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. 2011 May;52(5):491-6.

Incorporation of exercise, using an underwater treadmill, and active client education into a weight management program for obese dogs

Anne Chauvet  1 , Jim Laclair, Denise A Elliott, Alexander J German
Affiliations

Incorporation of exercise, using an underwater treadmill, and active client education into a weight management program for obese dogs

Anne Chauvet et al. Can Vet J. 2011 May.

Abstract
in English, French

Physical activity improves outcome of weight loss in obese humans, but limited information exists for dogs. Eight obese dogs (body condition score 5/5), of various breeds and genders, undertook a 3-month weight-loss program which included exercise using lead walks and underwater treadmill exercise. The median number of treadmill exercise sessions per dog was 13 (range: 5 to 17). Median distance walked per session was 0.97 km (range: 0.05 to 2.7 km) (0.6 miles; range: 0.03 to 1.70 miles) and this increased sequentially over the course of the study (P < 0.001). Mean [± standard deviation (s)] percentage of starting weight loss over the 3 mo was 18.9 ± 5.44%, equivalent to a rate of weight loss of 1.5 ± 0.43% per week. Thoracic and abdominal girth also declined significantly during the program (P < 0.0001 for both). This study demonstrates the potential benefit of including an organized exercise regimen, utilizing an underwater treadmill, in conventional canine weight management programs.

Intégration de l’exercice, à l’aide d’un tapis roulant aquatique et de la sensibilisation active des clients, dans un programme de gestion du poids des chiens obèses. L’activité physique améliore les résultats de la perte de poids chez les humains obèses, mais des renseignements limités sont disponibles pour les chiens. Huit chiens obèses (cote d’état corporel de 5/5), de diverses races et sexes, ont entrepris un programme de perte de poids d’une durée de 3 mois qui incluait de l’activité physique dans le cadre de promenades en laisse et d’exercice sur le tapis roulant aquatique. Le nombre médian de séances d’exercice sur le tapis roulant par chien était de 13 (intervalle : de 5 à 17). La distance médiane parcourue par séance était de 0,97 km (intervalle : de 0,05 à 2,7 km) (0,6 mille; intervalle de 0,03 à 1,70 milles) et ces données ont séquentiellement augmenté au cours de l’étude (P < 0,001). Le pourcentage moyen de la première perte de poids [± déviation(s) standard] au cours des 3 mois a été de 18,9 ± 5,44 %, équivalant à un taux de perte de moyen de 1,5 ± 0,43 % par semaine. La circonférence thoracique et abdominale a aussi baissé significativement durant le programme (P < 0,0001 pour les deux). Cette étude démontre les bienfaits potentiels de l’inclusion d’un régime d’exercice encadré, à l’aide d’un tapis roulant aquatique, dans les programmes conventionnels de gestion du poids des chiens.

(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage change in body weight over the course of the program. The symbols represent the mean and bars represent standard deviation for percentage of starting body weight (% SBW) of the dogs at each time point. Points with different letters are significantly different from one another. A significant reduction in body weight was noted at each revisit (Friedman test, P < 0.0001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Change in thoracic and abdominal girth measurements over the course of the program. The symbols represent the mean and bars represent standard deviation for percentage of initial girth circumference at each time point. Points with different letters are significantly different from one another. Significant reductions in both thoracic and abdominal girth measurement were noted at each revisit (Friedman test, P < 0.0001).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Treadmill exercise levels during the program, represented as (a) session speed in miles per hour (mph), (b) session duration (in min), and (c) total distance travelled (in miles). The symbols represent the median value, whilst the upper and lower bars represent the interquartile range. A significant increase in speed, duration and total distance walked was noted during the course of the study (Cusick’s trend test, P = 0.0023, P = 0.0032, and P = 0.0010, respectively).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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