Feeding to Manage Obesity
Obesity is the most common form of malnutrition affecting dogs in western countries. Estimates suggest that up to 45 percent of dogs and up to 13 percent of cats in these countries are obese. Obesity can be judged from normal weight ranges published for pure-bred dogs. Normal ranges for a breed depend on height and conformation so subjective evaluation is needed for deciding where an individual falls in a its range. Many owners of definitely overweight animals believe their pet's weight to be "just right." Because obesity develops gradually, owners cannot objectively evaluate an pet's condition and believe that it is obese. Current recommendations are to begin a weight management program if a pet is 15 percent or more over its ideal weight.
Causes of Obesity
Gender and breed influences. People offer many causes for obesity. Female dogs and cats are believed to be more likely obese than males. There is no evidence for gender being a primary factor, however. Neutering is a cause but obesity is secondary to neutering. Reduced physical activity, caused by the neutering, is the primary cause. There may be a greater tendency for obesity in some dog breeds. No scientific studies support that, however. Other factors believed to predispose an animal to obesity include older age, feeding owner-prepared foods, having an obese owner, and having a middle aged or elderly owner. These factors all relate to food intake and physical activity. The primary cause of obesity is intake exceeding expenditure of energy, too much food and too little exercise.
Metabolic diseases. In some dogs (less than 5 percent) the cause of obesity is endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, insulin deficiency or excess, and hyperadrenocorticism. The possibility for endocrine causes shows the need for physical examinations and laboratory evaluations before management of obesity.
Juvenile and adult basis. The physiological basis varies for different forms of obesity. Increased food intake causing obesity in adults promotes fat accumulation in existing adipose cells. Numbers of fat cell do not increase; they merely enlarge. Overfeeding during growth increases fat cell numbers. Weight reduction is more difficult with increased numbers of fat cells than with increased fat in a normal number of cells. Thus, growing animals must not be overfed. Recommendations for feeding commercial pet food result in young animals being overfed. Larger sized dogs should be fed 15 to 20 percent less food than recommended. This reduction lessens orthopedic problems associated with overfeeding.
Satisfying an appetite. Today, the world tells people to "go for it" and to not deny any of their wants. Why shouldn't all members of a family, including the pets, be recipients of that advice? The pet food industry teaches us to give our pets foods that taste good; do not deny them the pleasures of life. The pet food industry's primary goal is to produce a food the animal will like better than any competitor's. Television commercials show how well a dog or cat will chow down on the food being advertised. No one should deny a pet its pleasures any more than people are willing to deny their own.
Is obesity OK or not OK? When obesity results from owners satisfying eating pleasures, pets will not be presented for treatment of obesity. Of pets examined for obesity (or maybe the owner acknowledges an obesity identified by a veterinarian), most will not remain under treatment. Of those that remain under treatment, most will not lose weight. Of those that lose weight, most will regain it. Unacceptable medical problems are the best reason for owners to successfully manage obesity. Many medical problems are not resolved without a weight loss.
Obesity's Effects on Health
The most common medical problems caused or aggravated by obesity include arthritis. There are many drugs for management of arthritis. At best they are of temporary value. Aspirin continues to be effective with few side effects. Newer nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs injure gastrointestinal mucosa. If drugs are ineffective, an pet's weight must be reduced to manage arthritis. Owners will reduce a pet's weight when they recognize that only weight reduction can help and that untreated obesity can shortened and terminate life. Additional diseases and medical problems associated with obesity in dogs include orthopedic problems such as herniated intervertebral discs and ruptured stifle ligaments. Obese animals also have difficulty breathing and maintaining normal circulation. Breathing and circulatory problems aggravate heat intolerance to produce an additional problem. Obese pets are more likely to have diabetes mellitus and skin problems. Surgery is more difficult in obese animals and they heal with more complications. Obese animals are also more likely to develop complications or reactions with anesthesias. Despite these problems owners are not likely to reduce their pets' weight. The exception is likely to be orthopedic problems forcing lameness. Owner are forced to do something; the problem is unacceptable.
Evaluation and Management of Obesity
Management of obesity is importantly directed at client education. Success
in weight reduction is possible with effective client education. Often
little education is done. Obese pets are weighed and examined and owners are
sold a prescription diet formulated for weight reduction. (Although millions
of dollars are spent on prescription diets annually, few of these diets have
had any clinical trials done to prove their claims.) A prescription diet is
not likely to be successful for weight reduction unless owners understand
what to expect. Client education is more important than any diet.
Prescription diets are not necessary for weight reduction. Pet owners can
prepare an effective diet.
Evaluation of the obese animal. Obese animals should have a complete medical checkup before beginning any management. Included should be a history and physical examination. The physical determines whether ribs and the dorsal spine are easily felt. Size of lumbar and lower abdominal fat pads are examined. Presence of a waist and folds of fat in the cervical and other areas are noted.
Laboratory tests are used to identify the five percent of animals with medical problems causing obesity. Included are complete blood count and chemistry panel. Usually no other laboratory tests are needed.
Management of obesity. Management and client education for obesity should be based on the following protocol. The protocol includes steps that are simple and easy to comprehend. The protocol is essential for successful weight reduction.
1. Estimate the pet's normal or optimal body weight or use tables listing normal weights for the breed.
2. Knowing the pet's current body weight and the normal or optimal weight, calculate the body weight to be lost. Loss of body weight will occur only when energy intake is less than expenditure.
3. Calculate the calories in each pound of fat that must be lost. The amount lost equals the sum of daily calorie deficits that can be achieved. Calories lost or burned from fat equal the difference between calories consumed and calories expended as energy.
4. Estimate the calories to feed based on the pet’s normal, not currently obese, weight. The number of calories burned for energy depends on the size of muscle mass. For practical purposes, only muscle burns nutrients for energy. Muscle mass is small in obese states. Feeding caloric requirements for normal nonobese weights, does result in weight loss, however. Therefore, animals are fed no more than 50 percent of requirements based on normal body weight.
5. Calculate how many pounds should be lost each week. Weigh the pet weekly to insure that the estimations are correct for deciding caloric intake. Also check that there is compliance by all family members who could feed the animal.
Calculations for a Reducing Program. To calculate the amount of food to feed in a weight reduction program record or calculate the following:
A. Current body weight (in pounds) = _____________
B. Desired body weight (in pounds) = _____________
C. Body weight loss to achieve B (A minus B) = _____________
D. Kilocalories to lose (C X 3500) = _____________
E. Energy requirements for normal weight
(use table or 125 X (normal weight in kg)0.75 = _____________
F. Energy level to feed (one half E) = _____________
(energy level to feed is 50% of needs)
G. Energy obtained from burning of animal
fat stores in one week (7 X F) = _____________
H. Pounds of fat lost each week
(G divided by 3500) = _____________
I. Weeks needed to lose excess fat
(C divided by H) = _____________
To feed F, the energy level to feed each day, it is necessary to know or calculate the number of calories in the diet being fed. Commercial pet food labels do not show the number of calories per pound, can or cup of food. Thus it is necessary to calculate the number of calories by using information found on the pet food label or call the manufacturer for that information. Use the minimum amount of fat and the maximum amount of ash and moisture, as listed on the label to approximate metabolizable energy (kilocalories) per ounce of any pet food. The calculations are as follows:
1. Add the percentages of fat, moisture and ash. If the label does not list the ash percentage, use figures of 2.4 (canned meat), 3.1 (canned meat and cereal), 4.7 (semimoist), 8.4 (dry food), and 9.6 (dry "high protein" foods).
2. Subtract the total of 1. above from 100.
3. Add the number from 2. above to 2.5 times the fat percentage. The sum equals the calories in each ounce of food.
4. Divide the sum from F by the sum from 3. to calculate how many ounces of food to feed each day.
EXAMPLE: Canned fortified meat diet
1. add percent of fat, moisture, ash
Other
examples of calculations for determining caloric content of commercial pet
foods are found in the section on feeding to meet energy requirements of
dogs and cats. You
can also feed owner-prepared pet foods. To do so requires comprehensive
tables listing the caloric content of food ordinarily eaten by humans which
animals can eat. This has been done for all the recipes in this website. You
can feed any of the recipes in the section on feeding a normal dog or cat.
The caloric content is given for each of these diets.
2. subtract 1. above from 100
= - 86 = 14
3. multiply fat percent by 2.5 = 7 x 2.5 = 17.5
4. add results of 2. and 3. above = 14 + 17.5 = 31.5 kcal per ounce of
diet
Other examples of calculations for determining caloric content of commercial pet foods are found in Chapter 7 on feeding to meet energy requirements of dogs and cats./p>
You can also feed owner-prepared pet foods. To do so requires comprehensive tables listing the caloric content of food ordinarily eaten by humans which animals can eat. This has been done for all the recipes in this book. You can feed any of the recipes in the chapter on feeding a normal dog or cat (Chapter 12). The caloric content is given for each of these diets.
Example of Calculations for Weight Reduction in an Obese Dog:
A. The dog's current body weight = 55 pounds
B. The dog's ideal body weight = 44 pounds
C. Body weight loss to achieve B = 11 pounds
D. Kilocalories to lose = 38,500 kcal
E. Energy needs for 44 pound condition = 1,248 kcal per day
F. Energy needs to reduce weight = 624 kcal per day
G. Energy from dog's fat burned weekly = 4368 kcal per week
H. Pounds of fat lost per week = 1.248 pounds
I. Number of weeks to gain normal weight = 8.8 weeks
If you feed the fortified canned meat diet, the dog receives 31.5 kcal per ounce of food. This represents 19.8 ounces of food to provide a total of 624 kcal per day. Most canned dog foods contain approximately one pound of food. Thus the dog eats a little more than a can of food daily.
Requirements for a Reducing Program to be Successful
Changing eating habits. Success for a weight reduction program depends on the owner recognizing that a complex and well-established routine of habits must change and they will not change easily overnight. Everyone involved must understand the behavior that has to change. Pet owners must be involved in planning any reducing program for which they will be responsible. The entire family must be involved for the program to be successful. Changes in a pet's and family's habits must also be realistic. As noted earlier, obesity prevails because pets become inactive. Their activity reflects family members' activity. If possible, family members should exercise the pet. That is realistic only if there is someone willing and able to exercise the pet. If an infirm or elderly person owns and can't exercise the pet, it is unrealistic to believe that the pet's activity will increase. Also, the pet may be inactive because it has health problems that would make exercise hazardous to its well‑being.
Restriction of food intake may appear severe. Reducing caloric needs by half will cause pets to use every means for coaxing owners into feeding what it wants. Feeding more than the recommended amount slows and may prevent weight reduction.
Muscle burns calories. Muscle tissue burns calories and the amount of muscle usually is the same in a normal weight dog as when it gains 10 to 30 pounds of fat. Muscle mass grows only with increased physical activity;, that can increase caloric requirements. Each additional pound of muscle can burn 60 calories a day.
It is essential that all caloric calculations be based on estimations of the animal's normal weight. The nature of the diet is not that important. Only the caloric content of the total daily intake is important.
Weight reduction diets. Any complete and balanced diet can be fed in a weight reduction program. Success is less likely if the diet resulting in obesity remains unchanged. Feeding a low-calorie prescription type of diet may be helpful. Such diets are low in fat and high in fiber so that an ounce of food contains 20 percent (or more) fewer calories. Larger volumes are consumed to gain a given number of calories. Distention of the digestive system by food is one signal curbing appetite. Any low caloric-density diet accomplishes that.
"Filling the animal up" with low calorie and high fiber foods does little to satisfy most obese pets. They continue to beg for more and other foods. Dietary fiber reduces digestion and absorption which reduces the calories used. Commercial pet foods prepared for special uses, such as weight reduction, are expensive, and they offer little advantage over any other diet.
Low-calorie owner-prepared diets. Diets prepared by owners are more likely to be successful in reducing weight. Low-calorie foods can be selected and fed. A dog can eat anything humans eat. Vegetables and some fruits are consumed by many dogs. They provide few calories because dogs don't chew and grind their food as people; less nutrition (calories) is provided. Foods like lettuce are often a welcomed treat that stops a pet from begging. Lettuce is practically void of calories when eaten without salad dressing.
Claims are made for commercial pet foods being complete and balanced, and for owners being unable to prepare such a diet for their pets. The petfood industry convinces owner that any diet they prepare will not be complete and balanced so that health problems are likely. Industry's promotes commercially prepared foods; it does not want owners to prepare diets for their pets.
It is easy to prepare diets for dogs and cats. Their nutritional requirements are similar to peoples'. Humans don't have to rely on purchasing and eating a "complete and balanced" commercial food to stay nutritionally satisfied. They choose and eat foods that are needed and remain healthy. Veterinarians have experience with many dogs and cats that eat diets prepared by their owners. Signs of deficiencies are rare. Sometimes a single food such as meat or liver is eaten and signs of deficiency should appear, but they don't. Owner-prepared diets could need added vitamins and minerals. No studies show that animals on weight reduction programs require any such additions.
Feeding foods to minimize fat deposition. All foods contain calories but not all are converted equally to fat. Much of the calories burned daily is for processing of a meal. That amount can be greater than expended in muscle activity. During processing of dietary fat only two percent of its calories are needed for its deposition in adipose tissue. The body needs more calories to convert dietary protein and carbohydrates to fats for storage. About 25 percent of the calories in these foods are burned for their conversion and storage as fat. Thus, feeding a diet containing the same number of calories as fat rather than proteins and carbohydrates, results in greater fat deposition. Feeding fat is more likely to make a pet fat.
Fewer calories convert to fat when an animal’s metabolic rate increases. Omega-3 fatty acids increase metabolic rate so more energy is burned. These fatty acids are abundant in fish and some vegetable oils such as flaxseed. Omega-3 fatty acids are also available as a supplement from health food sources.
Other foods that increase metabolism include vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fruits. They are rich in fiber which slows digestion and absorption, resulting in more stable blood glucose. Fluctating blood glucose resulting in periodic high levels stimulates release of hormones that promote fat production and storage. Fiber also binds lipolytic enzymes and fats themselves, thereby reducing fat absorption. Fiber increases intestinal transit which also reduces fat absorption.
Metabolic processes require vitamins and minerals. Providing these nutrients assures optimal metabolic rates for burning calories. Humans supplement their diets with chromium, which helps the body to lose fat and retain muscle tissue. Chromium is proven effective for this purpose in pets. Some amino acids are essential for proper fat metabolism. Methionine and lysine are needed to make carnitine which is needed to carry fatty acids into mitochrondia where they are metabolized. Inadequate carnitine causes more fat to be stored than metabolized.
Some spices such as ginger, cayenne pepper and mustard increase metabolism in humans. Little is known about their effects in pets. Such spices can be used if they cause no clinical problems.
Some novel nutrients may be useful in weight reduction. Citric acid is found in citrus fruits. Hydroxycitric acid is a similar compound found in the rind of a small tropical fruit people in Southern Asia have valued for centuries. This substance can curb appetite, increase metabolism, and inhibit fat synthesis. It is available in health food stores.
Establishing a feeding schedule. One person should be designated to measure (weighing out is the most accurate) the entire daily amount to feed and do the feeding. The animal is fed alone (not with other dogs or cats) in two feedings. Twice a day feeding often satisfies better than a single feeding. More frequent feeding may be more beneficial. Eating very small meals minimizes conversion of carbohydrates and proteins into fat. Fasting followed by gorging promotes fat gain. No treats whether they are leftovers or biscuits are fed unless their caloric content is calculated and finds room in the daily caloric allowance. Pet should be excluded from areas where family's meals are prepared or eaten.
Neighbors and house guests are advised of a pet's dietary restrictions and that they are important for health reasons. Also, a pet’s environment is monitored. It is not possible to control the diet of an pet having unrestricted freedom in the neighborhood; it is not difficult for it to find food.
Weigh a pet to monitor progress. Pets should be weighed periodically during the weight reduction program. All dogs and cats should be weighed weekly or monthly during their lifetime so that owners can recognize any changes. Frequently, owners will not recognize changes in body weight until they are marked. During weight reduction losses may appear small but a weight loss of one pound per week for a medium or large size dog is a sign of success. Animal should be weighed the same time of day because its weight can vary throughout the day. Weighing can be in the morning before feeding. The pet's weight should be recorded on a calender.
Exercise and weight reduction. Although physical inactivity is an important cause of weight gain, control of food intake is essential for reduction. Knowledge about excercise and weight control can help in a weight reduction program. Increasing energy expenditure by promoting exercise is not an easy way to reduce body weight. Exercise as an adjunct to weight reduction has some psychological value to the pet owner, but alone will do little for the pet. For both an obese, aged dog with respiratory and cardiac problems, and an aged or infirm owner, increased exercise could be dangerous. Also, obese animals are generally reluctant to exercise, although there can be some success when their owners run or jog regularly. If an animal's weight reduction and maintenance program is to include exercise, it should begin after the pet has lost most of its excess weight. It may be helpful to note that people who walk more than 30 minutes each day for at least a year can lose 10 to 40 pounds without any dietary restrictions.
Drugs for weight reduction. People would like reduce weight for their obese pets by giving medication rather than following any dietary restrictions or increasing exercise. No such medications are effective for weight reduction in dogs or cats. Drugs used but ineffective include amphetamines to reduce appetite, thyroid hormones to increase metabolism, tranquilizers, diuretics, etc.
Starvation for weight reduction. The fastest and most effective way to reduce weight is by starvation. Complete starvation reduces body weight to approximately 75 percent of pre-starvation weight within five to six weeks. The 55‑pound dog in the earlier example should lose 14 pounds to drop to 75 percent of its weight. If nothing is eaten, it should lose about one-third pound a day. In one week it would lose about 2.5 pounds and five weeks 12.5 pounds. Studies verify such loses with starvation.
Owners could not starve a pet for four to six weeks. Furthermore, starvation is not humane. Regulatory branches of the government, which oversee animal experiments to assure that humane treatment, judge starvation of dogs, cats, or other animals as inhumane. This is not the same for humans who choose starvation for weight reduction. They can make the choice; animals cannot.
If owners cannot starve a pet, it could be hospitalized and observed during starvation. Few adverse effects would be recognized. People who starve to lose weight develop medical complications from rapid catabolism of excess fat. Although complications are not recognized in dogs, blood glucose decreases, products of incomplete fat metabolism increase and the liver accumulates fat. Despite that some studies on dogs starved for three to six weeks report no adverse clinical or biochemical changes. Because many significant changes can occur during complete starvation it should not be used to manage obesity in dogs.
Starvation may succeed in reducing weight during hospitalization for five to six weeks but it will be expensive. More important, the pet may readily regain the lost weight when it returns home. This is likely because the owners were not involved with the "pangs" of weight reduction. These owners learn no compelling reasons for changing the lifelong habits that led to obesity. Owners will not fully appreciate the changes essential to prevent regain of lost weight. People who suffer through weight loss find it nearly impossible to change their habits and prevent a regain of lost weight. When owners know even less of what is involved in their pet's obesity problem, it will be even more difficult to prevent a regain of lost weight.
Obesity in Cats
Cats are often obese but not with the frequency seen in dogs. Cats probably can regulate food intake better than dogs so fewer become obese. The weight of obese cats can be reduced but this requires greater monitoring because they are more prone to developing complications. When a cat stops eating, fat accumulates in the liver within one week and by two weeks the situation is invariably pathological. That is in contrast to the dog where starvation of obese animals for five to six weeks has little adverse effect. Accumulation of fat in the liver results in hepatic lipidosis. Affected cats stop eating and quickly develop jaundice. Without immediate treatment they die, often within days. Whenever a cat is presented by an owner who knows it hasn't eaten for more than one week, the animal should be tube-fed as the first and most important step. That should be done before any diagnostic tests are done. Problems with hepatic lipidosis are more serious than most other problems that the cat could have.
Weight Reduction Diets for Dogs
The following diets are low fat, high protein and some are high carbohydrate. They contain more fiber than maintenance diets. Vegetables are added for the additional fiber. Caloric content is given for each recipe. The tables showing a dog's caloric requirements are used to determine how many calories a pet requires when its body weight is normal. Half that amount is fed to obese dogs.
Each recipe gives caloric content and for what size dog that amount would be appropriate. A given dog is not likely to weigh the amount that each recipe or half a recipe provides. Increase or decrease the size of a recipe to meet a pet’s needs. Recipe can be made in large batches and divided into portions for meeting a pet’s needs. Diets can be refrigerated or frozen in portions needed for one day. Daily portions can be heated or warmed to room temperature before feeding.
The following example can be used to decide how much to feed each day. In this example an overweight pet weighs 35 pounds and should weigh 25 pounds. Using the table Daily Caloric Requirements for Adult Dogs, a 25 pound dog should eat 772 kcalories a day. Reduce this by one-half, however, so the dog should eat 386 kcalories. The following chicken and boiled rice diet provides 624 kcalories. Therefore, feed only about 60 percent of this amount. If the amounts in this diet are tripled so that its total calories are 1872 it will feed the 25 pound dog for about 5 days (1872 divided by 386).
As another example one batch of the chicken and rice diet containing 624 kcalories provides caloric needs of a dog of 7 to 8 pounds (normal, nonobese weight) for four days.
Vegetable Supplements. To each of the following diets vegetables can be added. They are not necessary but their addition should help satisfy a pet's appetite. The number of calories added with the inclusion of vegetables is as follows:
Asparagus, cooked 1/2 cup 22 kcalories
Broccoli, cooked 1/2 cup 23 kcalories
Brussels sprouts, cooked 1/2 cup 30 kcalories
Cabbage, cooked 1/2 cup 16 kcalories
Carrots, cooked 1/2 cup 35 kcalories
Celery, cooked 1/2 cup 11 kcalories
Green beans, cooked 1/2 cup 22 kcalories
Peas, green, cooked 1/2 cup 67 kcalories
Peppers, sweet, cooked 1/2 cup 12 kcalories
Spinach, cooked 1/2 cup 21 kcalories
Squash, summer, cooked 1/2 cup 18 kcalories
Tomato, cooked 1/2 cup 30 kcalories
Turnip, cooked 1/2 cup 14 kcalories
Uncooked vegetables contain few available calories. If they are included or fed as snacks it is not necessary to calculate their caloric contribution to the pet's intake. They provide additional fiber.
Commercial fiber preparations can be added to the diet. Claims are made for fiber helping to curb an animal's appetite but that has not been proven. Examples of fiber that can be added include wheat bran and forms of cellulose. A medium-size dog (25 to 40 pounds) can be given one to two heaping teaspoons of fiber in its food daily. If the amount greatly increases the volume of feces, reduce the fiber given. If fiber supplementation has no effect on satisfying the animal's appetite there is no good reason to continue giving fiber.
Chicken and Boiled Rice Diet
1/2 pound (weight before cooking) poultry (228 gms)
2 cups rice, long-grain, cooked (320gms)
1/4 teaspoon nosalt (salt substitute-potassium chloride)
1/10 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 624 kcalories, 49.4 g protein, 4.7 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 47 to 48 pound
dog (normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the daily
caloric needs for weight reduction in a 19 pound dog (normal nonobese
weight).
Chicken and Potato Diet
1/2 pound (weight before cooking) poultry (228 gms)
3 cups potato, cooked with skin (369 gms)
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 620 kcalories, 49.6 g protein, 4.7 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 47 pound dog
(normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the caloric needs
for weight reduction in a 19 pound dog (normal nonobese weight).
Egg Whites and Potato Diet
4 egg whites, cooked
3 cups potato, cooked with skin (369 gms)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (3 gms)
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 491 kcalories, 22.4 g protein, 2.8 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 34 to 35 pound
dog (normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the caloric
needs for weight reduction in a 13 to 14 pound dog (normal nonobese weight).
Egg Whites and Boiled Rice Diet
4 egg whites, cooked
2 cups rice, long-grain, cooked (320 gms)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (3 gms)
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 495 kcalories, 22.2 g protein, 3.2 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 34 to 35 pound
dog (normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the caloric
needs for weight reduction in a 13 to 14 pound dog (normal nonobese weight).
Cottage Cheese and Boiled Rice Diet
1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1% fat (113 gms)
2 cups rice, long-grain, cooked (320 gms)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (3 gms)
1/4 teaspoon nosalt (salt substitute-potassium chloride)
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 512 kcalories, 22.6 g protein, 4.3 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 36 to 37 pound
dog (normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the caloric
needs for weight reduction in a 14 to 15 pound dog (normal nonobese weight).
Cottage Cheese and Potato Diet
1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1% fat (113 gms)
3 cups potato, cooked with skin (369 gms)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (3 gms)
1/2 teaspoon bone meal powder (3 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 508 kcalories, 22.8 g protein, 3.9 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a 36 to 37 pound
dog (normal nonobese weight).
One-half of this recipe supplies the caloric
needs for weight reduction in a 14 to 15 pound dog (normal nonobese weight).
Weight Reduction Diets for Cats
An owner must be more careful in reducing a cat's weight than a dog's. The caloric requirements of cats should be fed at a level of no less that 60 percent of normal. Feeding less can result in a cat developing hepatic lipidosis. It occurs most frequently in obese cats that suddenly stop eating, sometimes for only a week. The following diets provide 60 percent of a cat's calories based on its normal body weight.
The diets do not contain any beef, lamb, or fish such as sardines because they are high in fat. High amounts of fat are not detrimental because of a risk for causing fatty liver, however. The fat content should be low in a reducing diet for cats so they receive the high amounts of protein they require, and weight reduction will be more efficient on a low fat diet.
Cats usually do not choose to eat vegetables. They are not necessary. It is also not necessary to supplement their diet with fiber.
Salmon Diet
5 ounces salmon, canned with bone (low salt) (143 gms)
0.5 calcium carbonate tablet (oyster shell 500 mg)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 215 kcalories, 28.8 g protein, 10.2 g fat
Supplies the daily caloric needs for weight reduction in a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds.
For a cat that normally weighs 9 to 10 pounds feed 80 to 90 percent of the amount in this recipe.
Salmon and Rice Diet
5 ounces salmon, canned with bone (low salt) (143 gms)
1/3 cup rice, long-grain, cooked (53 gms)
0.5 calcium carbonate tablet (oyster shell 500 mg)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 284 kcalories, 30.2 g protein, 10.4 g fat
Feed 75 percent of this recipe to a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds, 67
percent to a cat that normally weighs 10 pounds,
and 60 percent to a cat
that normally weighs 9 pounds.
Tuna Fish Diet
8 ounces tuna, canned in water, without added salt (228 gms)
1 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (5 gms)
1/4 teaspoon bone meal powder (1.5 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 300 kcalories, 57.4 g protein, 6.4 g fat
Feed 75 percent of this recipe to a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds, 67 percent to a cat that normally weighs 10 pounds, and 60 percent to a cat that normally weighs 9 pounds.
Tuna Fish and Rice Diet
4 ounces tuna, canned in water, without added salt (114 gms)
1/3 cup rice, long-grain, cooked (53 gms)
1/2 teaspoon vegetable (canola) oil (3 gms)
1/4- teaspoon bone meal powder (1.0 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 219 kcalories, 30.1 g protein, 3.4 g fat
Feed 100 percent of this recipe to a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds, 90
percent to a cat that normally weighs 10 pounds,
and 80 percent to a cat
that normally weighs 9 pounds.
Chicken Diet
1/2 pound (weight before cooking) chicken (boneless breast) (228 gms)
1/4 teaspoon bone meal powder (1.5 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
provides 239 kcalories, 45.8 g protein, 4.8 g fat
Feed 100 percent of this recipe to a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds, 90
percent to a cat that normally weighs 10 pounds,
and 80 percent to a cat
that normally weighs 9 pounds.
Chicken and Rice Diet
1/3 pound (weight before cooking) chicken (boneless breast) (150 gms)
1/3 cup rice, long-grain, cooked (53 gms)
1/4 teaspoon bone meal powder (1.5 gms)
1/5 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet (made for adult humans)
season with salt substitute (potassium chloride)(about 1/4 tsp)
provides 308 kcalories, 47.2 g protein, 4.9 g fat
Feed 75 percent of this recipe to a cat that normally weighs 11 pounds, 67
percent to a cat that normally weighs 10 pounds,
and 60 percent to a cat that
normally weighs 9 pounds.
Low-calorie Biscuits or Treats
Summary
An understanding of what to expect in reducing an obese animal is essential for success. Living patterns must be changed for both owners and their pets. Making calculations on how many calories a pet needs is essential for success. It is also necessary to understand how much weight an animal can lose each week. Weight reduction is a slow process. No dramatic losses of weight should be expected. Owners can prepare an effective weight reduction diet for a pet. More care is necessary for reducing the weight of an obese cat than an obese dog.
References
Edney ATB, Smith PM: Study of Obesity in Dogs Visiting Veterinary Practices in the United Kingdom. Vet. Rec. 118:391-396, 1986.
Wolfsheimer KJ: Obesity in Dogs. Compend. Contin. Educ. Pract. Vet. 16:981-998, 1994.