Canine obesity in the UK
Around 25 to 59% of pet dogs in the UK are estimated to be obese (1). It may be difficult for some owners to admit that their dog is obese; because you guessed it, it’s probably their fault!
Obesity is defined as excess energy storage in the form of tissue, whereby health and longevity is negatively impacted. A positive energy balance means that there is more available energy than required energy (12) — A continuous positive energy balance will result in obesity.
How do you know if your dog is obese?
A dog is considered obese if their body weight is 15% above what it should be (1,2,10). Ideal body weight varies according to several factors including size and breed. A vet or reputable breeder will be able to tell you the optimum weight of your dog specifically, or indeed if they are obese.
You may’ve had your BMI calculated by a doctor at some point; well now-a-days vets can do something similar. Other methods include body condition scoring and morphometry which is measuring parameters that relate to body composition (11, 13).
Behavioural changes can even be an indicator; does your dog seem lazy or lethargic? — Reduced activity, energy, enthusiasm and comfort have been linked to dogs that are overweight and obese (1).
We can perform the rib-test at home:
If you can feel ribs without having to apply too much pressure, chances are your dog is not obese. If you can’t feel their ribs or it requires more than gentle pressure, you’ve probably got a podgy pooch.
Please note: this is just an estimate and will not give a definitive answer.
How did this happen?
Disease
In relatively fewer circumstances, hormonal disorders (such as hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocortism) can lead to obesity in dogs (13). Under-active thyroids are associated with weight gain in humans, similar is true for dogs. The prevalence of canine hypothyroidism however is around 0.2% only (very rare), with less than ½ of those affected being obese (13).
Predispositions
Older dogs and neutered dogs are known to have an increased risk of obesity (3). Neutered females particularly show an increased risk compared to entire males (8,9,10). It is difficult to pinpoint reasons for this, in reality there are multiple factors relating obesity to age, gender and neuter status.
Some common breeds in the UK have a predisposition to being obese. These include; Labradors (no.1 in UK), Spaniels (both Cocker and Cavalier King Charles) and Beagles (5,9). Recent research has identified a gene likely to be involved in canine obesity.
This gene is associated with body weight and appetite control. You may be interested to hear that a mutation to this gene (whereby it is depleted) is very common amongst Labradors, particularly those that are obese (6,7)! This mutation is less common in flat-coated retrievers, but again increases in obese individuals — So maybe there is a reason why labs are always hungry!
Activity vs. Requirements
A small lap dog will need less energy than say, a working snow dog; in this case, the snow dog needs more calories and can eat more fat, as dietary fat is quickly metabolised for energy during exercise.
The lap dog will have a lower energy and fat requirement in comparison.
In layman’s terms, a dog that plays fetch 3x/day will need to be fed more than one of the same breeds and size that gets 2 short walks. Unsurprisingly, a recent UK study showed a correlation between short/infrequent walks and over-weight dogs (3).
Kind to be cruel
How many of you have given your dog the odd crisp or digestive biscuit? According to Hill’s pet nutrition, these ‘treats’ are much worse than we think for our dogs; a small biscuit fed to a 9kg dog is the calorie equivalent to an adult woman eating a full meal (4)! — If you think even our bodies aren’t designed for refined sugar, this is especially true for dogs!
You’d be surprised how these small treats can add up. We all love our pets, but we could be killing them with what we perceive to be kindness!
Health implications
There is less research to support obesity as a cause of animal disease compared to humans. However, reported associations include (but are not restricted to) (13):
1. Diabetes
2. Anaesthetic risk/ complications
3. Orthopaedic disorders (including osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia)
4. Cardiovascular disease
5. Respiratory disease
6. Tumours
7. Reproductive disorders
8. Urinary disorders
9. Reduced lifespan
The take-home message:
The cause of canine obesity can vary where certain individuals are predisposed. Usually though, it’s because owners are feeding too much and/or exercising to little. It may seem obvious but in most cases of canine obesity, the easiest and most effective solution is diet and exercise management. As the owner, you are responsible for what your dog eats and how much exercise they get! Vets can better evaluate your pet and even offer ‘prescription diets’; often restricting feed to an appropriate level is sufficient. Prevention is always better than cure, so scrap those tit-bits and get your walking boots on!
Marco Crisci
References
1. Yam, P., Butowski, C., Chitty, J., Naughton, G., Wiseman-Orr, M., Parkin, T. and Reid, J. (2016). Impact of canine overweight and obesity on health-related quality of life. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 127, pp.64–69.
2. Gossellin, J., Wren, J. and Sunderland, S. (2007). Canine obesity: an overview. Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 30(s1), pp.1–10.
3. German, A., Blackwell, E., Evans, M. and Westgarth, C. (2017). Overweight dogs exercise less frequently and for shorter periods: results of a large online survey of dog owners from the UK. Journal of Nutritional Science, 6.
4. Hills Pet Nutrition (2017). Learn What Human Food Does to Your Pet's Weight | Hill's Pet. [online] Hill's Pet Nutrition. Available at: http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/pet-care/nutrition- feeding/human-food-treat- translator [Accessed 26 May 2017].
5. The Kennel Club (2017). The Facts on Dog Obesity • The Kennel Club. [online] Thekennelclub.org.uk. Available at: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/activities/get-fit- with-fido/the- facts-on- dog-obesity/ [Accessed 27 May 2017].
6. Raffan, E., Becker, J., Yeo, G. and O'Rahilly, S. (2014). The coding sequence of POMC and obesity and appetite in Labrador retriever dogs. The Lancet, 383, p.S86.
7. Raffan, E., Dennis, R., O’Donovan, C., Becker, J., Scott, R., Smith, S., Withers, D., Wood, C., Conci, E., Clements, D., Summers, K., German, A., Mellersh, C., Arendt, M., Iyemere, V., Withers, E., Söder, J., Wernersson, S., Andersson, G., Lindblad-Toh, K., Yeo, G. and O’Rahilly, S. (2016). A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene Is Associated with Weight and Appetite in Obesity-Prone Labrador Retriever Dogs. Cell Metabolism, 23(5), pp.893–900.
8. McGreevy, P., Thomson, P., Pride, C., Fawcett, A., Grassi, T. and Jones, B. (2005). Prevalence of obesity in dogs examined by Australian veterinary practices and the risk factors involved. Veterinary Record, 156(22), pp.695–702.
9. Edney, A. and Smith, P. (1986). Study of obesity in dogs visiting veterinary practices in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Record, 118(14), pp.391–396.
10. Colliard, L., Ancel, J., Benet, J.J., Paragon, B.M. and Blanchard, G. (2006). Risk factors for obesity in dogs in France. The Journal of nutrition, 136(7), pp.1951S-1954S.
11. Witzel, A., Kirk, C., Henry, G., Toll, P., Brejda, J. and Paetau-Robinson, I. (2014). Use of a novel morphometric method and body fat index system for estimation of body composition in overweight and obese dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 244(11), pp.1279–1284.
12. Courcier, E., Thomson, R., Mellor, D. and Yam, P. (2010). An epidemiological study of environmental factors associated with canine obesity. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 51(7), pp.362–367.
13. German, A.J. (2006). The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats. The Journal of Nutrition, 136(7), pp.1940S-1946S.
