Dog Owner Dashboard

Weight Loss

Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs.

Summary:

To investigate whether a controlled physical training plan for overweight dogs during a weight loss program would improve cardiorespiratory fitness and better preserve lean body mass, compared with results for dogs undergoing a weight loss program based on caloric restriction alone.

Conclusion:

Conclusion:The controlled exercise plan used with a dietary weight loss program prevented loss of lean body mass in dogs. This finding supports inclusion of controlled physical training for obesity management in dogs.

Author & Journal:Vitger AD, et al. JAVMA 2016
Learn More

Understanding the relationship between body weight and osteoarthritis.

Summary:

Overweight people are at high risk of developing knee osteoarthritis (OA) and may also be at increased risk of hand and hip OA. Furthermore, being overweight accelerates disease progression in knee OA. While the increased joint stress accompanying obesity may explain the strong linkage between obesity and knee OA risk, it does not necessarily explain why obese people have a high risk of disease in the hand nor why obese women are at higher comparative risk of knee disease than obese men. Unfortunately, studies of metabolic factors linked to obesity have not provided an explanation for these findings.

Conclusion:

There are a paucity of data on weight loss as a treatment for OA, but preliminary information suggests it is especially effective in knee disease and that even small amounts of weightreduction may have favourable effects.

Author & Journal:Felson DT, et al, Ballieres clin Rheumatol 11: 671-681, 1997
Learn More

The effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis.

Summary:

This paper describes the effect of weight loss on lameness in obese dogs with osteoarthritis (OA).

Conclusion:

The results indicate that body weight reduction causes a significant decrease in lameness from a weight loss of 6.10% onwards. Kinetic gait analysis supported the results from a body weight reduction of 8.85% onwards. These results confirm that weight loss should be presented as an important treatment modality to owners of obese dogs with OA and that noticeable improvement may be seen after modest weight loss in the region of 6.10 – 8.85% body weight.

Author & Journal:Marshall WG, et al, Vet Res Commun 2010;34:241-253
Learn More

Effect of weight reduction on clinical signs of lameness in dogs with hip osteoarthritis.

Summary:

To determine the effect of weight reduction on clinical signs of lameness among overweight dogs with clinical and radiographic signs of hip osteoarthritis.

Conclusion:

Results suggest that in overweight dogs with hind limb lameness secondary to hip osteoarthritis, weight reduction alone may result in a substantial improvement in clinical lameness.

Author & Journal:Impellizeri JA, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 216: 1089-1091, 2000
Learn More

Effects of caloric restriction and a moderate or intense physiotherapy program for treatment of lameness in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis.

Summary:

To evaluate the effects of a weight reduction program combined with a basic or more complex physical therapy programincluding transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on lameness in overweight dogs with osteoarthritis.

Conclusion:

Caloric restriction combined with intensive physical therapy improved mobility and facilitated weight loss in overweight dogs. The combination of dietetic and physical therapy may help to improve the health status more efficiently than dietetic treatment alone.

Author & Journal:Mlacnik E, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;229:1756-1760
Learn More

Integration of a physical training program in a weight loss plan for overweight pet dogs.

Summary:

To investigate whether a controlled physical training plan for overweight dogs during a weight loss program would improve cardiorespiratory fitness and better preserve lean body mass, compared with results for dogs undergoing a weight loss program based on caloric restriction alone.

Conclusion:

The controlled exercise plan used with a dietary weight loss program prevented loss of lean body mass in dogs. This finding supports inclusion of controlled physical training for obesity management in dogs.

Author & Journal:Vitger AD, et al, J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016;248:174-182
Learn More

Weight management in obese pets: the tailoring concept and how it can improve results.

Summary:

Obesity is now recognised as the most important medical disease in pets worldwide.

Conclusion:

In this opinionated review, the author will discuss findings from recent clinical research studies examining weight management in obese dogs and cats. A strategy for tailoring weight management targets will then be discussed, illustrated with case examples.

Author & Journal:German AJ, Acta Vet Scand 2016;58:57
Learn More

Success of a weight loss plan for overweight dogs: The results of an international weight loss study.

Summary:

Obesity is a global concern in dogs with an increasing prevalence, and effective weight loss solutions are required that work in different geographical regions. The main objective was to conduct an international, multi-centre, weight loss trial to determine the efficacy of a dietary weight loss intervention in obese pet dogs.

Conclusion:

This is the largest international multi-centre weight loss study conducted to date in obese dogs. Most dogs lost a clinically significant amount of weight, although there were notable differences between dogs of different sex, neuter status and in different geographical locations.

Author & Journal:Flanagan J, PLOS One 2017
Learn More

Incorporation of exercise, using an underwater treadmill, and active client education into a weight management program for obese dogs

Summary:

Physical activity improves outcome of weight loss in obese humans, but limited information exists for dogs. Eight obese dogs (body condition score 5/5), of various breeds and genders, undertook a 3-month weight-loss program which included exercise using lead walks and underwater treadmill exercise. The median number of treadmill exercise sessions per dog was 13 (range: 5 to 17). Median distance walked per session was 0.97 km (range: 0.05 to 2.7 km) (0.6 miles; range: 0.03 to 1.70 miles) and this increased sequentially over the course of the study (P < 0.001). Mean [± standard deviation (s)] percentage of starting weight loss over the 3 mo was 18.9 ± 5.44%, equivalent to a rate of weight loss of 1.5 ± 0.43% per week. Thoracic and abdominal girth also declined significantly during the program (P < 0.0001 for both).

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates the potential benefit of including an organized exercise regimen, utilizing an underwater treadmill, in conventional canine weight management programs.

Author & Journal:Chauvet A, et al, Can Vet J. 2011 May; 52(5): 491–496
Learn More