Page 523 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Obesity 539

VetBooks.ir CASE 27-3

Lameness in an Obese Labrador Retriever
William J. Burkholder, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVN*
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A & M University
College Station, Texas, USA

Patient Assessment
A nine-year-old neutered female Labrador retriever weighing 41.8 kg was admitted six months after repair of a ruptured left ante-
rior cruciate ligament.The dog was still limping on its left rear leg. Radiographs of the stifle showed evidence of mild osteoarthro-
sis. Orthopedic examination of the stifle for stability and range of motion was normal. No other abnormalities were found on phys-
ical examination. Results of a complete blood count, serum biochemistry profile, urinalysis and serum T and T concentrations
3 4
were normal.
The dog’s body condition was assessed as 4.5/5. Ideal body weight was estimated to be 34 kg (Table 27-3). Morphometric meas-
ures estimated 35% of the dog’s body weight was fat.
Assess the Food and Feeding Method
Caloric restriction had been initiated after surgery in an attempt to promote weight loss. Table 1 lists the assessment of the foods
and feeding management. No weight loss had occurred in the last three to four months.
Questions

Table 1. Foods and feeding method assessment of an obese Labrador
retriever with lameness.
Foods Feeding method
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, moist a One can, twice daily
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, dry a One cup, twice daily
Milk-Bone treats (small) b One treat, once daily

1. What are some risk factors for obesity that can be identified
from the animal assessment?
2. Estimate the amount of energy consumed by this patient each
day.
3. Calculate the daily energy requirement (DER) for this patient
Figure 1. Progression of body weight loss compared with minimum
at its estimated optimal body weight and compare this num-
and maximum rates of weight loss.
ber with the assessment in Question 2.
4. Outline a feeding, exercise and monitoring plan for weight
reduction for this dog.

Answers and Discussion
1. Risk factors for obesity in this patient include age (middle-
aged dogs are more prone to obesity than younger animals),
gender (female dogs are at higher risk than male dogs), repro-
ductive status (neutered dogs are at more risk than intact ani-
mals), breed (Labrador retrievers are considered an obesity-
prone breed) and exercise level (the dog had been sedentary
since the knee surgery). Obesity may have contributed to the
anterior cruciate rupture and restricted exercise since surgery
may have contributed to persistent obesity despite recent
caloric restriction.
2. The energy consumed by the dog each day was approximately
920 kcal (3.85 MJ).This is estimated from the moist food (two
Figure 2. Comparison of body weight loss and pelvic circumfer-
cans, 250 kcal/can [1.05 MJ/can]), dry food (two cups, 200 ence during the weight-reduction program.
kcal/cup [837 kJ/cup]) and commercial treats (one treat, 20