STUDY:
CANINE DIET AND OBESITY

Study design: internet survey of Hungarian companion dogs.

 

Outcome studied: 1448 responses, dogs were of various breeds, ages (mean = 4.2, SD = 3.09), sex and reproductive statuses (males: n = 662, females: n = 786, from which neutered males: n = 305,

neutered females: n = 517, respectively).  Owners were questioned about the body condition of their dogs and social factors that affect BCS (keeping conditions, joint activity, feeding, providing treats, and behavioural problems).

 

Key findings:

• the feeding of commercial dog food (kibble) and/or leftovers of human meals coincided with being overweight

• dogs that were fed (fully, or at least partly) with raw food were less likely overweight.

• dogs that were never fed with commercial dog food were less likely to be overweight than dogs that were fed commercial dog food with any frequency 

• dogs that were never given human food (mainly leftovers) were less likely to be overweight than dogs that were fed human food with any frequency

• dogs that never ate raw food were more likely to be overweight than dogs that were fed raw food with any frequency

• dogs that were fed human food but also ate raw with any frequency were less likely to be overweight than dogs that were fed human food but not raw

• there was no significant difference between the body condition of dogs eating both human food and raw and dogs that never ate human food

 

Strengths of this study: large sample size, participation was voluntary, with no financial incentive given. 

 

Limitations:  not a representative sample, possible responder bias.  Obesity was reported from the owner and their vet’s evaluation, however this was not verified so obesity could be under or misreported.