Effectiveness of a New Weight Management Food to Achieve Weight Loss and Maintenance in Client-owned Obese Dogs

摘要

Objective- To evaluate weight loss and maintenance parameters in dogs fed a new weight management food (NWMF) and to assess the owner’s perception of the dog’s quality of life.Design- Prospective, uncontrolled/unmasked clinical trial.Animals- One hundred sixty two over-weight/obese, otherwise healthy, client-owned dogs.Procedures- Initial evaluation included physical examination, nutritional assessment, ideal body weight (IBW) determination, and weight-loss feeding guidelines development. Monthly follow-up evaluations (for 6 months) encompassed determination of BW, body condition score (BCS), body fat index (BFI), muscle condition score (MCS), and feeding practices. Quality of life assessment by owners included dog’s level of energy, happiness, appetite, begging behavior, flatulence, stool volume, and fecal score.