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Obesity in dogs
One of the questions posed in our Christmas quiz was ‘What is the commonest preventable disease of domestic dogs in the UK?’ I wonder how many people got the answer right. It was, of course, obesity. Over recent years obesity has become as much an epidemic in dogs as it has in humans. The disease is defined as excessive deposits of body fat that have occurred because the energy intake is greater than the amount of energy used. Being grossly overweight will cause suffering but even more importantly, the condition can endanger a dog’s life by contributing to other diseases such as diabetes, heart and respiratory problems, skin disease and arthritis; there is also a far greater risk involved should an obese dog need to be anaesthetised.
Some veterinary scientists blame the human-animal relationship for the boom in obesity because part of the unique bond formed between an owner and his dog involves the sharing of food. It is a pleasurable experience to give your canine companion both human food treats and high-fat, palatable dog treats but that is only part of the story. The convenience of commercial complete foods are also to blame. A measured amount of dried food in a bowl tends to look rather meagre and, to the human eye, can look pretty uninteresting. The temptation is to add more than is recommended to your dog’s bowl or to include some extra tasty morsels, but commercial dog food has been carefully formulated by scientists to optimise nutritional needs and to make the food palatable to dogs. Try standing the recommended amount of food in water for a while and you will see how the food swells to double the size; you will then understand why your dog feels replete after eating!
Humans lead a much more sedentary lifestyle than their ancestors and dogs have suffered as a consequence. In order for a dog to lose weight successfully, it will need to burn off the excess energy that is stored as fat in its body. Recommended portions of food for the size and breed of a dog assume that it is taking the required amount of exercise. The amount of exercise needed will vary between breeds. A working dog may need two to three hours of high activity a day whereas a King Charles spaniel will need considerably less.
Obesity is a condition that is treatable by reducing calorie intake and gently increasing exercise. Results will not happen overnight and the owner must be prepared to stick with the regime for several months. A specially formulated prescription diet is usually recommended as it ensures that essential nutritional requirements are met as well as reducing calorie intake. Exercise is an important part of a weight loss plan too but should be approached with caution. It is recommended that exercise is increased very gradually as too much exercise too soon can have serious implications on the dog’s health. Veterinary advice should be sought if a dog is elderly, suffering from arthritis, has a heart condition or is suffering any other physical ailments.
Finally, to use a well-worn phrase but one that is apposite, ‘prevention is better than cure’ and with careful management of diet and treats and the correct amount of exercise, obesity will never be a problem. Weighing your dog regularly will help you to assess his nutritional needs, but if this is not possible there are physical signs weight gain. A healthy dog should have a bit of a waistline, if the torso runs down in a straight line without nipping in below the ribcage or if there is a bulge, your dog is definitely overweight. You should be able to feel the ribs under a thin covering of fat. Looking at your dog sideways there should be an upward curve of the abdomen. Lastly, listen to your friends and relatives and if they tell you your dog is getting fat, do not be offended. When seeing a dog on a daily basis weight can creep on unnoticed but someone who has not seen your dog for a while is likely to be much more objective.
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