Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Success of veterinary weight loss plans for overweight dogs
By Kim K. Haddad·Published in Animals·2024·VCA San Carlos Animal Hospital, 718 El Camino Real, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: How Successful Are Veterinary Weight Management Plans for Canine Patients Experiencing Poor Welfare Due to Being Overweight and Obese?
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Many dogs are struggling with being overweight or obese, which can lead to serious health problems and a shorter life. A study looked at 500 dogs over five years to see how effective veterinary weight management plans were. Unfortunately, most dogs either lost very little weight or gained weight instead, indicating that current efforts may not be enough to help them. This highlights the need for better strategies in managing dog weight to improve their overall health and well-being.
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Abstract
Overweight and obesity is one of the most significant health and welfare issues affecting companion animals and are linked to several serious medical conditions, reduced welfare, and shortened lifespan. The number of overweight and obese pets increases every year. Overweight and obesity are associated with multiple chronic diseases. Underlying causes include human-related and animal-related factors. Veterinarians encounter overweight and obese canine patients in daily practice and they play an important role in weight management. This research examines the level of veterinary engagement and the success of veterinary management plans for overweight and obese canines over a five-year period. Electronic medical records (EMRs) were collected for 500 canine patients assessed as either overweight or obese and statistically analyzed for level of veterinary engagement (VE), weight loss success, prescription weight loss diet (RX) use, and comorbidities. The average age at the beginning of the study was 61.5 months. A starting Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6 or 7 was most common (87.2%). Twelve different small and large dog breeds were most highly represented (61.1%). Average weight loss rates were low and more dogs gained rather than lost weight (56.5% vs. 43.5%). While VE is important, this study suggests current VE levels are not adequate to successfully combat overweight and obesity or result in improved animal welfare.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050740