Obesity in Dogs

By: Dr. Rebecca Remillard

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Pet Lovers

Treatment In-depth

Therapy recommendations are dependent upon the underlying cause of the obesity. Take your dog to your veterinarian for a complete work-up before beginning a weight loss program to rule out major diseases.

Recommendations for obesity due to excessive caloric consumption:

Lower your pet's daily caloric intake by 50 percent of that required for his ideal body weight.

Change the pet food product to one designed for weight loss and containing:

- less than 340 kcal per 100 grams of food on a dry matter basis

- between 5 to 10 percent fat

- between 10 to 30 percent crude fiber

- greater than 25 percent crude protein

Feed your pet a prescribed measured amount of food several times daily.

Give treats only as directed. Use specifically designed low calorie treats or give cooked or raw vegetables.

Increase exercise activity

Try getting your pet to swim. Swimming is excellent exercise for patients with orthopedic disabilities.

Return to your veterinarian for monthly visits for a weight check and appropriate adjustments in meal size.

Recommendations for obesity due to diabetes mellitus:

Often in the management of diabetes, a dietary change to a veterinary therapeutic diet is necessary for controlling blood glucose levels. The food should contain a moderate level of fiber (5 to 10 percent) with lowered levels of readily available carbohydrates.

Insulin treatments are individualized to the patient.

In some cases of diabetes, when the dog loses weight, the clinical signs of diabetes resolve and occasionally insulin treatments are no longer needed.

Recommendations for obesity due to hyperadenocorticism:

Medical management usually involves initial treatments and maintenance doses of Lysodren® (mitotane). Recheck visits are recommended with an ACTH test every 3 to 4 months.

In most cases, a weight loss program is not needed to return to an ideal body weight.

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