Vegan Dog Food for Weight Loss
Why would a dog need a weight control dog food?
Today, there is a broad understanding that obesity is a human disease, leading us towards various chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and liver and respiratory diseases, among others, including osteoarthritis. It also heightens the risk of overall mortality.
Similarly, veterinary practitioners now recognise obesity as a significant health issue in dogs, affecting their health, wellbeing and overall life quality.
A study conducted in 2019 revealed that about 51% of dogs were either obese or overweight, a surge from 45% in 2015.
This escalating trend of overweight dogs is increasingly alarming for veterinarians, as these dogs are at considerable risk of developing preventable chronic diseases, like diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis and urinary incontinence [1]. Elevated adiposity can detrimentally affect respiratory function [2, 3] and induce metabolic disruptions like insulin resistance [4, 5, 6, 7], alongside impacting renal health [8].
Moreover, research indicates that obesity or being overweight shortens lifespan [9], a tragic fate we wouldn’t consciously wish upon any family member, let alone our beloved dogs.
Naturally, diet and exercise are central to the canine obesity crisis.
Exercise and Weight Control
Just as it benefits your health and wellbeing, exercise is crucial for your dog.
Exercise not only helps utilise the energy they gain from their food, but it also aids in maintaining healthy organ function, muscle mass, and stronger bones, while lowering the risk of inflammation and its effects on their overall health and ageing.
Besides the health advantages, dogs also relish the sheer joy of outdoor activities – being the social beings they are, it offers them a chance to interact with other dogs and people and explore their surroundings.
The ideal minimum of daily exercise for a dog is about 30-40 minutes, but many dogs may need more. For several breeds, an hour of activity a day would be optimal. If your dog needs to lose weight, try to augment the amount of exercise they currently do. If they are currently inactive, start with short bouts of walking, say 15 minutes, twice a day. If they’re already active, lengthening their walk and other exercise activities by 10-20% will benefit their weight control (and their overall health and joy!).
Diet and Weight Control
Diet, however, is a more intricate matter and holds paramount importance in managing and controlling your dog’s weight.
The universal guideline for weight control or loss for both humans and dogs is 60-70% diet and 30-40% exercise.
We often delight in our dogs’ evident anticipation and joy at mealtimes, and this, combined with our sense of doing the best for them, leads us to overfeed them sometimes.
We tend to overestimate the influence of physical activity on weight maintenance. Hence, even for active dogs, it’s crucial to set definite rules for daily caloric intake to ensure we’re not unintentionally harming them with excess affection.
Successful long-term management of your dog’s weight necessitates accurately establishing how much to feed them, which means knowing the number of calories your dog requires daily.
Their daily calorie requirement depends on multiple factors besides their activity level, like their breed, size and weight, age, and whether they’re spayed or neutered.
Most dog food feeding guidelines are too generalised, with vague weight to calorie requirement guidelines, and they’re standardized for active adult dogs for all life stages – from adult through to senior.
For instance, if your dog is not particularly active and is spayed or neutered, their daily energy requirement is likely to be 20-30% less than that of an active, intact dog. It’s quite easy to overestimate the amount of food your dog needs, and just like us, once the weight is on, it’s more challenging to lose, risking all the health (and quality of life) issues that come with being overweight.
Most of us use a scoop or cup to serve our dog’s food, due to the excitement at mealtime! A study from the University of Guelph showed that using a scoop or measuring cup can result in our dogs being served vastly different amounts of food, from a 47% underestimation to a 152% overestimation in the volume of food measured. (10) As you might expect, those using electronic scales measured correct weight very accurately.
This risk of overfeeding can open the door to various health risks associated with our dogs being overweight or obese.
What makes a good weight control dog food?
A good weight control dog food should cater to your dog’s specific needs while helping maintain a healthy weight. Here are some key elements to consider when choosing a weight control dog food:
1. Reduced Caloric Density: A weight control food should have a lower caloric density than regular dog food. This means it has fewer calories per gram. This allows your dog to eat a similar volume of food but take in fewer calories, thus helping them to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight without feeling hungry.
2. Protein Content: High-quality protein is vital in a weight control diet. It helps maintain lean body mass during weight loss and promotes feelings of fullness. The protein should come from quality sources – see ingredients below.
3. High Fibre Content: Fibre helps promote a sense of fullness, meaning your dog will feel satisfied even while consuming fewer calories. Additionally, fibre aids in digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels, which can be beneficial for dogs prone to diabetes.
4. Balanced Nutrients: While the food should be lower in calories, it shouldn’t skimp on essential nutrients. The food should be complete and balanced, providing all the necessary vitamins and minerals your dog needs. This includes omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce inflammation and promote overall health.
5. Palatability: A good weight control food should also be tasty. If your dog doesn’t enjoy eating it, they may not stick to the diet, or they may beg for extra food, making weight control more challenging.
6. Lower Saturated Fat Content: Reduced-fat content can help in reducing the overall caloric content of the food. However, it’s essential to maintain a balanced diet, so the reduction should not compromise essential fatty acids that your dog needs for a healthy skin and shiny coat.
7. Specific Ingredients to Support Weight Loss: Certain ingredients can aid in weight loss. For example, L-carnitine, an amino acid, can help facilitate fat metabolism.
When choosing a weight control dog food, it’s essential to consult with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist. They can provide advice tailored to your dog’s individual needs and help you navigate the sometimes confusing world of dog food labels.
Also, keep in mind that weight control food alone won’t keep your dog at a healthy weight. Regular exercise, portion control, and regular weigh-ins are all part of a comprehensive weight management strategy.
It’s also important to transition slowly to a new food to avoid upsetting your dog’s stomach. Gradually mix the new food with your dog’s current food over a week or two, increasing the amount of new food each day.
By paying attention to the ingredients and the nutritional content of the food, you can ensure you’re choosing the best weight control food for your dog’s specific needs.
Fibre and Weight Control
Fibre, just as in our diet, plays a crucial role in your dog’s health.
Our dogs, much like us, enjoy a delicious meal and the feeling of being full and satisfied – fibre is key to this feeling of satiety.
Sadly, dogs, like humans, often consume too little fibre in their daily diet, leaving them feeling less full and craving more food.
Fibre is a key factor in weight management and effectively controlling your dog’s weight, besides its additional health benefits, like aiding their digestion, enhancing their microbiome, reducing anal sac issues, and improving stool quality.
In conclusion, it is crucial that your dog gets all This will ensure they maintain their optimum weight and the best possible health. So, in short, regular exercise combined with the right diet and portion sizes will mean you are doing the best you can for your dog’s health, weight control and overall wellbeing. You will be rewarded with a dog who not only lives a longer healthier life but one who is enjoying every moment of it, a goal we can all relate to.’
What plant-based ingredients are best for a vegan weight control dog food?
When formulating a plant-based, vegan dog food for weight control, it’s crucial to incorporate ingredients that are not only nutrient-dense but also help maintain a healthy weight. Here are some vegan ingredients that are particularly beneficial for a weight control dog food:
1. Lentils: Lentils are an excellent source of protein and fibre, two key components in a weight control diet. The high fibre content can help your dog feel fuller for longer, reducing the chances of overeating.
2. Peas: Like lentils, peas are a good source of plant-based protein and fibre. They are also low in fat, making them an excellent choice for a weight control diet.
3. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are a low-fat source of complex carbohydrates that provide long-lasting energy. They also contain fiber to aid digestion and promote a feeling of fullness.
4. Brown Rice: Brown rice is a whole grain, which means it’s full of fiber. This can help control your dog’s weight by keeping them feeling full and satisfied. Brown rice also provides essential nutrients like B vitamins and minerals.
5. Quinoa: This superfood is an excellent vegan protein source and is full of essential amino acids your dog needs. It’s also high in fibre and has a low glycaemic index, making it great for weight control.
6. Pumpkin: Pumpkin is low in calories and high in dietary fibre. It’s also beneficial for digestive health, which is important for overall well-being and weight management.
7. Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids (although an algae based Omega-3 with DHA, EPA and DPA is the best option for Omega-3’s for dogs), fibre, and protein. The fibre in chia seeds can absorb up to 12 times its weight in water, expanding in your dog’s stomach to help them feel full.
8. Cranberries: While not a significant source of protein or fibre, cranberries are packed with antioxidants that can support your dog’s overall health. They’re also a sweet treat that can make weight control food more appealing to your dog.
9. Seaweed: Seaweed is a nutrient powerhouse that offers a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals. Not only is it low in calories, but it also contains iodine, which supports thyroid health and can help manage your dog’s weight.
10. Potato Protein: Potato protein is a high-quality protein source that’s hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for dogs with food sensitivities. The protein from potatoes is very digestible and helps to maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss.
11. Chickpeas: Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are an excellent source of plant-based protein and fibre, which aids in weight management by providing a feeling of fullness. They also contain essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
12. Flaxseed: Ground flaxseed is a good plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids (although an algae based Omega-3 with DHA, EPA and DPA is the best option for Omega-3’s for dogs) and provides both soluble and insoluble fibres. This is essential for digestive health and helping your dog feel full.
13. Broccoli: Broccoli is high in fibre and low in fat, helping dogs feel full without adding unnecessary calories to their diet. It also provides numerous vitamins and minerals.
Remember, dogs require a complete and balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs. If you’re considering transitioning your dog to a vegan diet, it’s best to consult with a vet or a canine nutritionist to ensure they’re getting the right balance of nutrients. They can also ensure they are being fed a complete and balanced vegan dog food with high caloric density and higher fibre levels to keep them feeling full after their meals.
Bonza 100% natural vegan weight control dog food is formulated to provide your dog with the appropriate level of plant-based fibre to leave them feeling full and satisfied after their meals and for a longer period. After all none of us wants to feel like our dogs are ‘starving’ and anxious for their next meal.
Bonza Superfoods and Ancient Grain formula contains high quality protein and fibre sources – quinoa, peas, pea protein, nutritional yeast, seaweed, chickpeas and fava beans.
The fat sources used are also low in saturated fats – rapeseed oil and algal oil extract – and provide exceptional sources of Omega-3 with DHA, EPA and DPA.
As a highly nutrient-dense dog food, it makes an excellent choice as a weight control food.
Bonza’s feeding calculator uses an algorithm to accurately assess the exact of amount of food your dog should be eating every day to manage their weight, prevent overfeeding and keep your dog in peak condition.
We strongly recommend using electronic scales or feeding bowl to provide your dog with an accurate portion of vegan weight control food for each meal based on their individual needs.
For the reasons above we believe that Bonza is arguably the best vegan weight control dog food available.