An Interview with Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM on Pet Obesity
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (www.petobesityprevention.com), in 2010 about 56 percent of dogs in American households, or 43 million dogs, were overweight or obese. The trend shows no sign of slowing. As many Americans have gained weight, so have their dogs.
Most dog owners who regularly visit this site understand the dangers that obesity poses to their pets. However, our dogs often come into our lives in ways other than from “puppyhood.” Frequently, dogs adopted from shelters or dogs that have been intentionally or benignly neglected may suffer from obesity.
Just as with people, there are two components to getting the overweight or obese dog into shape: diet and exercise. However, crash diets and over-exertion are no more successful with dogs than they are with humans. To help us gain perspective into the challenges of getting the obese dog in shape, we consulted Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM, and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In addition to being a veterinarian, Dr. Ward is an author of a book on pet obesity, a personal trainer and triathlete.
Dr. Ward explained that it is vitally important to begin the road to recovery of the obese dog by taking a trip to the veterinarian. Obesity may not always be due to excessive food consumption. As part of the examination, Dr. Ward will usually draw blood to test for Cushing’s disease and Hypothyroidism, diseases of the adrenal and thyroid glands respectively. Both of these diseases will affect the dog’s ability to regulate weight.
Your veterinarian will also check for medical conditions to determine if the dog is healthy enough to undergo aerobic exercise. Conditions that will seriously affect exercise include hypertension, osteoarthritis and respiratory issues.
In Dr. Ward’s veterinary practice, he approaches the objective of restoring the obese dog to good health in a 60:40 split of reducing food intake while at the same time, slowly increasing the expenditure of calories.
In terms of the food itself, Dr. Ward advises us to not over-think the diet. The objective is to get weight off the obese pet. The process is about reducing calories, not about expensive or fancy foods. However, the diet is not about starvation or deprivation. We shouldn’t drastically cut the volume of food being fed, as the dog will never feel satisfied. This is the issue of satiety. Second, if the volume of even the finest food is drastically reduced, the dog will not be getting the proper nutrition. A balance must be reached between calorie reduction and good nutrition.
Though veterinarians will often work with pet owners who wish to feed their dogs home-cooked meals, there are diets sold through veterinary clinics specifically for weight reduction programs. The veterinary diets offer sound nutrition but at the same time are bulky in order to “trick the dog” to feeling full. The veterinary diets are not meant to be fed for life; rather the diets are designed to be gradual step-down programs for a six to nine month duration. After the desired weight is reached you may feed your dog a sensible, controlled portion diet from among many commercially available foods, home-cooked or raw food selections.
Veterinarians have a name for the dog that is totally out of shape, and that is “De-conditioned.” Getting the dog to exercise after a long period of inactivity is not a process of going from sedentary to boot-camp. You must remember to take it slow. This is especially critical during the first month. How do you know if you’re pushing the dog too hard?
Watch for signs such as heavy panting or a reluctance to move. The Association for Pet Obesity website tells us that a 12 pound Yorkshire terrier is the equivalent of a woman weighing 218 pounds. You cannot push a dog too quickly anymore than a good personal trainer would push an obese person.
APOP has an excellent chart for determining the amount of exercise for the obese pet. For example, during the first week, Dr. Ward and his colleagues recommend a 30 minute exercise period each day. The 30 minute period should be broken down into 10 minutes of brisk walking followed by 20 minutes of casual pace. Over the next three weeks, the amount of brisk walking during the 30 minute period is increased. Beyond the third week, the time and the intensity of the walks are increased. Dogs are very quick to adapt to the program. If there are underlying heart problems, work with your veterinarian to moderate the program.
It is important to discuss the term “brisk” in more detail. Dr. Ward has observed that most people don’t walk their dogs fast enough. The average pace for a dog walk is about 22 minutes per mile which is the same pace as a stroll. While there are psychological gains for both dog and owner to go on a stroll about the neighborhood, it is not physiologically beneficial. It is recommended that you walk at a pace that’s comfortable, but still brisk. For exercise, Dr. Ward strongly recommends a short leach and not a retractable leash. With a short leash at a brisk pace you and your dog are getting good movement.
Obviously, we would not walk a Pomeranian at the same pace we would walk a Vizsla, but the same brisk and then casual pace is desired no matter the size of the dog.
Dr. Ward recommends that on the brisk part of the walk that the dog be made to exercise and not to loaf. He likes to think in terms of “dog owner time” and “dog time.” That is, the brisk part of the walk is the “dog owner time,” where we are helping our dogs live longer and healthier lives by making them exercise. On the trip back, it can be “dog time” where our companions can stop and sniff and play to their hearts content. After all, that is what we’re striving for – a contented heart.
The charts and information available on the APOP website are a free and extremely valuable resource. The approach to reducing dog obesity is as holistic as it is scientific. There is valuable information for cat obesity as well.
