Obesity is rapidly becoming the most common veterinary condition affecting our dogs and cats. Estimates vary, but one survey found 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats to be classified as overweight or obese. That equals 88.4 million pets that are too heavy according to veterinarians.

Overweight pets are at risk for serious health problems, such as Cancer, especially intrabdominal cancers, diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, skin disorders, heart disease, FLUTD ( Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), Immune system depression, High Blood Pressure and generally have a shortened life span.

Weight Loss

In general, a good goal to aim for is 1-2% of the body weight per week. In practice I would typically calculate 15% weight loss, and aim for that in 3-4 months.

Rapid weight loss can lead to rapid weight return, liver disease, and in some cases even hepatic lipidosis.

FIRST...CUT the CARBS

I have always had the best results on elevated protein diets - Raw, Homemade, Canned and LESS KIBBLE

Cut out the treats, especially the high carbohydrate one, commit to exercising your dog twice daily for at least 30 minutes, and feed only the measured amount of food based on your dog’s/ cat’s weight.

Supplements

Carnitine. This has been shown to speed up weight loss in cats. The dose is 100 mg daily. Carnitine is being included in some weight reduction programs because of its effect on the utilization of fat by the body.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which has been shown to have antiobesity activity in rodents. A recent study at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine demonstrated that dogs receiving DHEA while being on a weight reduction program lost weight faster and had lower cholesterol levels than those dogs who were on a weight reduction program alone.

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for energy production at the cellular level. It has been shown to benefit humans with various heart and muscle diseases. Again, studies of its effect on obese animals are currently underway. It has been shown to be safe, with no adverse effects demonstrated in animal studies according to Nutramax, a company which produces Coenzyme Q10 in an oral form for dogs, cats, and horses. Doses of 1-2mg/lb daily

Green Tea. Has gained popularity for weight loss, it is also a rich source of antioxidants, and safe to give daily. You can give it in the tea form – substitute green tea for your pet’s water, and assess the results in 30 days. Dose: 1/4 cup/20lbs daily

Colostrum. Colostrum has been shown to help with weight loss by increasing muscle mass. The increased muscle leads to increased metabolism, and loss of fat. Increasing numbers of athletes are using colostrum; it is a safe nutrient to consider adding to your overweight pet’s diet. Dose: 100mg/10lbs daily

Probiotics for Weight Loss
Researchers have identified 2 strains of probiotics that can be used to reduce weight in obese dogs. The research is published this week in Microbiology Spectrum, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

To identify suitable probiotic candidates for companion animals, Kim and colleagues scrutinized the variations in the composition of intestinal microbiota between young and old dogs, revealing a decline in the population of lactic acid bacteria, Bifidobacterium species and Enterococcus species in older dogs.

The results were compelling, demonstrating the strains' effectiveness in reducing body fat and rectifying the imbalances in intestinal microflora induced by obesity.

"The strains we carefully selected demonstrated remarkable success in reducing the body fat percentage in dogs," said Kim.

"What set these strains apart was their ability to not only limit dietary intake or enhance excretion to reduce body weight but, more importantly, activate energy metabolism. Even when exposed to a high-calorie diet, we observed a decrease in body weight, alleviation of subcutaneous fat accumulation and an increase in energy metabolism. This confirmed a shift in the body's metabolic orientation toward fat consumption, rather than fat accumulation."

Digestive Enzymes- theses include amylase, lipase and protease, plus probiotics in many cases. Here is what some research is saying about them 

May affect gut bacteria

Some studies show that digestive enzymes may enhance the health of your gut microbiome — the microorganisms that live in your digestive tract.

In one study, administering digestive enzymes to mice promoted the colonization of beneficial gut bacteria.

Plus, a test-tube study showed that pairing a probiotic supplement with digestive enzymes could help protect against changes in the gut microbiome caused by chemotherapy and a type of antibiotic.

Interestingly, some studies have found that the gut microbiome may play a role in weight control.