15 overweight dogs were enrolled in a 3-month energy restriction protocol to help them reach an ideal body condition. Rate of weight loss was 1 to 1.5% of body weight loss per week. Dogs were fed a weight management diet fortified with key nutrients to support cardiac health (omega-3 fatty acid, taurine, L-carnitine) and assigned to a daily walk of moderate intensity (5 km/hour) for the 12-week study. At the end of the study all dogs reached an ideal body condition. DEXA measurement showed maintenance of lean tissue and a 60% reduction in initial body fat mass. Normalisation of heart rate was also observed: heart rate decreased by 17% both at rest and during the walk after only 6 weeks, illustrating a beneficial impact of both weight loss and exercise on cardiac function. Voluntary physical activity also increased by 1.5 hours per day following weight loss.
Effects of Weight Loss on Heart Rate Normalization and Increase in Spontaneous Activity in Moderately exercised Overweight dogs
Bouthegourd, J-c. et al.