Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Exercise with underwater treadmill helps obese dogs lose weight
By Chauvet, Anne et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2011·Veterinary Neuro Services, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Incorporation of exercise, using an underwater treadmill, and active client education into a weight management program for obese dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Eight obese dogs of various breeds were enrolled in a three-month weight loss program that included regular walks and sessions on an underwater treadmill. On average, each dog lost about 19% of their starting weight, which is roughly 1.5% per week. The dogs also showed a significant decrease in their body measurements during the program. This suggests that incorporating structured exercise, like underwater treadmill workouts, can be very effective in helping dogs lose weight and improve their overall health.
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Abstract
Physical activity improves outcome of weight loss in obese humans, but limited information exists for dogs. Eight obese dogs (body condition score 5/5), of various breeds and genders, undertook a 3-month weight-loss program which included exercise using lead walks and underwater treadmill exercise. The median number of treadmill exercise sessions per dog was 13 (range: 5 to 17). Median distance walked per session was 0.97 km (range: 0.05 to 2.7 km) (0.6 miles; range: 0.03 to 1.70 miles) and this increased sequentially over the course of the study (P < 0.001). Mean [± standard deviation (s)] percentage of starting weight loss over the 3 mo was 18.9 ± 5.44%, equivalent to a rate of weight loss of 1.5 ± 0.43% per week. Thoracic and abdominal girth also declined significantly during the program (P < 0.0001 for both). This study demonstrates the potential benefit of including an organized exercise regimen, utilizing an underwater treadmill, in conventional canine weight management programs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22043067/