Weight Loss & Gain

Canine Obesity - beating the bulge with Chudleys

Obesity is becoming more of a problem in the canine world, just as it is for humans and this is something that we as responsible dog owners need to be aware of.

Obesity can be defined as a body weight which exceeds the dog’s ideal body weight by 15-20% or more. It is thought that up to 20-34% of dogs are overweight and this number is on the increase. Obesity occurs when there is in imbalance between energy (calorie) intake and energy expenditure over a period of time and this can be as a result of several factors including: less active lifestyles, age, health problems, breed predisposition, and lack of exercise. It can also be easy to over feed highly palatable, energy dense foods as well as treats and leftovers, which also contribute excess calories.

Just as it is not healthy for us humans to be obese, it is also a problem for our dogs as it can lead to problems such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and other mobility problems. Obesity is a long term problem therefore the solution must also be long term and it is important to monitor your dog’s weight and body condition on a regular basis.

Weighing your dog can be difficult as it may not be convenient to visit your vet to use his scales on a frequent basis and your dog may not always be willing to sit on your bathroom scales! A more convenient way of assessing your dog’s weight and condition is to use the Body Condition Score method. This involves assessing your dog by running your hands across his body, assessing the amount of fat coverage he has.

Ideally you should be able to run your hands across your dog’s side and be able to feel his ribs easily without being able to see them, and he should have a clearly discernable waistline. Not only is this a good way of assessing your dog’s body condition but it is also a good way of interacting with your dog, stroking and playing with him as you assess him, allowing you to spend quality time together. It also benefits you as stroking your dog is thought to be good for your blood pressure too!

If your dog is overweight you should ideally aim for a gradual weight loss of around 1-2% of body weight per week, as it is not healthy for him to lose weight too quickly. The main ways of facilitating weight loss are by reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise to help use up more energy (calories). Chudleys Lite is an ideal feed for overweight dogs as it is a reduced calorie diet. Compared to Chudleys Classic or Working Crunch, it provides 10-15% less energy but your dog will still feel full up because we’ve increased the size of the nugget, added some all important fibre and active carnitine and adjusted the feeding guidelines accordingly:

Other useful tips to help with weight loss include:

• Gradually increase the amount of exercise that your dog does each day as this helps to use up more excess calories. Even playing in the garden with a ball for an extra 10 minutes will help!
• Measure out your dog’s food each day so that you know exactly how much he is getting.
• Don’t feed lots of table scraps and leftovers, over and above the daily food allowance, as these increase your dog’s calorie intake.
• Don’t over feed titbits and treats when training or playing. If you do want to treat him with food, you could measure out his daily feed and use some of this as a treat.
• Split his daily ration into several small meals, rather than just feeding one big meal.
• Once your dog has reached his ideal body weight continue to assess his Body Condition Score on a regular basis as this will help to prevent him from gaining excess weight in the future.

Chudleys Commitment

Here at Chudleys we also have a responsibility where obesity is concerned in our role as a dog food manufacturer. As the health and well-being of your dog is paramount, we have long advocated the importance of feeding to optimise the body condition of your dog. Following our feeding guidelines is a start to help keep you on track and thereafter you should adjust the amount fed to meet your dog’s needs and help keep him in good shape (remember to use our body condition scorecard to help you). These guidelines are on the back of every bag of feed and you can also find them on our website by visiting the Advice pages.

Don’t forget that our Nutritional Helpline is also here to offer you further information, advice and support on your dog’s weight and body condition. It’s worth remembering that weight loss can take up to 6 months or more to achieve, so if you ever feel disheartened or just want some reassurance that you’re doing the right thing, pick up the phone. Your perseverance will be well worth it in the end!

You can contact the Helpline on 0845 345 2627,Monday – Friday, 8.30 – 5.00pm.

Dog Condition Scoring Guide

To download our Chudleys Right Weight Advice and Condition Score Card please click here