Total Dog Magazine

Tag: dog obesity

  • Fat Dogs Are Not Funny, Says Celebrity Vet

    Fat Dogs Are Not Funny, Says Celebrity Vet

    Videos celebrating overweight dogs have been viewed over 90MILLION times on TikTok, research by VetChef reveals.

    The study by the fresh pet food platform, highlights how widespread the worrying content is across all major social media platforms.

    On Facebook, Instagram and Reddit alone, VetChef has discovered there are ONE MILLION members or followers of groups devoted to overweight dogs.

    Fat breeds getting the wrong sort of attention

    Breeds which feature most in these groups are some of the UK’s most popular including pitbulls, frenchies, pugs, terriers and beagles.
    On TikTok, videos are shared using hashtags including: #chonkydogs, #fatdog, and #chubbypuppy.

    The term “chonky” has come to be used by many social media users to show their approval of overweight dogs. It first came into use in 2016 in a Twitter group called ‘Chonky Animals’.

    VetChef founder and pet nutrition expert Dr Joe Inglis comments:

    “While it is always a delight to see the joy pets bring, it is worrying that the trend of normalising and glorifying pets that are actually clinically overweight is on the rise.

    “The scale of content celebrating overweight dogs on social media is simply breathtaking – with clips hailing so-called ‘chonky’ canines viewed over 90million times on TikTok.

    “The unfortunate reality is that overweight pets are likely to have a lower quality of life, as they are more likely to develop serious health conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis and cancer.

    “The breeds that seem to be most commonly featured across social media also already have a number of hereditary health problems, which are likely to only be exacerbated by being overweight.

    Joe adds: “In the UK, obesity is one of the leading, ongoing health issues we face with our pets, with 50% of pets now being classed as overweight.

    “We can all be guilty of ‘fat blindness’ when it comes to our pets, especially over the past year when a lot of us have spent more time at home with our canine companions.

    “But our pets rely solely on us as their owners to keep them as fit, healthy and happy as possible, so it is our responsibility to ensure they are getting the right amount of daily exercise, fed a fresh diet that caters to their individual needs and to recognise when they are actually at an unhealthy weight.

    “At VetChef we are committed to helping pet parents do the very best for their animals by helping to feed them a diet of all-fresh, natural produce through a bespoke recipe plan.

    “These meals are all tailored to each individual animal’s needs, and are even designed to help with weight management, as they include the right amount of calories the pet needs based on their weight and body condition, which can then help them lose weight if necessary. The taste and texture of homemade recipes are also better than processed foods, so will help make a diet regime much more enjoyable for the dog.

    “As part of our mission for healthier, natural diets for our pets, we’re now calling on all pet owners to avoid celebrating their overweight animals – and instead celebrate them looking fit and healthy.”

    On Facebook one of the most popular groups celebrating overweight dogs is named The Galactic Empire Of Chonky Woofers. Only a year old it already has over 16,000 members.

    On Instagram there are over 40,000 posts with the hashtag #chonkyboi.

    #fatdog is the most popular TikTok hashtag with 72million views, followed by #chubbydog (10m) with #fatdogs (4.4m) in third.
    VetChef is the brainchild of veterinary surgeon Joe Inglis who is a familiar face on the nation’s TV screens thanks to his appearances on The One Show and This Morning.

    The free VetChef recipe app plans your dog’s recipes, and Buddy, the new VetChef pet food maker does all the hard work. The site also offers a variety of supplements, including an obesity supplement, K905, which contains L-carnitine that helps promote the conversion of fat into muscle.

    The platform can also help with tackling pet obesity, as it allows owners to feed exactly the right level of calories their dog needs to achieve their ideal weight, as well as helping manage many chronic health conditions such as skin and digestive problems.

    The Biggest Fat Pet TikTok Hashtags

    Rank

    		 Hashtag Views
    1. #fatdog 71.7million
    2. #chubbydog 10million
    3. #fatdogs 4.4million
    4. #fatpuppy 1.9million
    5. #chubbypuppy 1.4million
    6. #fatdoggo 693,000
    7. #chunkydog 295,000
    8. #chonkydogs 109,000
    9. #chunkydogs 90,000
    10. #fatpupper 67,000

  • Think Your Dog Is Overweight? You Need To See This

    New study reveals that weight loss in obese dogs is associated with improvement of several health markers.

    • In parallel, another study finds that one third of dog owners do not recognise when their pet is overweight

    • In advance of Pet Obesity Awareness Day, Purina shares insights on some of the studies backed by the Company as a reminder of the role that behavioural science can play in supporting pets and their owners to improve the quality of life for pets.

    A study backed by Purina shows that weight loss in obese dogs is associated with significant improvements of health measures like metabolic status, cardiovascular parameters, life quality and immune-regulation, adding further evidence to the importance of maintaining a healthy weight in pets.

    [bctt tweet=”Weight loss in pets is already known to have benefits including reducing the risk of arthritis, a healthier coat and an improved quality of life, but this research also reveals the positive effect on the immune system” username=”topdogtips”]

    This new evidence comes as pet obesity risks are being exacerbated by global lockdowns. From 2015 to 2018, incidence of obesity and overweight classifications in dogs has grown by 2%, and by 1.3% in cats. This may worsen in global lockdowns due to changes in daily routines for owners and pets that impact on pets’ feeding behaviours and exercising activities.

    In the study, a cohort of 11 obese dogs were put through a six-month weight loss programme. When compared with a control group of dogs of a healthy weight, the obese dogs showed clinical improvements on a number of key indicators related to immune function, such as reduced tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, known to impair insulin action in metabolic tissues but also favour cancer development in humans.

    Hugues du Plessis, Pet Obesity Prevention Manager, at Purina said: “Preventing pet obesity is a major focus at Purina. We not only want to be providing pet owners with information on the benefits of a healthy pet lifestyle, but we also want to help them achieve it. This is why we are working with partner organisations to understand how behavioural science can be used to support owners, from the recognition of an issue, to the changes that will make a difference. ”

    The importance of educating owners is evidenced in another study, conducted by Purina in collaboration with experts from five universities, that revealed 33% of pet owners could not correctly identify when their pet was overweight.

    Including 3,339 dog owners across five countries – France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom -, in addition to showing that owners often struggle to accurately assess whether their dogs are a healthy weight, this new research also found that owners with healthy weight dogs were more likely to have support from friends for exercising and to understand that owning a dog can have costs. These findings add to the knowledge on the root causes of pet obesity and reinforce the need to keep exploring solutions focused on prevention and treatment.

    In fact, prioritising pet health and providing owners with support from the start of pet ownership is essential, as evidenced in a landmark Purina study that showed maintaining an ideal body weight from puppyhood throughout life can increase the lifespan of the dog by 1.8 years, and significantly delayed the onset of chronic diseases associated with aging, like osteoarthritis.

    As part of Purina’s purpose to ‘create richer lives for pets and the people who love them’, the Company is committed to helping reduce the risk of pet obesity through its continuous work with partners across Europe.

  • Bulky Beagle Sheds The Pounds & Look At Him Now!

    Bulky Beagle Sheds The Pounds & Look At Him Now!

    A formerly heavy hound from Middlesbrough has been named biggest loser in the UK’s largest pet slimming competition after shedding an incredible 34% of his bodyweight in just six months.

    Alfie the Beagle once weighed-in at a whopping 4st 10lbs (30kg), – 67% over his ideal weight (2st 12lb/18kg). His health was at serious risk from his excess pounds, say PDSA vets. But after pounding the streets and cutting back on the excess food, he’s lost a third of his bodyweight and wowed the Pet Fit Club judges. He is now a much healthier 3st 1lb (19.7kg)

    Each year, PDSA helps the country’s fattest pets take on a strict six-month diet and exercise challenge, specially tailored and overseen by the charity’s vets and nurses.  Pet Fit Club helps our four-legged friends slim down, and raises awareness of the serious health and welfare implications of pet obesity.

    Since its launch in 2005 the Pet Fit Club competition has helped 79 dogs, 37 cats and 8 rabbits lose a total 71 stone – equivalent to a grand piano (or 16,000 doughnuts!)

    The winner: Alfie’s tail

    Owner, Emily Simcox (25), adopted Alfie, the bulging Beagle, five years ago. Alfie was already seriously overweight and found it difficult to get around.

    Emily has been trying to help Alfie slim down ever since but back in April, admitted she needed help from PDSA to shake off some bad habits.

    She said: “Taking part in PDSA’s Pet Fit Club is unquestionably the best thing I have ever done. Seeing the transformation in Alfie has been incredible. He’s a completely different dog and we’re over the moon.

    “Before, he was sluggish, tired and looked sad a lot of the time. He couldn’t even walk up the stairs; he’d struggle half way up and then had to stop for a rest before getting to the top. On walks, he would sluggishly walk towards a ball we’d thrown and often wouldn’t bother even trying to bring it back. But since being on the diet his tail hasn’t stopped wagging! He leaps and bounds, and is so full of energy.

    “Before Pet Fit Club, I would continually feed him treats as a way of showing how much I love him. Those eyes are so hard to resist. But we know now that we were drastically affecting his life by doing this and it was no good for him. It was heart-breaking to say no at first. I felt as though I was starving him. But with the help of the PDSA team, we managed to stick with it and learn to say no.”

    Alfie’s diet hasn’t been without its slip-ups, said Emily: “I was making a cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen counter. I walked back in the room to find Alfie licking his lips, and the cheese sandwich gone!

    “I want other people to realise there’s help out there. You don’t need to be embarrassed about having an overweight pet. I hope others are inspired by Alfie’s story and take their pet to the vets for advice and support. Alfie is proof that change is possible – we’ll never look back!”

    Alfie’s weight-loss has been supervised by PDSA vet nurse Steph Williams, from Middlesbrough PDSA Pet Hospital. She said: “Alfie’s transformation over the last six months has been incredible. He is unrecognisable from the dog that waddled into our hospital for his first weigh-in six months ago. He’s much healthier and will be able to enjoy a much happier life.

    “His owners Emily and Neil have been very dedicated to adjust his lifestyle for the better. They have listened to all the advice and stuck to the diet religiously. It’s helped increase Alfie’s exercise levels and showed what can be done with determination!

    PDSA vet nurse Katy Orton, who helped to judge the competition, added: “It has been great to watch Alfie transform over the past six months. His success is testament to the hard work of his owners and our PDSA veterinary team at Middlesbrough Pet Hospital.

    “Pet obesity is a growing issue that affects millions of UK pets. Up to forty per cent of dogs and cats in the UK are estimated to be overweight or obese. Recognising a healthy body shape is an important first step, so we are encouraging pet owners who are concerned about their pet’s weight to speak to their vet or vet nurse as soon as possible. This expert advice can help owners make the necessary changes to ensure their four-legged friends lead a happier, healthier life.”

    PDSA Pet Fit Club – The Results

    NAME STARTING WEIGHT FINAL WEIGHT TOTAL WEIGHT LOST % WEIGHT LOSS Result
    Alfie

    Beagle

    Middlesbrough

    		 4st 10lbs (30kg) 3st 1lb

    (19.7kg)

    		 1st 9lb

    (10.3kg)

    		 34% Winner
    Lola

    Rabbit

    Derby

    		 1st 2lbs (7.4kg) 12lb

    (5.6kg)

    		 4lb

    (1.8kg)

    		 24%

     

    		 Highly Commended!

    Biggest rabbit weight-loss ever
    Pumpkin

    Cat

    Aberdeen

    		 1st 8lbs (10.2kg) 1st 5lb

    (8.74kg)

    		 3lb

    (1.46kg)

    		 14% Top cat
    Barnaby

    Cat

    Derby

    		 1st 4lbs (8.1kg) 1st 2lb

    (7.45kg)

    		 2lb

    (0.65)

    		 8% Runner-up
    Milo

    Cat

    Margate

     

     

    		 1st 12lbs (11.8kg) 1st 11lb

    (11.2kg)

    		 1lb

    (0.6)

    		 5% Runner-up
    TOTAL 10st 9lb

    (67.5kg)

    		   2st 5lb

    14.81kg

    		    

    Since its launch in 2005 Pet Fit Club has helped 79 dogs, 37 cats and 8 rabbits lose a total 71 stone – equivalent to a grand piano or 16,000 doughnuts!

  • Are Carbs Making Your Dog Fat?

    There is a significant difference between humans and dogs in their need for carbohydrates and in their ability to digest them. The digestive tract of a human is longer than that of a dog, and the formation of jaws and teeth is entirely different. A dog’s digestion starts in the stomach. Dogs’ teeth – all 42 of them – are built to tear flesh apart. Dogs gulp their food as fast as they can, which then reaches the stomach with no digestion having taken place.

    Are carbs making your dog fat

    Human digestion starts in the mouth. A human chews food with 32 teeth, which have flat surfaces for grinding and breaking down food. Enzymes contained in the saliva contribute to this breakdown of the food, which is being digested before it reaches the stomach.

    Carbohydrates come in two forms, simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates come from grains such as wheat, corn, rice, oats, soy and millet. They break down into starches and sugar when properly cooked. Complex carbohydrates come in the form of various fibers such as brans, hulls and peanut shells from the outside of plants. A small amount is needed for proper digestion and stool formation. Nutrients are obtained from both sources, but most come from simple carbohydrates.

    If carbohydrates are a major part of your dog’s diet, the time and energy needed for digestion increase, the dog performs less well, large amounts of stool are produced, and a protein deficiency disease may develop. Dogs have evolved as meat eaters and although they need some grains, their health and longevity will be better served on a diet containing more animal protein than protein from grains.

    Think about the origin of the dog. It is unrecorded in history that wolves lit fires and cooked grains picked in fields! But there were whole carcasses available that contained everything needed for wolves to survive, including predigested vegetable matter in the intestinal tracts of their prey.

    The reason the majority of dry dog foods contain such large amounts of cereal grains is that grains are a cheap source of nutrients. According to the NRC guidelines, “Carbohydrates provide an economical source of energy in the diet of dogs.”

    Allergic reactions to grains are common in dogs. The best diet for your dog matches that fed in the breed’s country of origin as the breed developed. Each dog is an individual, and if yours refuses to eat his food, check the grains listed on the package. The dog may balk because of an allergy to one of the grains in the food.

  • Dog Obesity Warning: Overweight Dogs Die Young

    Dog Obesity Warning: Overweight Dogs Die Young

    Fat pets will die young warns PDSA as it launches biggest ever pet health campaign – Long Live Pets

    The UK’s pet owners are warned today that they are killing their pets with kindness, as new PDSA figures show dog obesity is rising at a dramatic rate!

    Dog Obesity Map

    Leading veterinary charity, PDSA used the first day of Crufts to reveal its dog obesity map. This ties in with the launch of its ‘Long Live Pets’ campaign, the PDSA’s biggest ever pet health initiative, designed to promote a healthy life for all pets and starts by addressing the weighty issue of obesity.

    PDSA has also developed its own version of Body Condition Scoring to help owners learn more about a healthy body shape and to help them identify when their pets are piling on the pounds.

    Sadly, dogs, like humans, are failing to win the battle of the bulge, with many owners putting their animal’s lives in danger by feeding them chocolate*, ready meals and fatty foods. One in three dogs seen by PDSA PetCheck nurses are overweight.

    Dog Obesity Health Problems

    This means that the life ‘pet-spectancy’ of many beloved UK pets will be cut short as a result of this obesity epidemic, warns the charity for pets in need of vets. An overweight Labrador for example, could have its life cut short by as much as two years and is more likely to develop chronic diseases such as arthritis when younger. Overweight pets are more likely to develop conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart and kidney problems.

    PDSA Chief Veterinary Surgeon, Richard Hooker, says: “Our Long Live Pets initiative will address key pet health issues, starting with pet obesity. It is our biggest ever pet health campaign, and our objective is to implement a number of pet health care initiatives such as our Pet Fit Club slimming competition and national sponsored dog walk, which will raise awareness and hopefully achieve positive results for obese pets and address the burgeoning waistlines of the UK pet population.

    “As the UK’s leading veterinary charity we provide over 1.8 million treatments to sick and injured pets every year, which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise on important pet health issues. As such, we have a duty of care to educate owners about the health and lifestyle needs of their pets to ensure they have the best quality of life possible.”

    PDSA pet health checks of more than 9,000 dogs** during 2006 and 2007 reveal which UK regions are home to the portliest pooches. Nationally, PDSA data also shows a dramatic rise of 9 per cent in the number of overweight dogs seen in 2007 – 30 per cent of dogs health checked in 2007 were considered overweight, compared to only 21 per cent in 2006.

    When applying PDSA’s 30 per cent overweight figure to the entire UK dog population (around 6.5 million) it means that around 1.95 million UK dogs are overweight! And, if each of those pets was carrying just one extra inch around their waist that would make for one gigantic waistline – stretching the length of more than 500 football pitches!

    The PDSA study also shows that hotspots for overweight pets are areas where people are more likely to be obese. PDSA found the number of fat pets in the Midlands stood at 29 per cent in 2007 compared to 19 per cent in 2006. Recent human obesity figures*** showed the Midlands had the largest number of people classed as obese. Meanwhile, the lowest dog obesity figures were in London at 19 per cent. Human obesity is also low in the Southeast. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all score poorly on dog obesity with 30 per cent classed as overweight by PDSA veterinary staff. The overall worst region for dog obesity is the Northwest where 31 per cent of dogs seen are overweight.

    Interestingly, child obesity figures also mirror PDSA’s dog obesity statistics with one in three Year 6 children classed as overweight or obese.****

    Richard Hooker, adds “Kindness can be misplaced and feeding any animal too many treats can have serious health consequences. The research we have done shows that there is a real need for owners to help their overweight pets lose those excess pounds. Controlled portions of pet food and regular exercise are vital to ensure a healthy life for all our pets. In a nutshell, exercise, nutrition and body awareness are key.”

    Case study:
    PDSA pet slimming success story, Scooby, will be the star of Crufts after losing 2.5kg and four inches from her waist while taking part in PDSA Pet Fit Club, a 100 day diet and exercise programme. A table will be laid out with the food Scooby ate before her diet including fish and chips, curry, pizzas and ice cream. Scooby now enjoys a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle and has continued to lose weight in recent weeks.

    At the start of her diet, Scooby was carrying 81% extra weight and 8 inches too many around her waist! If all of the overweight dogs in the UK were carrying Scooby’s extra inches, that would mean 15.6 million excess inches or 246 miles of dangerous flab, nearly twice the length of the M25! And this is probably just the tip of the iceberg as most dogs in the UK are a lot bigger, and wider than Scooby.

    Thanks to her weight-loss, Scooby now has a much improved quality of life and will no doubt live a lot longer than she would had she remained dangerously overweight.
    For more information about PDSA visit www.pdsa.org.uk

    Obesity is one of the most common health related problem to affect dogs, especially older ones. An overweight dog is generally an unhappy dog and subsequent health problems can drastically reduce a dog’s life and render his later years void of any real quality.

    Dog Obesity Kills Silently

    All dogs relish a tasty treat and they are an excellent way to reward good behaviour, but if overused your dog could end up suffering from obesity before you even realise you are spoiling him. It is important to pay close attention to your dog’s diet for many reasons, but particularly if your dog is overweight.

    A balanced diet is essential to keeping a dog fit and healthy.

    Modern prepared foods contain an adequate supply of essential nutrients without too many calories, as do many home mixed diets.

    Complete, dry dog food is popular today, as it is an easy to prepare meal which contains a good supply of all the right nutrients – provided you do your research and select the most appropriate food for your particular dog and their individual lifestyle.

    Commercial canned foods, whether mixed or on their own, are a good source of nutrition and are easy to prepare and store. Some dog owners favour a nutritional supplement to add to the dog’s meal, rice is a good source of carbohydrates and is easily mixed with other foods.

    Certain treats make a nutritious supplement to a meal and also serve as a good reward for him, but dog biscuits alone to not offer adequate nutrition to be served as meal on their own.

    The majority of young, healthy and active dogs are at a low risk of becoming overweight as the majority of their calorific intake is used during play.

    If you have ever taken your dog off his lead in a large forest or field you will have noticed that he will always do more miles than you because he runs off and comes back as you are walking. This is one of the reasons that he is so healthy. But there will come a point in his life when he is unable to do as much exercise so it is important to control his diet accordingly.

    However, during his more active years it is still important to take care of his diet to ensure that he is receiving a good balance of protein and other valuable nutrients. Your vet will be able to advise you on this matter should any uncertainty arise.

    You may not notice it at first, but should your dog become obese there are certain tell tale signs apart from the obvious physical weight gain. A diminished level of activity not conducive to his age is always a cause for concern, but a likely cause is that he has put on a little weight.

    Another symptom is laboured breathing. If your dog struggles for breath after an activity which he once could do effortlessly then perhaps it is time to get the scales out. As a dog owner it is often difficult to notice if your dog is putting on weight because you see him every day. But paying close attention to other elements of his physical state may enlighten you to any weight problems.

    As the majority of dogs become I their later years it is often difficult for them to loose weight through increased exercise, so it is up to you as a dog owner to monitor and control what the dog eats. A good way of doing this is by simply reducing portion size.
    Be careful about overfeeding a dog on treats

    Be careful about overfeeding a dog on treats

    It is often the case that a regular portion of dry or complete dog food offers more than enough nutrition and therefore it is quite possible to reduce the meal sizes without affecting the nutritional intake of the dog. You should have a target weigh in mind and plan thoroughly the weight loss programme so you can monitor his progress. One advantage of a dieting dog is that he will never sneak a biscuit on the sly so you can keep an exact record of what he has eaten.

    As a dog owner it is important for you to be disciplined. Your dog will probably not notice the reduced size of his meals. But you will, so be sure not to sneak him a treat and hope it does not affect him, because it will, and you will be doing him no favours. So no matter how hungry he looks it is imperative that for him to loose weight you must stick religiously to the diet, or there will be absolutely n point in even starting it.

    * Chocolate can poison dogs and other pets, because of the toxic effects of theobromine – a common component of chocolate intended for humans. In dogs the effects of chocolate poisoning appear within 4 to 24 hours of ingestion and can have fatal consequences.

    ** Results are based on over 9,000 dogs given PDSA pet health checks between March and October 2006 and March and October 2007.

    *** Human obesity research by Southampton and Portsmouth Universities on 18,000 adults. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=454673&in_page_id=1770

    ****Results from the National Child Measurement Programme launched in 2005

  • My Dog Is Overweight, What Can I Do?

    My Dog Is Overweight, What Can I Do?

    My 2 year old lab/collie cross is about 10lbs overweight. I need to get her weight down quickly as she suffers from dysplasia and now has a problem with a luxating patells, which need to be operated on. She is having very limited exercise at the moment and obviously none for a few weeks when the operation takes place. I have recently started her on IAMS low fat dry food, and an amount to help her lose weight. She needs to lose it quickly is there anything else I can do to help?

    Dr Monica Lundervold,  veterinary services manager replies.

    I’m sorry to hear your lab/collie cross is suffering from dysplasia. You are completely right that it is vital for her to lose weight before the operation. Iams Light is formulated for dogs that need to lose less than 15% of their body weight. It contains lower levels of fat, and also L-carnitine, a vitamin like compound which burns fat and helps maintain muscle condition.

    Helping Dog Lose Weight

    If fed according to the guidelines, weightloss will occur at a rate of roughly 0.5% per week. If your dog weighs 60 lbs, that is around 1lb per month, ie she will need 10 months to lose the weight. In her case this may be too long, so if your vet agrees, you could decrease the amount she is fed by a further 20-30%.

    It is important for her health that she does not lose weight quickly, the fastest should be 2% per week, ie losing 1lb per week over a 10 week period.

    This can be achieved asking your vet for a veterinary prescription diet especially for obese dogs (eg Eukanuba Restricted Calorie). The most important part of any diet is that the dog sticks to it, you must make sure no family members are feeding any titbits.

    If your dog is begging, it is a good idea to split her daily ration into 3 feeds a day, and to shut her out of the kitchen / dining room while you are eating / preparing meals. If you want to feed treats it is better to take out a handful of her daily portion of food, and keep that aside for using as treats.

    Remember that some dogs beg just because they want attention, and that you can play with them or stroke them instead of giving food. I would also advise frequent trips to your vet to have her weight checked. This is especially important as you should feed her according to her current weight, decrease her food intake as she loses weight. Good luck!