By Joe Spoo DVM

One of the most stressing issues we deal with in veterinary medicine is the alarming number of obese animals. This issue has really been driven home in the last few years, as each year I see clients bringing in normal dogs because their friends and neighbors think “the dog is too skinny,” when in fact the dog in question was at an ideal body weight. We have become so ingrained with seeing obese pets that the healthy dogs are now seen as abnormal.

There are a number of causes of obesity, but the two biggest are overeating and a lack of exercise. Many dogs have unlimited access to food and receive too many table scraps and treats. Unfortunately this can be a problem that starts at puppyhood and one the dog will battle its entire life. With our busy society and, in the northern part of the country, our long winters, it allows us to skip walking the dog too often. There are other causes, including age, gender and metabolic diseases, that can contribute to obesity; however for this article we will focus on overeating and too little exercise, which by far and away are the primary culprits.

For a larger version of this chart, click the image above.

With humans, weight loss it is often a case of looks and vanity; we just want to take off a few extra pounds. Regrettably with our pets it is a problem with serious health implications, as those few pounds can be an overwhelming percentage of body weight. There are a number of problems to which obesity can contribute or worsen. This list includes arthritis, congestive heart failure, breathing difficulties, diabetes, liver disease, joint disease, chronic constipation, back strain, disc rupture and increased anesthetic and surgical risk.

On the positive side of weight management, a recent ground-breaking study concluded that in dogs that were fed 25% less than a dog fed free-choice, the average lifespan increased by nearly 2 years (1.8 to be exact).1 Also from this study it was shown that the lean-fed dogs had only 10% of the arthritis that the free-choice fed group did.2 So, just by feeding your dog controlled amounts of food you are potentially helping him live longer and arthritis free.

Taking the weight off an obese dog can be frustrating, as it is a long process, and too often we project how we would feel during a similar process onto our dogs. The biggest step you can take is to get a handle on the quantities of food and subsequent calories you are giving your dog. This usually entails cutting out all table scraps. In addition, it will be necessary to restrict the number of treats you give your dog, and if this is an important part of your day, you could break the treats into smaller pieces to further restrict the calories without cutting the treats out totally. Lastly, it will be very important to use a measuring cup so that you can accurately control your dog’s feedings.

This is also a good time to talk about food selection. Many people would be amazed at the level of weight loss that can be achieved on a normal diet when good measured feeding is in place. However, some dogs need to be on a calorie-restricted diet, and for those dogs the best bet for success will be achieved by feeding a Weight Management Formula.

In addition to measuring the amount of food going into the dog, I like to get in the habit of measuring the dog with weekly weigh-ins. This will give you some perspective on whether you are winning or losing the battle and how to adjust the feeding. Most veterinarians would welcome you to use their scale to be able to chart your progress. If you are not seeing weight loss, then I usually recommend reducing the food amounts by 10% each week until there is some success.

Ideally you will also begin to increase the amount of exercise your dog is getting. There are the obvious routes to achieving this, but for those with a time restricted schedule or where the weather keeps you indoors, there are other options. One I have employed is training my dogs to use the treadmill; I’m able to sit next to them catching up on reading while they are logging the miles.

We are all guilty of wanting to give our dogs treats or the last bite of a sandwich, and once you have your dog’s weight under control you can continue these practices, just on a practical level. While initially you may have more trouble adjusting to the diet than your dog, think of the long-term rewards and the potential to add years of enjoyment with your best friend just by controlling the amount of food he eats.

References

1. Kealy RD, Lawler DR, Ballam JM, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 220:1315-1320
2. Kealy RD, Lawler DR, Ballam JM, et al. Evaluatio of the effect of limited food consumption on radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis in dogs. 2000; 217:1678-80