This clinical study demonstrated body composition changes during weight loss in dogs. Conventional programs produced safe weight loss, but marked energy restriction was required and the rate of loss was slower than in experimental studies.

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Obesity is one of the most common medical diseases in cats, but there remains little information on success of weight loss regimes in obese client-owned cats. No information currently exists on body composition changes during weight loss in clinical cases. Twelve obese client-owned cats undertook a weight loss programme incorporating a high-protein low fat diet. Body composition was quantified by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, before and after weight loss. Mean (+/-standard deviation) weight loss was 27+/-6.8% of starting weight, and mean rate of weight loss was 0.8+/-0.32% per week. Mean energy allocation during weight loss was 32+/-7.0 kcal/kg target weight. Mean composition of tissue lost was 86:13:1 (fat:lean:bone mineral). The proportion of lean tissue loss was positively associated with overall percentage of weight loss (simple linear regression, r(2)=44.2%, P=0.026). Conventional weight loss programmes produce safe weight loss, but lean tissue loss is an inevitable consequence in cats that lose significant proportions of their starting body weight.

Background: Weight-loss programs for dogs are often hampered by increased begging and scavenging behavior that ensues when food intake is restricted.Hypothesis: A diet formulated to contain a high content of both protein and fiber is more satiating than diets that contain only high fiber or high protein.Animals: Six entire female adult dogs (2 Shetland Sheepdogs, 2 Brittany Spaniels, 2 Labrador Retrievers) participated in the satiety studies; 105 adult female dogs of various breeds and ages were used for the palatability studies.Methods Voluntary food intake was measured in 5 sequential crossover studies, and palatability was assessed with food preference tests.Results: Protein digestibility was significantly lower for HF (mean 6 SD; 77.7% 6 2.52%) than for both HPHF (81.1% 6 0.96%) and HP (81.1% 6 1.65%) (P , .001). Short-term food intake (food ingested when offered for 15 minutes every hour for 4 hours) was lower for HPHF than for both HP and HF (P 5 .038). Medium-term intake (food ingested when offered 3 hours after first meal) was lower for both HPHF (27 6 22.2 kcal/kg 0.73 ) and HF (41 6 6.8 kcal/kg 0.73 ) than for HP (57 6 18.8 kcal/kg 0.73 ) (P 5 .041). Voluntary food intake 3 hours after feeding a restricted meal (25% daily maintenance energy requirements) was significantly lower on the HPHF diet than on either the HP (251%, P 5 .0051) or HF (247%, P 5 .014) diets. However, there was no significant difference between the energy intake on the HP and HF diets (7%, P 5 .37). The HPHF and HP diets had equivalent palatability, and both were more palatable than the HF diet (P , .001).Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The HPHF diet had a satiating effect as evidenced by reduced voluntary intake compared with HP and HF diets, and has the potential to lead to greater compliance in weight-loss programs.

A randomised, single-blinded, positively controlled, field trial for weight loss in obese client-owned cats was undertaken to look at novel diets and dietary strategies that could improve owner compliance and, therefore, success of feline weight loss programmes. Three dietary strategies were evaluated: strategy A used a novel dry high fibre ration; strategy B used ready-prepared portions of dry and moist food; strategy C used an existing commercial dry high fibre ration fed with a measuring cup. Cats were assessed at weeks 4, 12 and 20, and adjustments to the energy allocation made if required. Mean weight loss at 20 weeks (A: 11.0+/-1.3%, B: 10.9+/-1.2%, C: 11.9+/-1.7%) and mean energy allocation (A: 31.0, B: 28.5 and C: 32.2 kcal/kg of target body weight/day) were similar amongst strategies. However, owners' subjective hunger score was significantly (P<0.001) higher with strategy C than with strategies A and B. Further, owner satisfaction was lowest with strategy C, and more owners also regarded food allowance as insufficient with this strategy. Novel diets and feeding strategies may improve outcome in feline weight loss programmes.