How dog food motivation and owner feeding affect dog weight

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of dogs' food motivation scores (FMS) and owners' feeding management scores (OMS; a measure of intensity of dietary control) derived from the Dog Obesity Risk Assessment questionnaire with dog physical condition and to investigate the potential impact of several factors on dogs' levels of food motivation. METHODS: Observational prospective study of US dogs enrolled in the Dog Aging Project from 2019 through 2021. Participating owners completed standardized questionnaires, including information about their dogs' physical condition (overweight vs not overweight), and the Dog Obesity Risk and Appetite questionnaire for all dogs. Food motivation scores and OMS were calculated as percentages. Body condition scores for a subset of dogs were extracted from veterinary medical records. RESULTS: Questionnaire data (n = 13,890) and body condition score data (n = 200) were evaluated. Overweight physical condition was positively associated with OMS (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.057 to 1.064 per OMS percentage point). Overweight physical condition was also positively associated with FMS (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.014 to 1.019 per FMS percentage point). When controlling for age, sex, weight, and type of developed environment (rural, suburban, urban), FMS was higher (sporting, hound) or lower (nonsporting) for dogs from certain American Kennel Club breed groups compared to mixed-breed dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Dog demographics and owner management choices are associated with physical condition in companion dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Heightened awareness of factors associated with companion dog overweight equips veterinarians to recognize dogs at risk. Client education and future research into weight-control strategies can be targeted to this at-risk population.