Finland studies weight loss in dogs on raw and dry food
In Finland, a team from the University of Helsinki has released the first results of a study of diets for overweight dogs. The trial involved 26 dogs of different ages, mostly medium- and large-sized. As YLE News reports, during the first 10 weeks, dogs in both groups reached a normal weight—twice as fast as the researchers had expected.
The study leader, Associate Professor of Clinical Research Anna Hielm-Björkman, said that about 50–60% of dogs in the country are overweight, while around 30% of animals have significant obesity. Excess weight is associated with diabetes, osteoarthritis and metabolic diseases.
Two diets in the study
Before the experiment began, the dogs were weighed and examined, after which an individual food portion was determined for each animal. The participants were divided into two groups: one received raw chicken-based food for 10 weeks, while the other received dry diet food. During the following 10-week period, the diets were switched between the groups.
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According to Robin Moore, a chemist and doctoral student at the University of Helsinki, total weight loss did not differ depending on the type of food. At the same time, more detailed analyses indicated differences in the composition of the lost mass: according to the study results, dogs on the raw diet lost fat tissue more effectively, while animals that ate only dry food also experienced a slight reduction in muscle mass.
Further observation
Moore noted that further research is needed for definitive conclusions about the impact of different diets on health, particularly in older dogs. He suggested that preserving muscle mass as well as possible may be important for older animals.
One of the trial participants, a dog named Tilly, lost weight from 20 to 14 kilograms, or nearly a third of her initial body weight. A year after the diet ended, the dog has maintained a normal weight, according to her owner. The researchers expect to receive the results of a follow-up survey on weight maintenance among the other dogs later.
