rewards. Remember to reward desirable behaviour and not begging. If you must give treats then give healthy treats which are low in carbohydrate and fat. A small piece of lean meat is better than a biscuit.

Behavioural Problems

Behavioural problems can lead to obesity. Pets that beg or steal food are more likely to overeat. One of the greatest mistakes owners make is to give treats to begging pets. This is essentially rewarding an undesirable behaviour, your pet will soon learn that begging is something they should do and they will think that this is what you want them to do.Dominant pets in multi pet households may be more prone to eating more food since they have priority at the food bowl. Some owners are not even aware that one pet is eating much more than the other.

Some pets are just plain greedy and will eat any food left by other pets in the house!! If this is the case then you must feed your pets separately. If you normally leave food down for your pets then you may have to start taking it up after 30 minutes or so. Your pet will soon learn that they only have a certain time to eat. This will allow you to regain control of your pets feeding habits.

Inadequate Exercise

Exercise requirements vary between species, breed and life-stage of the animal. As people become under increasing pressure with work and lifestyle commitments they often have less time to spend exercising their pet. It is a sad fact but when people have children, their pet often becomes less of a priority.

People are often attracted to breeds of dog for their physical characteristics such as the way they look and their temperament. Unfortunately this breed may be a completely unsuitable choice as they have massive exercise and space requirements. People have to consider what that breed was initially used for. Working breeds are designed to work hard for long periods of time, therefore their exercise requirements are often way above what the average working person can provide.

Cats are often kept as indoor pets, especially in the city and built up areas where the risk of road traffic accidents is high enough to keep them indoors. These cats must be provided with exercise to prevent them becoming obese. Time must be dedicated to play with these cats so provide them with exercise periods. See our exercise section for tips on exercising cats.

Breed Susceptibility- Genetics.

It seems that in veterinary practice some breeds of dog are more commonly seen overweight than others. Among these are Labradors and Spaniels. It seems that some breeds may have a genetic susceptibility to obesity. Large appetites have a role to play as do differences in metabolism. Some individuals have a higher percentage body fat than dogs of the same weight.
In these susceptible dogs it is more important than ever to control their energy intake and their exercise regime. Increasing fibre levels in the food is often used to give the food bulk and to help prevent overeating of energy dense food.

Useful tips while your dog is losing weight

Work with your Veterinary Practice, they often provide free support and pet weight checks.
If the practice advices you to follow a particular health and weight programme do stick with it, so your dog will obtain the health benefits in the long term and you will have a happy, active dog with cheaper Vet bills.

Make every one in the family and neighbourhood aware, your dog is on a weight control programme and ask for their help. They could spoil a week’s work with a few small titbits.
Do not overfeed the recommended amount, always follow your Vets advice or follow the guide on the side of the pack.

Do use an appropriate specially formulated food for weight loss. Many so-called "light foods" are only designed to prevent and maintain weight loss. They are not very effective at ensuring weight loss, safely, over the shortest period of time, speak to your Vet, who will advise you.

Feed your overweight dog separately from the other pets in the house.

Keep your dog out of the room when you are eating or preparing the families meals, to avoid them begging and you giving into temptation.

Reward your dog with cuddles, playing games or going for walks rather than with food. If you feel you have to give your pet a treat, hand feed him a small proportion of his diet food. Or ask your Vet about special therapeutic treats, which are low in calories.

Encourage, regular moderate exercise to improve your dog’s health and well being and help control his weight. Do check with your Vet if you are planning a new health regime.

Ensure your pet has a regular weight check at your Veterinary practice to closely monitor his weight loss and obtain continued support and advice.

When your dog has achieved his goal, do continue to feed your dog on an appropriate lower calorie maintenance food to help prevent the extra weight returning. You have done extremely well; do not undo all of your hard work.

When you and your dog have achieved your goal, you will both benefit from a whole new lease of life, your dog will feel happy, healthy and fit again and you will have your bouncy puppy-like dog again. 

Disclaimer

This pet health article is for reference only.

If your pet is showing any symptoms or distress, and you suspect your pet is ill CONTACT YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY.