Some of the problems we see in obese people also occur in overweight or obese pet dogs. There’s added stress on the joints, there’s an intolerance to exercise and heat; there’s also glucose intolerance, insulin resistance. A 2022 study of overweight dogs by the University of Illinois showed that when the pets were fed a reduced calorie, high-protein, high-fibre diet for 24 weeks, the dogs’ body composition and inflammatory markers changed over time in ways that parallel the positive changes seen in humans on similar diets. The dogs achieved a healthier weight without losing too much muscle mass, and their serum triglycerides, insulin and inflammatory markers all decreased with weight loss. In short, they were healthier!
