Obesity is defined as the accrual of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body and is usually the result of excessive dietary intake or inadequate energy utilization CITATION Ger06 l 1033 (German, 2006).A dog is considered obese when it’s bodyweight exceeds optimum weight for the body size by 15% CITATION Cou10 l 1033 (Courcier, Thomson, Mellor, & Yam, 2010). Most strategies for decreasing weight gain in dogs suggest change in diet by reducing intake, eliminating table scraps and treats, and increasing exercise. CITATION Bla10 l 1033 (Bland, Guthrie-Jones, & Hill, 2010). Obesity can have detrimental effects on the longevity of dogs and their overall health CITATION Ger06 l 1033 (German, 2006). Companion animals that are obese are predisposed
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This can have a negative impact on the animal-human bond, and may result in the owner quitting the weight loss program. To prevent the removal of the dog from the weight loss program, veterinarians need to come up with a strategy to improve satiety, which is the feeling of being full after a meal. Research has shown that foods high in protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and water have been known to reduce hunger CITATION Web l 1033 (Weber, Bissot, Servet, Sergheraert, Biourge, & German, 2007). Weight reduction diets that are most commonly used restrict fat and energy and supplement protein and micronutrients to reduce the chance of lean tissue loss and deficiencies. Foods high in dietary fiber have been shown to increase satiety by causing gastric distension and cholecystokinin release, followed by a slowing of gastric emptying CITATION Web l 1033 (Weber, Bissot, Servet, Sergheraert, Biourge, & German, 2007). Overall, foods high in dietary fiber can improve a dog’s health and body condition if it is obese. By switching to a diet that contains less energy/calories and more fiber you can help decrease weight gain and increase the health of your …show more content…
A negative energy balance in humans can be achieved by physical activity and could cause weight loss. In most cases the beneficial effects of exercise on weight loss is minimal compared to when daily caloric intake is reduced. However, exercise still has a positive effect on the overall health of the animal by decreasing total fat and improving fitness levels. Recent experiments done by Chauvet et al,. showed that utilizing an exercise session with an underwater treadmill and increased knowledge by the client on weight loss strategies in dogs improved the rate of weight loss. However, some limitations in the experiment such as the failure to use a control group for comparison and instead making comparisons with historical studies could have caused this study to be unreliable. This study still had the fastest rate of weight loss compared to others published in clinical reports on client-owned dogs with naturally occurring obesity CITATION Cha11 l 1033 (Chauvet, Laclair, Elliott, & German,
This can have a negative impact on the animal-human bond, and may result in the owner quitting the weight loss program. To prevent the removal of the dog from the weight loss program, veterinarians need to come up with a strategy to improve satiety, which is the feeling of being full after a meal. Research has shown that foods high in protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and water have been known to reduce hunger CITATION Web l 1033 (Weber, Bissot, Servet, Sergheraert, Biourge, & German, 2007). Weight reduction diets that are most commonly used restrict fat and energy and supplement protein and micronutrients to reduce the chance of lean tissue loss and deficiencies. Foods high in dietary fiber have been shown to increase satiety by causing gastric distension and cholecystokinin release, followed by a slowing of gastric emptying CITATION Web l 1033 (Weber, Bissot, Servet, Sergheraert, Biourge, & German, 2007). Overall, foods high in dietary fiber can improve a dog’s health and body condition if it is obese. By switching to a diet that contains less energy/calories and more fiber you can help decrease weight gain and increase the health of your …show more content…
A negative energy balance in humans can be achieved by physical activity and could cause weight loss. In most cases the beneficial effects of exercise on weight loss is minimal compared to when daily caloric intake is reduced. However, exercise still has a positive effect on the overall health of the animal by decreasing total fat and improving fitness levels. Recent experiments done by Chauvet et al,. showed that utilizing an exercise session with an underwater treadmill and increased knowledge by the client on weight loss strategies in dogs improved the rate of weight loss. However, some limitations in the experiment such as the failure to use a control group for comparison and instead making comparisons with historical studies could have caused this study to be unreliable. This study still had the fastest rate of weight loss compared to others published in clinical reports on client-owned dogs with naturally occurring obesity CITATION Cha11 l 1033 (Chauvet, Laclair, Elliott, & German,