Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feeding obese dogs during weight loss costs about the same
By German, A J et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2015·Department of Obesity and Endocrinology, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Feeding obese dogs during weight loss is on average cost-neutral.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 22 obese dogs was studied to see if the cost of feeding them a special weight loss diet would be a concern for their owners. It turned out that the average daily food costs during the weight loss program were similar to what owners were spending before starting the diet. This means that owners can feel more comfortable enrolling their dogs in a weight management program without worrying about spending significantly more on food. The dogs successfully lost weight, which is great news for their health.
People also search for: dog weight loss diet cost · how much to feed an obese dog · benefits of weight management for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The cost of feeding a purpose-formulated weight loss diet may deter owners of obese dogs from proceeding with a weight loss programme. The current study aimed to compare average food costs during weight loss with those before weight loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Average daily food costs, for before and during weight loss, were calculated in 22 obese dogs that had successfully completed weight management. RESULTS: The median food cost before weight loss was £0 · 52/day (£0 · 24-3 · 31/day), for main meal only, and £0 · 64/day (£0 · 26-3 · 31/day) for main meal and additional food (table scraps and treats). The median food cost during weight loss was £0 · 90/day (£0 · 26-1 · 36/day), and no additional food was given. The average daily feeding costs during weight loss did not differ from pre-weight-loss costs, either with (P = 0 · 425) or without (P = 0 · 222) the additional food included. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Knowledge that average diet costs do not significantly differ from food costs prior to weight loss may help veterinarians to persuade owners to enrol obese dogs in a weight management programme.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25677968/