The running of daily practice is challenging and constantly evolving with the pandemic. The focus of care may have shifted from preventative health to treating mainly emergency cases, but new research published is showing how important a focus on preventative care can be to patient health in small animal practice. 

Purina weight loss study

A new study [1] backed by Purina investigated the effects of a weight loss programme on biochemical and immunological profile, blood leptin levels, and cardiovascular parameters in a cohort of dogs with naturally occurring obesity.  

The study found that weight loss in obese dogs is associated with significant improvements on metabolic status, cardiovascular parameters, alongside quality of life and immunoregulation, evidencing the importance of maintaining health weight in pets. 

This new evidence comes as pet obesity risks are exacerbated as a result of global lockdowns. From 2015 to 2018, incidence of obesity in dogs has grown by 2%, and by 1.3% in cats [2]. 

A cohort of 11 obese dogs that were otherwise clinically healthy were  involved in a six month weight loss programme involving a prescription dry dog food diet for weight management, alongside a control group of 11 dogs with an ideal body condition score. When compared to the control group, the obese dogs showed overall marked clinical improvements across a number of key indicators relating to immune function, such as reduced tumour necrosis factors  (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6.

Weight loss results

Bodyweight and morphometric measurements were recorded in the obese group before and after the six month programme. Ten out of the 11 dogs in the experimental group were found to have a reduced body condition score after completing the programme, and were no longer classified as obese. Ten out of 11 dog owners also reported an increase in their dog’s activity and quality of life.

Blood samples were also obtained from the obese group before and after completion of the weight loss programme. In comparison to the control group at the start of the trial, the obese dogs expressed higher serum leptin concentrations, which significantly decreased over the six month period they were observed. The metabolic status of the obese dogs, with a particular regard to dyslipidaemia, was also found to improve on completion of the weight loss programme. 

The results indicate that a weight loss programme involving a calorie-restricted diet can modify immune structure and, in some aspects, induce an overall homeostatic recovery of the canine immune response. The study also suggests that a more complete immune-regulating restoration could be obtained by a greater reduction in fat mass and a longer term weight loss programme. 

Educating owners on obesity

The importance of educating owners is evidenced by another study [3] conducted by Purina in collaboration with experts across five European universities [4], revealing that 33% of pet owners could not correctly identify when their pet was clinically overweight. In addition to showing that owners often struggle to accurately assess their dog’s weight, this new research also found that owners with dogs of a healthy weight were increasingly likely to have more support from friends with regards to exercising and with understanding the costs associated with dog ownership. These findings add to the knowledge of the causative factors leading to pet obesity, reiterating the need to continue research into prevention and treatment.

Prioritising pet health and providing owners with veterinary support from the start of pet ownership can be evidenced from a landmark Purina study, which found that maintaining an ideal body weight from puppyhood consistently throughout life can increase the lifespan of the dog by  1.8 years [5], and also significantly delay the onset of chronic diseases such as osteoarthritis [6]. 

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.” 

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 continuous work with partners across Europe.

The full study can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00398/full

References 

[1] Piantedosi D, Palatucci AT, Giovazzino A, et al. Effect of a Weight Loss Program on Biochemical and Immunological Profile, Serum Leptin Levels, and Cardiovascular Parameters in Obese Dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2020;7:398. Published 2020 Aug 6. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.00398

[2] APOP – www.petobesityprevention.org

[3] Webb, T. L., du Plessis, H., Christian, H., Raffan, E., Rohlf, V., & White, G. A. (2020). Understanding obesity among companion dogs: New measures of owner’s beliefs and behaviour and associations with body condition scores. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 180, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2020.105029

[4] The University of Sheffield, UK; Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia; Wellcome Trust-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK; La Trobe University, Australia; University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, UK

[5] Kealy, R. D., Lawler, D. F., Ballam, J. M., Mantz, S. L., Biery, D. N., Greeley, E. H.,…& Stowe, H. D. (2002). Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 220(9), 1315–1320. doi:10.2460/javma.2002.220.1315

[6] Lawler, D. F., Larson, B. T., Ballam, J. M., Smith, G. K., Biery, D. N., Evans, R. H.,… & Kealy, R. D. (2008). Diet restriction and ageing in the dog: Major observations over two decades. British Journal of Nutrition, 99(4): 793–805. doi:10.1017/S0007114507871686