The benefits of a balanced diet for pets

Good pet nutrition and exercise are key to safeguarding pets’ health and wellbeing. We explore the physical and mental effects obesity can have on dogs and what owners can do about it with vet Dr Scott Miller and dog behaviour specialist Adem Fehmi

Pet ownership has steadily increased worldwide in recent years. Advancements in pet nutrition and food technology have transformed the pet food industry, providing increasingly conscious consumers with more choices and awareness about nutrition that supports their pets’ health.

Nutritional needs of cats and dogs

The European Pet Food Industry (FEDIAF) emphasises that cats and dogs have specific nutritional needs that vary depending on their life stage, health, and activity level. Pet food must provide an appropriate balance of essential nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, along with water.

Pet food can be categorised as either complete or complementary. Complete food contains all the essential nutrients required for a balanced diet, while complementary —such as treats—should supplement the diet but cannot fulfil all nutritional requirements on its own.

Pet food nutrition and regulation

Pet food in developed countries is regulated at every stage, from ingredients used to production and marketing. In the UK, pet food manufacturing is highly regulated, with more than 50 pieces of legislation governing this sector. Here, the Food Standards Agency oversees animal feed legislation, which includes feed production for non-food-producing animals, such as pet food and treats. FEDIAF provides nutritional guidelines for pet food manufacturers in the UK and is regularly updated to reflect the latest nutritional research.

In the EU, pet food is not regulated by a single law. Instead, it is covered under the broader Animal Feed legislation, which encompasses food for companion animals. All US pet food exports to the EU must comply with EU requirements, which include regulations on labelling, hygiene, animal health, certification, and the use of additives.

Furthermore, in the US, the FDA oversees the regulation of finished pet food products, including treats and chews, and their ingredients. While the FDA has federal regulatory authority, individual states typically also regulate pet food and treats through their departments of agriculture.

In 2023, the USDA reported that the total export value of dog and cat food from the US reached $2.41 billion. Notably, US dog and cat food exports to China hit a record high of $264 million in 2022, making China the second-largest export market for US pet food, following Canada.

The importance of maintaining a healthy weight for pets’ overall health

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for a pet’s health and wellbeing – and their life expectancy. For instance, dogs that are overweight are at risk of developing numerous health problems, including heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, respiratory issues, and arthritis and joint problems, all of which are associated with shorter lifespans.

While extra weight is only one factor in why your pet could develop a medical condition, prevention is the best cure, so ensuring that your dog maintains a healthy weight will improve its quality of life.

Does being overweight affect dogs’ mental health?

There is a link between being overweight and unhappiness in dogs. Overweight pets can experience increased levels of fear, anxiety, and stress. So, to ensure that those extra pounds don’t negatively impact your dog’s health and emotions, it is essential that you help them maintain a healthy dog weight.

Sadly, many owners feed treats and large portions to their dogs to make them happy. Dog behaviourist Adem Fehmi states, “Obesity can affect a dog’s energy levels and physical capabilities, which can affect how much exercise they can physically undertake. Just like in humans, a lack of exercise and mental stimulation can contribute to low mood and may also exasperate behaviour conditions.

“Additionally, physical conditions such as arthritis can be aggravated further by your pet being overweight. This can cause your dog additional pain and discomfort, which can affect their mood overall and even, in some cases, cause a dog to be reactive and/or aggressive.”

Owners may think cutting out the treats will make their dog sad, but when dogs are overweight, it can prevent them from doing activities that they love – like playing and going on walks.

Pet nutrition: Top tips on how to help your dog lose weight

If you think your dog might be carrying too much fat and don’t know where to start, here’s how to help your dog lose a few pounds by focusing on exercise and nutrition—including recommendations from vet Dr Scott.

• Create a dog weight loss plan: Avoid crash diets at all costs! Dr Scott states that “excessive calorie restriction places the body under stress and leads to bad behaviours. For humans, that means caving in and snacking. For dogs, that can mean eating something they shouldn’t. “Instead, you should create a personalised plan for your pooch. All dogs will need varying amounts of exercise and food to achieve a healthy weight, so to create a successful weight loss plan, Dr Scott states, “A successful weight loss plan will factor in your lifestyle, allowing you to schedule your dog’s exercise around your commitments such as work. This will make it easier to stick to and more sustainable.”
• Ensure you are feeding your dog the correct amount: You should take time to weigh food to ensure your dog gets what they need to be healthy. Dr Scott advised, “If you’ve been overfeeding your dog, suddenly changing the amount of food in their bowl can come as a shock.” A good tip is to add the correct weight of food to the bowl, then bulk out the meal with a healthy, low-calorie ingredient like raw carrots or cucumber cut into chunks. “This is great for their teeth, too.”
• Try a low-fat diet: This might seem obvious, but to lose weight, dogs need a meal plan that’s lower in fat. However, as well as how many calories it contains, it has to be nutritionally balanced. When transitioning your pooch to a new diet, to ensure a smooth process, try following these general guidelines:

Day 1: 75% old food, 25% new food
Day 2: 50% old food, 50% new food
Day 3: 25% old food, 75% new food
Day 4: 100% new food.

• Count treats and watch out for human food: High-calorie treats between meals still count towards your dog’s daily intake, so be mindful. Try to substitute your pup’s normal treats for low-fat or low-calorie substitutes. Raw carrots, courgette, cucumber, broccoli, and cooked sweet potato chunks are great options. The other bad habit to watch out for is feeding your dog table scraps. Dr Scott states, “Human food with carbs and cooked meat is usually too fatty and salty for many dogs, so giving treats from your leftovers is often a bad idea.”
• Give your dog plenty of good walks and find extra ways to exercise: Dog owners should factor in enough walks. Walking for weight loss is a little different to walking for pleasure, so you will need to consider the following:

Pace: You need to walk fast enough to raise your dog’s heart rate for long enough – known as sustained aerobic activity – to aid weight loss.
Length: Aim for 30 minutes at this faster pace, followed by 10 minutes at a slower pace.
Frequency: Aim for five 30-plus-minute walks for the first month of your dog’s fitness plan. If your pup has a lot of weight to lose, aim to walk your dog twice daily for at least 20 minutes after the first month.

If longer daily walks are not realistic, there are still ways to increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. These could include using interactive toys, encouraging your dog to move around, playing fetch to help your dog burn fat, or tug-of-war to help your pooch build strength and burn energy. Another great thing to try, if the weather is bad, is to look up local events designed for dogs that are usually hosted inside.

Full research by Barking Heads, including the signs your dog might be overweight and more, can be found here.