The Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association recently published the results of diet/weight loss pet food study. Drs. Deborah Linder DVM and Lisa Freeman DVM took a close look at weight loss pet food; their results shine a bright light on more misgivings of pet food.
Pet obesity is clearly a problem; it is reported that between 22% and 44% of dogs and cats in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Serious illness including pancreatitis, arthritis, diabetes and more are associated with overweight pets. Concerned pet owners turn to diet/weight loss pet food. However Drs. Linder and Freeman’s study shows calorie intake, feeding instructions and cost of diet pet foods is so conflicting and varied, weight loss pet foods could be adding to the pet obesity problem.
The study looked at two different categories of pet foods; (1) “diets with weight management claims and feeding directions for weight loss” and (2) “diets with weight management claims on the label but no specific feeding directions for weight loss.”
In one category, 72 weight loss diets were examined that provided pet owners feeding directions to achieve weight loss; 40 dog diets (30 dry and 10 canned) and 32 cat diets (24 dry and 8 canned); both over the counter weight loss foods and veterinarian prescribed pet foods. The study found 58% of this weight loss pet food group exceeded AAFCO calorie maximum allowances to make weight loss or lite (light) claims.
AAFCO calorie maximums for weight loss foods…
Dry Dog Food less than 3,100 kcal/kg
Can Dog Food less than 900 kcal/kg
Dry Cat Food less than 3,250 kcal/kg
Can Cat Food less than 950 kcal/kg
Despite AAFCO regulations, the study found calorie counts in the following ranges (for weight loss pet foods that provide feeding instructions specific to weight loss)…
Dry Dog Foods from 2,726 to 3,875 kcal/kg (almost 800 kcal over AAFCO allowances)
Can Dog Foods from 553 to 1,002 kcal/kg (100 kcal over AAFCO allowances)
Dry Cat Foods from 3,018, 4,009 kcal/kg (750 kcal over AAFCO allowances)
Can Cat Foods from 744 to 1,010 kcal/kg (60 kcal over AAFCO allowances)
The median (average) kcal/kg for this group of weight dry (kibble) loss pet foods were all above AAFCO allowances…
Dry Dog Food 3,295
Can Dog Fod 857
Dry Cat Food 3,466
Can Cat Food 941
Cost of these pet foods varied greatly as well. Drs. Linder and Freeman found weight loss pet foods ranging from $0.53 to $4.66 per pound.
In the second category, 21 pet foods that stated weight loss claims that did not offer feeding instructions for weight loss provided similar results…
Again, AAFCO calorie maximums for weight loss foods…
Dry Dog Food less than 3,100 kcal/kg
Can Dog Food less than 900 kcal/kg
Dry Cat Food less than 3,250 kcal/kg
Can Cat Food less than 950 kcal/kg
Dry Dog Food from 3,065 to 3,615 kcal/kg Average 3,611 kcal/kg
Can Dog Food (no range provided) Average 871 kcal/kg
Dry Cat Food from 3,143 to 4,017 kcal/kg Average 3,473 kcal/kg
Can Cat Food from 916 to 1,096 kcal/kg Average 937 kcal/kg
Pet Food prices in this category ranged from $0.53 to $4.32 per pound.
So what are we left with from this study? Mass confusion if you happen to be a pet owner with an overweight pet. Drs. Linder and Freeman did a fantastic job pointing out the train wreck of weight loss options for pet owners (my thanks to both of you for this study!).
The point is well taken that overweight pets are at risk for serious illness. However with misleading pet food labels, no enforcement of pet food regulations regarding calorie allowances, poor to no feeding instructions for weight loss, add to the dilemma veterinarians receiving the same mixed messages from pet food labels…how in the world can an overweight pet actually lose weight?
There is no Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or NutriSystem for pets. AAFCO nor the FDA are going to jump to the rescue of overweight pets. It’s up to us. Pet owners of overweight pets MUST read the calorie (kcal) information on the pet food bag. And learn the kcal information for every treat you give your pet! Although we might find it challenging to add one more thing to our ‘to do’ list, exercising our pets is as well a MUST.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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