Beat the Bloat!

Seven Top Tips for Dog Owners to Keep the Weight Off their Canine Companion

Studies have shown that 65% of adult dogs are overweight and 9% of dogs are obese. Worryingly, in young dogs less than two years old, around 37% were classed as overweight.

The consequences of this extra weight can be far reaching for our dogs. A study conducted retrospectively over 20 years showed that the lifespan of overweight dogs was reduced by two and a half years when compared to ideal-weight dogs.

The rise in obesity in dogs parallels the rise in obesity in humans, with dogs facing many of the same health risks. Dogs carrying excess body weight are more likely to suffer from other problems such as joint disease, lameness, breathing issues, an increased risk of developing certain liver diseases and types of cancer.

It goes without saying that being overweight impacts on the quality of life of dogs and researches from the University of Liverpool have suggested that obesity is the single greatest threat to our dog’s health. A study of 50 overweight dogs of various breeds and genders found that quality of life improved greatly when they lost weight.

So what can we do?

1. Choose the Right Food for Life-StageThere are foods that are specially formulated to meet the needs of puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs. It is not really possible to provide a food that is, ‘Complete and Balanced for all Life-Stages’! One size does not fit all when it comes to dog food.

2. Keep a Journal
Simply taking photos of our dogs and comparing them over time can be a proactive way of monitoring body weight and body condition throughout life. It doesn’t sound like much but a few pictures taken above the dog to show their waist could be fundamental in preventing overweight and obesity.

3. Try a Food Formulated Specifically for Weight Reduction
If your dog has a bit of weight to lose there are some specially formulated foods available to help with weight reduction and they have a different nutrient profile to those aimed at general adult maintenance. These foods have sufficient calories, protein, minerals and vitamins to avoid loss of muscle mass and prevent deficiencies which would be potential risk factors if we simply just fed less of the dog’s usual food to help them lose weight.

Older dogs in particular may benefit from these formulations because they help ensure that muscle mass, which naturally reduces with age, is preserved rather than being used as a source of energy. Weight loss foods have added soluble fibre which forms a gel in the gut, slowing down the digestion of the food and helping the dog feel fuller for longer.

Look for ingredients like sweet potato, pulses, vegetables (peas/mixed-vegetables/green beans) and fruits in the food or add them in yourself. A bag of frozen cubed vegetables is an easy way to do this, just steam a portion and add into the usual food. In addition some of the weight loss foods contain L-carnitine, a non-essential amino acid, which helps the body to switch to using fat as its main source of energy/fuel. More research is needed in this area.

4. Make Meal Times Fun
Lick mats, puzzle feeders, feeding toys and snuffle mats, can be fantastic ways of enriching meal times and treat times (and they make the food last longer too). Start easy and then build up the challenge by freezing the food that goes into the feeding toy.

A portion of low-fat cream cheese on a lick mat can be a treat as well as being very calming for the dog. Games like using some of the dogs food allowance scattered in a box of balls can be great fun – it is all about being creative and making meal-times fun!

5. Have a Feeding Plan
Weigh food with electric scales so that portions are controlled. Free choice feeding has been linked to dogs gaining excess weight.

Spreading out meal times can avoid hunger between meals by ensuring a slow release of energy over the day. Aim form two meals rather than one large one.

6. Consider Physical Activity Along-Side Complementary Therapies
A heavier body weight can put added strain on the joints during exercise and can limit the dog’s opportunity to a get sufficient amount of exercise. If your dog is overweight and has reduced mobility it may be worth considering some complementary therapies in combination with your diet and exercise programme.

Canine Massage Therapy can help the dog to resume normal activity and get the most from their daily exercise through restoration of pain free movement which has a positive benefit on mood and well-being. As well as benefiting the muscles, massage therapy can increase joint flexibility and range of movement by encouraging the production of synovial fluid within the joint. The Canine Massage Guild has a list of highly trained therapists in your area.

Hydrotherapy is a form of non-weight bearing exercise which can be of real benefit until the dog has managed to lose some weight and is able to weight bear more easily.

7. Don’t Forget Sleep and Rest
Poor rest and poor quality of sleep in a busy household may impact on the body’s ability to regulate appetite. Ensure there is a quiet safe-haven for your dog to rest within the home and consider which type of bed may be best for their breed/size.