Does Your Pet Need to Shed the COVID Weight?

“I have a lot of critics who say this isn't a real problem,” says Ward, 54, based in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. “But obesity isn't a problem until it's a catastrophe. There's very little in between. And I see this constantly. That's the frustrating part for me.”

Getting a handle on portion control

Monitoring food intake “is the greatest action to begin” when trying to help your pet lose weight, says Emily McCann, an associate veterinarian at Firehouse Animal Health Center in Kyle, Texas.

In addition to using a measuring cup at feeding time, McCann — who sees her fair share of obesity-related issues, including endocrine disorders, ligament tears and urinary tract problems — suggests increasing exercise through longer walks and extra playtime, and trading out high-calorie treats for healthier options such as carrots and green beans.

MabelDog is working to shed her pandemic weight, says owner Kathryn Howard.

Courtesy Kathryn Howard

Watching Your Pet's Weight

• Want to know how much your pet weighs compared to an average adult human male or female? The Pet-to-Human Weight Translator from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention offers this information by specific breed, as well as a place to calculate your pet's caloric needs and read up on weight loss tips.
• Pet food delivery companies such as PetPlate offer direct-to-consumer subscriptions with personalized meal plans for cats and dogs. “It’s an entirely different model that’s starting to gain traction,” says Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry, a trade magazine. Expect to pay between $25 and $140, depending on the kind of food you order (custom kibble, freeze-dried raw formulations, prepackaged fresh meals, etc.).
  

The vast majority of problem cases can be traced back to a lack of portion control. Ward says one study found that giving 10 extra kibbles per day to dogs and cats weighing less than 22 pounds resulted in a 1-pound weight gain over the course of a year.

At the same time, the feeding directions on pet food packaging — it's often based on the pet's weight in kilograms — can be confusing to the average consumer, notes Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry, a trade magazine. “What does that mean in terms of a cup?” she asks. “It just takes too much work.”

An effort has been underway for years to modernize pet food labels and make it easier for consumers to understand the feeding directions. For example, by displaying the directions more prominently instead of burying them on the side of the package, or by designing them to more closely resemble the nutrition boxes found on packaging for human food.

But the process has been slow. Pet food labels must follow guidance set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials and regulations from the Food and Drug Administration — and changing regulations takes time. Also, given the wealth of information required on a food label or package, it's difficult for pet food companies to include everything in easy-to-see places.

Pet owners, therefore, should have a conversion chart handy and be sure to offer up the exact same quantity — drawing a line on a measuring cup will help — at feeding time.

Meanwhile, attention must be paid to one pet food trend that has taken a cue from human grocery aisles: high-premium, nutrient-dense fare.

“It’s very dense, and a heck of a lot of more calories in every bite,” says Phillips-Donaldson, who admits to having a slightly chubby cat. “So unless the activity level changes a lot, if you feed your pet the same amount, the pet’s going to gain weight.”

Maria Fedotova/Getty Images

Weight loss rewards

MabelDog, with more walks and healthier treats — sweet potato hummus or apple slices instead of fast food — has recently dropped to 16 pounds.

Still, “We’re never going back to the way we were,” says Howard (who has lost 20 pounds since May).

If your veterinarian suggests that your pet shed a few pounds, be open-minded, pleads Ward, who is accustomed to owners dismissing the importance of the extra pounds or getting defensive.

Then be patient.

Just as with humans, weight loss is a process. Maybe even more so, because pets can't hit the treadmill or go on a crash diet. Realistically, dogs can lose between 3 percent and 5 percent of their body weight per month. Cats can lose about half a pound per month.

“But here's the fantastic news for pets,” says Ward. “You don't have to accomplish their entire weight loss journey before their quality of life improves. They're going to be more vital, more energetic, more interactive. There are real demonstrable benefits to even moderate weight loss.”