In part 1 of ‘The Obesity Epidemic in Dogs and Cats’ (see here if you missed it!) we discussed how switching to a raw diet can help your pet with weight loss. This included how diet calorie density and proportion of macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) affects weight loss. In this blog, we offer advice on feeding your overweight pet to get them down to size in no time.
Feed Set Amounts at Set Times
We would suggest avoiding offering food Ad Libitum, especially in growing pets. You’ll find many commercially prepared processed foods are highly palatable, and therefore the pets will eat to excess and become obese. It is also harder to monitor the amount they are eating. Time and quantity restricted meals are suggested.
Fat Content of Meals
Fat is the most digestible and useable energy source for dogs and cats, containing approximately 2.5 times the number of calories compared to protein and carbohydrates. Fresh fat is vital to your pet’s health and metabolic processes, and the right fats play a pivotal role in regulating inflammation.
As we discussed in part 1, decreasing the carbohydrates and upping the protein is the first step in a weight loss journey. But what if your pet is already on raw? In some cases, fat reduction may be necessary through avoidance of fattier meats such as lamb. There can be great variation in the calorific quantity of different proteins at the same weight. For example, as fat content is higher in lamb, calorie count is also subsequently higher. In our 80/20 lamb mince, fat is at 14.84%, with 2145 kcal/kg, whereas in our 80/20 chicken mince, fat is 10.2%, with 1900kcal/kg. Therefore, you could feed 100g of these proteins, but the lamb would provide more calories, you need to be mindful of this when feeding. We would suggest incorporating a rotation of leaner meats in pets needing to lose weight.
Feeding Amount
There is no one size fits all when it comes to a daily feeding ration, pets should be fed according to their age and activity levels, as well as whether they’re neutered. Additionally, there will be a relative difference between feeding amounts for smaller and larger breeds, due to the faster metabolism of smaller breeds. See our helpful blog on breed differences when it comes to diet.
Treats
The calorie content of treats should not be ignored. A quick treat here and there builds up, and it’s important to adjust the main diet accordingly where treats are given (4). Giving more than 10% of your dogs daily calories as treats has been associated with them becoming overweight (5). On the other hand, this same study found no significant difference of body condition score between a group of dogs fed <10% of their daily intake as treats, and those who abstained from treats all together. In short, you can of course still treat your pet! Just do so in moderation and offer healthier treats. Go for high protein, meat treats, rather than those packed with grain and fillers.
Monitoring Weight Loss
A good rule of thumb for weight loss targets in dogs and cats:
Dogs: 1-2% bodyweight weekly
Cats: 0.5-2% bodyweight weekly
We suggest keeping a regular food diary for your pet, and regularly checking their weight so progress can be monitored. Monitoring weight loss is important, especially in cats, as if weight is lost too rapidly, the cat may stop eating. As a result, fat may accumulate in the liver, causing fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). This occurs when the body releases large amounts of fat, which settles in the liver, negatively affecting its function (13).
Calculating Calories Based on Pet Requirements
Resting Energy Requirements (RER) = 70(BWkg)0.75
Maintenance Energy Requirements (MER) = X(RER)
| Canine | Feline | |
| Neutered Active | 1.6 x RER | 1.2 x RER |
| Intact Active | 1.8 x RER | 1.4 x RER |
| Overweight Adult | 1.0 x RER | 0.8 x RER |
| Inactive Adult | 1.2-1.4 x RER | 1.0 x RER |
| Growth | ~2-3 x RER² | ~2-3 x RER² |
Example:
An overweight 5-year-old cat weighing 5kg.
RER = 70(5)0.75 = 234kcal
MER = 0.8(234) = 187kcal = Feeding amount to lose weight.
Lucy James, BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science
Looking to enhance your pet’s diet? Take a look at Cotswold RAW’s range of raw dog food and raw cat food, including raw meaty bones, dried treats, and puppy food.