Farrah: Hind limb lameness and obesity case study | Canine Arthritis Resources and Education

Background

Farrah, a 1.5 y FS Labrador, presented with a 6-month history of left hind limb lameness and more recent history of right hind limb lameness. She had possibly sustained an injury to her left tarsus when she was a puppy.

Functional Limitations: Jumping up (bed and car), going downstairs, getting up from lying down

Current medications: Rimadyl 150 mg, once a day

Current diet:

Orijen Fit and Trim- 1 cup, twice a day (804 calories)
1-2 marrow bones daily (750-1500 calories)
Occasional other treats
- Total daily calories: at least 1550

Physical exam

BCS: 8/9
Bodyweight: 91 lbs
% overweight: 30%
Ideal BW: 64 lbs
Posture: Caudal pelvic tilt with weight shifted to front limbs and off of LH limb
Gait: Bilateral hind limb lameness, characterized as short strides with decreased swing phase and reduced stifle flexion.
Palpation: Bilateral stifle effusion with positive cranial drawer (no cranial tibial thrust or meniscal click). Decreased left tarsal ROM with periarticular fibrosis. Spine and thoracic limbs normal.

Diagnosis

Obese
Bilateral CCL disease (suspect partial tear/ Grade 2 sprain)
Left tarsal OA- OCD vs. prior trauma

CARE QUAD Customized Plan

Nutrition Plan

Ideal BW: 63 lb (28 kg)
Current daily calories: 1550
Daily caloric requirement based on Ideal Body Weight (IBW):
- RER=852 (the number of calories needed each day once IBW reached)
- 80% of RER = 681 (daily calories to reach IBW)
Alternative method: 20% fewer calories than currently eating
- 1550- (1550 x 20%) = 1240

There is a BIG discrepancy here! The biggest problem with Farrah’s current diet is the daily marrow bones. If we take those out and feed 20% of just her food, we get:

804- (804 x 20%) = 643

Now, these numbers are close! Let’s take the average and say 660 cal/ day.

Treats + Food Calorie Allotment

Treat allowance = 10% of daily calories= 60 calories
Food calories: 600

Caloric Content of Food

Current Food – Orijen Fit and Trim (dry):

402 cal/ cup (42% protein)
- She would get 600/402= 1.5 cups/ day or 0.75 cups twice a day plus 60 calories in treats (view chart of low-calorie treats at bottom of the article)

Weight loss diets are less calorie dense (typically with lower protein and fat content and more calories coming from fiber and other carbohydrates). This allows for a greater amount of food to be fed; this may be a good option for dogs during the weight loss phase if they always seem to be “starving.”

Weight Loss Diet Options

Purina Pro Plan OM (dry):
- 266 cal/ cup (26% protein)—600/266= 2.25 cups/ day
Royal Canin Weight Control Large dogs (dry)
- 267 cal/ cup (26% protein)—600/267= 2.25 cups/ day
Science Diet Metabolic + Mobility (dry)
- 291 cal/cup (28% protein)—600/291= 2 cups/ day

Weight Loss Plan:

The goal is 1lb weight loss/ week.

This should take 30-40 weeks to meet the target (Ideal Body Weight).

Ideally, the client should do weekly weigh-ins using the same scale. At a minimum, the client should do a once a month weigh-in.

Due to bilateral CCL disease, long leash walks are not possible or recommended prior to surgery.

Recommend 5-10 minute leash walks, 3x day for the first month. Additionally, underwater treadmill (UWTM) exercise is recommended 2-3x/ week.

Low-Calorie Treats

Treat/Food	Size	Calories	Notes & Tips
Snap peas	1 cup (8 oz)	26	About 25 medium sized snap peas
Green beans	1 cup (8 oz)	33
Celery	8-inch stalk	6	This is the clear winner of bang for your buck!
Broccoli	1 cup (8 oz)	33	About 9 medium heads of broccoli
Baby carrot (fresh, uncooked)	“Large”, 15 g	5	Chop or slice the carrot into smaller pieces rather than giving the entire carrot to make this treat go even further!
Asparagus	1 cup (8 oz)	27	About 10 medium spears
Blueberries	1 cup (8 oz)	85	About 135 small to medium blueberries
Canned pumpkin	1 tbsp	5	NOT pumpkin pie filling, plain canned pumpkin. This is a winner and great substitute for peanut butter or cream cheese- but be careful—too much pumpkin can cause diarrhea or constipation.