By Claudia Loomis
The statistics are alarming. Pet obesity rates have been on the rise in the US (and the world) over the past 10 years. According to a survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, in 2022 59% of all dogs are overweight or obese.
But many pet parents are unaware that their pets are overweight. According to the survey 32% of owners of overweight pets do not perceive their pets as overweight. Even more surprising 37% of all dogs are overweight by the time they are 6 months old.
Just as being overweight in childhood can set children up for a lifetime of health issues, being overweight as a puppy can set them up for a lifetime of obesity. The added stress on young bones and joints can lead to painful joint problems and arthritis. Obesity brings with it many other health issues, including diabetes, kidney disease, respiratory disease, and the early onset of cancer. However, the saddest statistic of all is that pet obesity shortens our pet’s lifespan by an average of 2.5 years. There is an emotional toll as well, as overweight pets are not as happy. Their quality of life diminishes as their waistline increases.
We all want our pets to live long and healthy lives, so it is up to us to take an objective look at our pets and determine their Body Conditioning Score (BCS)*. A score of 5 is ideal and a score of 6-9 is overweight to obese. Where does your dog fall on the scale?
*Body Condition Score (developed in the 1990’s by Dr. Dottie LaFlamme and adopted by veterinary organizations throughout the world)
If your dog scores a 6 or more, it is time to act!
Calculate Calories
But where should you start? The first thing that needs to be evaluated is how many calories your pet is consuming. It is more about calories than serving size.
The average dog’s caloric requirement or Resting Energy Requirement (RER) can be calculated as follows:
RER= 30 x weight in kg (or pounds divided by 2.2) + 70
For Example: An average 50 lb dog requires
30 x (50/2.2) + 70 = 751 kcals
But that is only part of the equation when determining how many calories a pet truly requires. Individual pet caloric needs vary over their lifespan and activity level. The number of calories your dog requires when they are 1 year old is greater than the calories they require after they are spayed or neutered, and greater than they require as they age. This is something that many pet owners may not be taking into consideration, as they continue to feed their aging pets the same amount of food they did when their dog was a youngster.
A puppy requires up to 80% more calories than an inactive adult. An intact adult requires 20% more calories than a neutered male. There are lots of factors to consider over the lifespan of a pet that reduce or increase their daily caloric need. So, it is easy to see how understanding the amount of food your pet requires can be confusing.
So, what is a dog owner to do? Now that you can calculate your dog’s RER, you can use the chart below to increase or decrease your dog's daily calories.
You may not need to change their favorite food; just change the number of calories by changing the portion size you are feeding.
It is also important to note that daily calories include food plus treats. The number of calories consumed outside of mealtimes is often overlooked by most pet owners. Calories consumed when we give our dogs treats and chews need to be counted and included in their daily calories. It is important to read treat and chew labels to find out how many calories are being added to your pet’s daily calorie intake. Making healthy treat choices can go a long way in reducing your pets total daily caloric intake. Low calorie treats, and body part chews that are made from muscle meat are good choices. A bully stick instead of a pig ear, freeze dried chicken breast instead of a dog biscuit.
Add exercise to burn calories
The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on their age, overall health, breed and more. Generally, dogs should have at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily to maintain a healthy weight. Adding short play sessions and an additional walk will help burn more calories and increase your pet’s fitness level.
When adding exercise to your dog’s daily routine, pay close attention to how your pet is breathing, make sure that they are not overexerting. You can increase the amount of exercise as they lose weight and become more physically fit. Statistically overweight pet owners are more likely to have overweight pets. So, taking brisk or long walks with your dog benefits both you and your dog! Not to mention that our pets just love spending time with us. So, their emotional wellness is also improved.
Be patient and celebrate the little wins:
Becoming overweight took time. So too, getting to an ideal weight will also take time. Safe weight loss should be slow. There really are no fad pet diets. Pet owners should aim to see pets lose 1%-3% of their body weight per month. It is important to be consistent and dedicated to weight loss efforts. Many pet owners give up before they see the results. Set small goals and celebrate little victories along the way to achieving an ideal weight for your pet. Add an extra walk a day, find a great low calorie treat your pet loves, take your pet to get weighed (at a local pet store or vet’s office) once a week to monitor their progress. All the steps you take will keep you and your pet engaged in the process.
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