The Real Costs of Pet Obesity (Part 2)

"Let Food be thy Medicine" - Hippocrates

A very prominent pet health advocate recently shared a snippet from a research article showing the current life expectancy of several popular dog breeds. Of the seven breeds he shared, not one had a life expectancy of more than 10 years (Beagles 9.85; Husky 9.53; Chihuahua 7.91; American Bulldog 7.91; Pug 7.65; English Bulldog 7.39 and French Bulldog at 4.53). While these are alarming (and depressing) statistics, I fear that it may lead people astray when it comes to the discussions we ought to be having. Some people will want to focus on breed specific data, while others will fall into the minutae of the statistics. Some will even cite anecdotal information on how the average life expectancy of Golden Retrievers (for example) has dropped "up to 50%" vs. what it was in the 1970's! While I agree with the concern over the longevity of our canine companions, we should look at what can be done from a slightly different perspective.

In B.M Wiles 2017 publication, they included this statement, "The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) is the most morphologically diverse animal species, and consequently there is likely to be considerable variation in morbidity both within and between breeds." It is "common knowledge" that specific breeds are predisposed to certain medical conditions and that smaller breeds tend, on average, to have a longer life span than larger breeds. If we really want to extend our time with your pets, the single greatest variable to canine longevity is caloric intake (body weight). The landmark Purina Lifespan study showed that when dogs consumed 25% fewer calories (when compared to their littermates), they lived on average 1.8 years longer with a median life span of 13 years (compared to 11.2 in the control group)! Here is the CRAZY thing...the study was published in 2002 when pet obesity rates were at an alarming 25%. Today, pet obesity is at 56%!! Read that again...Despite having the knowledge that caloric intake reduction can lead to longer, healthier lives we have seen an explosion in canine obesity rates that is 2.24 times greater than what it was BEFORE we had that knowledge! Why?!

The explosion of extruded kibble as a feeding staple over the last 20 years is good place to start. This chart compares the macronutrient profile of an "ancestral diet" (actual diet of canids vs marketing puffery) compared to that of extruded dry kibble. Should be fairly obvious that the pyramid is inverted on the dry dog food. Why? There are a several reasons: 1) Carbohydrates are an inexpensive calorie when compared to proteins 2) they create a longer shelf life for food when compared to fat and 3) carbs/starches are necessary in the extrusion process of making kibble. The National Research Council (which lost out to big pet food lobbyists for control of feeding guidelines back in the late 1980's) provides nutrient requirements for dogs and cats and states the following, "There appears to be no requirement for digestable carbohydrates in dogs provided enough protein is given to supply the precursors for glucogenesis.”

So carbohydrate levels are high in extruded pet food...no big deal, right? Well, refined/processed carbohydrates create a rich environment in the gut microbiome for the growth of pathogenic bacteria. This can lead to autoimmune diseases/issues, inflammation, yeast infections and general allergic reactions (from atopic dermatitis to ear infections). In addition, carbohydrates can be more easily (and quickly) broken down into glucose. Glucose, when not used by the body, is stored as fat for future use. A steady and continuous series of glucose spikes (with not enough activity to burn) results in long term health issues brought on by obesity. Over simplified, maybe, but the process and issues are accurate.

How about some quick, down and dirty math to illustrate the issue further? If you want to get to a carbohydrate number for a pet food, add the protein % + fat % + moisture % + ash % (for extruded kibble, 8% is a "safe" guesstimate if its not provided) and subtract the total from 100% to get the estimated carbohydrate level. A best selling "natural" dog food on Chewy has 24% CP + 14% CF + 10% Moisture and using 8% for Ash gives us 44% Carbohydrates! The food provides 377 kcal/cup (104.2 grams/cup) and 1.75 cups are required for a 25lb dog. Now think about how you feed your dog. The proper amount, according to the feeding guidelines, for a 25lb dog is 182.35 grams daily. If you scooped exactly 2 cups figuring it was "close enough", your dog will be getting 26.05 more grams each day. Over the course of one year, that is an excess of 9,508.25 grams of food or an extra 91.25 cups of food (52 days extra)! That amount actually DOUBLES if you use a rounded cup and with 44% being carbohydrates, the obesity epidemic is a little more understandable.

A few additional things to do to help give you more quality years with your pet:

• Weigh/Measure your dog's food in grams and use a black sharpie to draw the line on your serving cup. This alone can reduce your dog's caloric intake dramatically!
• Look to reduce your dog's intake of carbohydrates, sugars and starches. If your food doesn't readily provide the data, ask them for it. If they don't provide it for you, find another dog food that will!
• While it may not be practical or financially feasible to switch to an all-natural (no synthetic or artificial ingredients) food exclusively, any feeding percentage is better than none. Just be sure to subtract the caloric intake of the new food from the serving size of the old food.
• Familiarize yourself with the body scoring system for your dog's breed/size. Remember, reduced caloric intake can add life to their years and vice versa!
• Lastly, exercise/play with your dog. So much research has been done showing the health benefits to humans and canines through regular interactions, play and exercise. Not only does it strengthen the bond, it burns calories!