How to help overweight and obese pets lose weight successfully

Being overweight or obese is one of the conditions most frequently encountered by veterinarians in dogs and cats.

However, pet weight-loss programmes often do not succeed, and many participants drop out. One study found that more than half of the dogs involved put on weight rather than losing it.

In a recent study in the journal Animals, we suggest that pet weight management commonly falls short because it is treated too simply: as a dietary issue that can be resolved merely by giving animals less food.

Research indicates, however, that successful weight management in pets must also consider animal behaviour. Interactions between people and their animals are a major element of this.

How can I tell whether my pet is overweight or obese?

Body condition scoring is the method vets most often use to categorise an animal as underweight, at an ideal weight or overweight.

The Global Pet Obesity Initiative applies a 1–9 scale, on which a body condition score of 5 indicates ideal body weight.

Every point on the 1–9 scale equates to a 10% change in weight. For instance, an animal with a body condition score of 6 out of 9 is 10% overweight, whereas a score of 7 out of 9 indicates that the pet is 20% overweight.

Obesity is classified as a body condition score of 8 out of 9 (30% overweight) or higher.

How widespread are overweight and obesity in pets?

Around the world, roughly half of pet dogs and cats are overweight or obese, with middle-aged animals most often affected.

The biggest study, carried out in the United States and including nearly 5 million dogs and over 1 million cats, found that 50% and 13% of adult dogs had excess weight and obesity respectively. The corresponding figures for cats were 45% and 22%.

Substantial levels of overweight and obesity have also been documented in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and China.

Overweight and obesity occur more often in animals that are strongly food-motivated, have lower levels of physical activity – including cats kept indoors – and, according to some studies, have been neutered. Certain breeds, including Labrador retrievers, are genetically predisposed to obesity.

An owner's activity level, lifestyle and relationship with their pet can also affect that animal's obesity risk. Many owners experience “weight blindness” with animals they love, meaning they do not recognise that their pets are overweight.

Why are overweight and obese pets a concern?

As in people, excess weight and obesity in pets are linked to a greater likelihood of conditions including diabetes, heart disease, skin disease and cancer.

Extra weight can worsen problems such as osteoarthritis and raises the risk of heat stroke. Obese dogs and cats also have shorter lifespans.

Excess body weight may stop animals taking part in behaviours such as exercise, play and social interaction with people and other animals. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association identifies obesity as the most significant global animal welfare issue.

Why traditional pet weight management often fails

The usual strategy for helping a pet lose weight is restricting calories, increasing exercise and weighing the animal regularly. Although it appears straightforward, it frequently does not work.

When pets receive less food, they may appear hungry and step up their food-seeking behaviour, leaving owners feeling guilty. They can finish their smaller meals rapidly, then spend the extra time searching for food or asking for more.

Animals used to treats or leftovers from the family dining table may object when they are left out of these familiar rituals. This behaviour can be difficult to ignore, and many owners give in and offer treats.

Restricting calories changes metabolism and can initially lead to increased weight gain, while limited progress can discourage owners. Some dogs and cats are frightened by veterinary environments, and regular weigh-ins can feel too distressing for owners.

Together, these issues can discourage both owners and animals from continuing with a weight-loss programme.

How to help your pet lose weight successfully

1. Use reliable information to create a weight-management plan

Pets should be weighed regularly and assessed using body condition scoring. Owners can use body condition scoring charts for dogs and cats to assess their animals at home.

Pets that are fearful and dislike being weighed at the veterinary surgery can instead be weighed using scales at home. Crucially, record everything your pet eats, including treats and food they scavenge, and give this information to your vet.

A full dietary history makes it easier to devise a diet that suits the pet's preferences. For example, high-calorie foods can be replaced with lower-calorie alternatives.

2. Choose diets that are low in calories but highly satisfying

Diets intended for weight loss must be nutritionally complete. The most effective options reduce calories while still helping animals feel full after eating.

Low-calorie treats can be included within the daily food allowance, so animals do not feel excluded.

3. Give pets chances to hunt, find and forage for food

Offering the daily allowance as several smaller meals can increase the time spent eating and use additional calories.

Giving animals the chance to “hunt” for food through puzzle feeders, scatter feeding or “treasure hunts” enables them to display natural behaviours.

Animals may expend more energy and get greater enjoyment from food they can chew. They may also devote less time to “asking” their owners for food.

4. Expect begging behaviour

Animals accustomed to table scraps are likely to increase their attention-seeking efforts to obtain a reward. Such behaviour can be hard to resist, but responding to begging with a piece of food will only prompt pets to try harder.

Instead, aim to get ahead of the behaviour by offering a rewarding alternative, such as giving a dog a toy to chew in its bed while you eat your meal undisturbed.

Activities unrelated to food can also serve as useful distractions, including sensory gardens, digging pits, opportunities for climbing and interactive toys.

Pet weight loss is about helping animals enjoy more years of high-quality life. By using the right tools, rather than relying on calorie counting alone, we can help keep pets content and healthy.

Anne Quain, Senior Lecturer, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney and Rimini Quinn, PhD Candidate, School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.