The Worry Trend Of Obesity In Dogs

In our latest blog, we explore the worrying trend of obese animals and what, as an owner, you can do to prevent your #pet from becoming overweight.

Recent reports arriving at the VCMS have highlighted the worrying trend in pet obesity, especially in dogs. In our latest article, we look at a study by Royal Veterinary College (RVC and what you can do to help prevent your dog becoming obese.

A recent study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed the worrying level of the overweight epidemic in dogs in the UK, with 1 in 14 dogs reported by their vets as overweight each year. What makes this figure more perturbing is that not every overweight pet will receive veterinary attention for this problem. Within the report certain breeds were especially prone to weight gain, including Pugs, Beagles, Golden Retrievers and English Springer Spaniels. In particular,owners of these breeds need to be especially careful to protect their dogs from weight gain that is detrimental to their health.

The study was led by the RVC’s VetCompass programme and is one of the largest ever studies that uses anonymised health records of veterinary surgeries to explore the obesity issue of dogs.

The study included 22,333 dogs whose health was followed for a year to identify that 1,580 were recorded as overweight. As well as showing that specific breeds were at differing risk, the study also highlighted that being neutered and middle-aged were additionally associated with increasing chances of dogs being overweight.

It is advised that owners should discuss changes to the diet and exercise plans when they are exploring the neutering of their dog with their vet and make adjustments as needed.

It goes without saying that obesity carries acute welfare risks for dogs. Obese dogs have reduced life span, a reduced quality of life and are at far higher risk of certain conditions including arthritis, breathing problems, heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

This important survey which helps the understanding of which dogs are most at risk allows targeted weight control programmes in high risk dogs to either prevent or treat obesity.

Camilla Pegram, VetCompass™ Epidemiologist at the RVC, and author of the paper, said:

“This study has used the power of “big data” to robustly address the risk factors for obesity in dogs. Pugs, Beagles and Golden Retrievers were at greatest risk of obesity compared with crossbreeds. As well as genetics, management style could in part drive these breed predispositions. Whilst veterinary professionals and owners should focus efforts on obesity prevention strategies in all dogs, those identified at high-risk, such as Pugs, Beagles and Golden Retrievers, may need a more targeted approach.”

Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer, Companion Animal Epidemiology, at the RVC, and co-author of the paper, said:

“To defeat your enemy, you need to know your enemy. Obesity is the enemy of the health of our dogs. This new study identifies the breeds and ages of dogs that are most susceptible to obesity; we can use this information to defeat obesity.”

Below we share a handful of tips on how to prevent or minimise the risk of your dog becoming obese.

1. Ask your veterinarian to help you choose the most appropriate food for your dog. Puppies need a food that is formulated for their life stage, one that will meet their specific nutritional needs, rather than an all-purpose dog food. Moreover, large-breed puppies need a different nutrient profile than small-breed puppies so they will grow more slowly, minimising the risk of orthopaedic problems later in life. Your veterinarian can suggest the best age to switch puppies to an adult food. Adult dogs have different needs from puppies, so a puppy formulation is not the best choice for them. Senior dogs are in yet another life stage and need a different formulation for optimal health. Furthermore, dogs with certain health conditions or diseases have very specific nutritional requirements. (For further information on feeding your dog, see the handout “Nutrition – General Feeding Guidelines for Dogs”.)
2. Portion control is critical. Most dog food bags overestimate the amount of food a dog needs, so ask your veterinarian for a portion recommendation, and stick to it – no matter how beseeching those big eyes are!
3. Choose specific meal times, and then be consistent. Dogs learn quickly when food is available and when it is not. This minimises what we may perceive as begging behaviour.
4. Consider using interactive feeding toys. These types of toys allow dogs to work for their food. Dogs eat more slowly, and they have the added bonus of expending more calories at exercise
5. Increase your dog’s exercise. We know that optimal body condition score depends on the balance between calories taken in and calories expended. We also know that we benefit from increasing our dog’s activity because it means we increase our activity. There is no better way to blend the business of weight management with the pleasure of time outside than to walk our dogs. Other calorie-burning dog activities include swimming (be safe around water, and do not force your dog to swim), fetch, and running with you. Be sure to clear high-intensity activities with your veterinarian, and then condition (build up endurance) steadily – this is a win both for your dog’s health and your own!
6. Your veterinary healthcare team can assess your dog’s body and muscle condition score at each visit. These assessments can help you keep track of your dog’s condition; if your dog is heavy, your veterinarian can provide an estimated ideal body weight to use as a guide during weight loss.
7. Accountability keeps us honest. Schedule regular weigh-ins at your veterinarian’s office to track both weight and body condition score in your dog’s medical record. Trends up or down can be identified early, and minor feeding adjustments can be made. Minor modifications are always easier to make than major transformations.

On behalf of all at the VCMS we hope that this can assist you to provide the very in care for your pet. For further information and any questions relating to your pet’s health, we advise you to speak to your vet.