Dog’s Dinners – Part 1
When I was young, I am sure there were only three dog foods on the market: Chum wet food, Winalot dry food, and Bonio treats. These days, supermarkets have a whole aisle dedicated to pets, with numerous online food subscription services, national pet chain stores, countless local pet shops, outlets in garden centres, market stalls, vets' surgeries, and dog cafes—need I go on?
So, once you’ve decided where to get the food from, there's the decision on what type: wet, dry, raw, cold-pressed, dehydrated, frozen, pouch, tin, hypoallergenic, grain-free, premium, organic, broth, gravy, food toppers. When did it get this confusing? What's the best option for my dog? Are expensive brands worth it?
I started looking into this when I took my dog, Lagertha Christie, for her six-monthly check-up and was told she could do with losing a bit of weight (oh the shame, my poor baby, what a rubbish dog mum I am!). So instead of doing the sensible thing and asking the vet the best way to help her lose weight, I exited stage left as soon as possible, as if pursued by a bear!
Having a complex relationship with my own weight over the years, it triggered childhood memories, like being in the special queue at primary school where you only got a salad at lunchtime (before salads were nice!), my brother singing ‘body fat’ instead of ‘body talk’ (1981 Imagination track), and a senior school trip to France where some kids played a mean trick on me about my weight, even though I was skinny at the time.
When we got Lagertha as a puppy, we carried on the recommended food from the breeder, a well-known branded kibble, and I had decided to feed her dry food to avoid a messy, smelly, discoloured beard. But Lagertha had other ideas; she initially inhaled her dinners but gradually lost interest. We changed the kibble, and her interest would briefly return before waning again. One kibble had differently shaped pieces, and she took a dislike to one shape, always leaving it in her bowl. We added warm water, toppers, used different bowls, and tried feeding her at different times of the day before accepting that we had to switch to a wet diet.
Now, I must confess that I am a marketing department's dream, swayed by fancy packaging, posh scientific words, and easily lured into subscription services. I think I've tried them all, so who better to go full-on Wag-Wagatha Christie mode and investigate dogs’ dinners?
So, first, let's put this in context. UK Pet Food publishes obesity statistics for dogs annually. Here are some of their 2024 findings:
• 74% of vets believe pet obesity levels are increasing
• 77% of owners think their pet is the right size & weight
• Only 4% of owners think their pet needs to lose weight
• 50% of dogs are overweight
This indicates a significant discrepancy between what guardians think and what veterinary professionals know. Are we oblivious? Do we downplay it? Do we really understand the health consequences of obesity? Or is it as simple as not resisting their cute head tilt and pleading eyes? I know I fall for it!
What’s the harm, you ask? They look cute with extra padding, and spoiling them with treats makes them happy.
• 37% of owners save bits of human food for their pets
• 22% give treats to feel closer to their pets
• 26% of vets think treating is the number one contributor to obesity
• Only 19% of owners set a treat limit after checking calorie intake
Maybe not surprising, but the issue is complex.
• 48% of owners use only prepared pet food
• 52% look at alternatives or supplement with human scraps and treats
• 59% admit diet changes due to the cost-of-living crisis
"I follow the dog food packet guideline," you say. "No way my dog is overweight."
• 63% of owners claim they follow the guidelines
• 19% admit they don't follow guidelines or find them confusing
• 18% of owners weigh their pet's food
Does this mean guidelines are wrong, or are we misinterpreting them?
• 50% of owners have never sought vet advice on their pet's weight
• 15% guess their pet’s weight
• Only 7% know how to feel the pet’s ribs for a proper check
• 1% use a body condition chart
Scratching your head? What's a body condition chart? At least we’re not alone—wonder how that 1% found out. For us in the dark, here’s a link to learn about the body condition chart and discover your dog's score.
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