3) Restricting food kindly – minimising hunger.
The Labrador POMC mutation makes affected dogs prone to putting on weight because they feel they are more hungry, more of the time. [Read more about the biology of appetite here and how the mutation affects if here.]
We all know that feeling hungry is unpleasant and best avoided. But if we let dogs which are ‘genetically hungry’ eat what they want, they will become obese and their quality of life will suffer.
So, rather than just feeding affected dogs small amounts once or twice a day, we at GOdogs think it is sensible to think about how we can ‘trick’ dogs into thinking they are getting more food than they are.
The recommendations below are based on scientific knowledge of how appetite and satiety are regulated, human research into eating, and common sense animal management techniques. GOdogs have plans to test them rigorously but until then they will do no harm and may well keep your hungry dog happier while you keep him slim.
The principles underlying the recommendations are to feed in a way that send signals of ‘fullness’ for longer; distract your dog from thoughts of food; and to provide enough exercise to allow your dog to eat well.
Feed for ‘Fullness’ (or at least the sensation of fullness):
- Feed little and often, by splitting your dog’s ration into multiple small feeds or using a puzzle feeder to trickle the food out throughout the day so they get multiple chances to satisfy their craving for food.
- Puzzle feeders work well to let a dog obsess about food without getting much to eat. Some are made of tough rubber which your dog can tug/chew/throw around for hours to liberate the food inside; try stuffing them with tinned food then freezing them. Others are more complex with tasks for dogs to complete to expose a small treat.
- Use a specially formulated ‘satiety’ diet. Some pet food manufacturers have produced high fibre, relatively high protein diets. Others are expanded with air bubbles. The fibre slows the passage of the food through the gut which means the body absorbs the food more slowly and sends messages that there is food on board for longer. Protein is a particularly potent chemical signal of recent eating and also makes dogs feel full. Air bubbles seem to slow eating to help satiety. There is a good evidence base for using these diets in overweight dogs which need to lose weight – and it seems a sensible thing to try in dogs with a genetic predisposition to hunger.
- Use low calorie treats to fake a snack. Raw veg, tiny meat treats or even ice cubes can mean your foodie dog is kidded into feeling they’ve eaten. This won’t fool the unconscious part of the brain into feeling full but even the process of eating and chewing contributes a bit to a feeling of satisfaction after eating.
Distract your dog from thoughts of food. Most people know how tempting it is to snack when we are bored. The same is true for dogs, particularly ones with a genetic predisposition to greediness. But keeping your dog busy really can help to distract them from their hunger.
We know pets have to fit in with busy human lives. But think creatively about how you can keep your dog busy so her thoughts don’t turn to food. When you are out of the house, what is your dog doing? Can you increase their activity and interest levels by providing toys, puzzle feeders or even a dog flap? There are lots of useful ideas out there on the internet to inspire you.
Make your relationship with your dog about play, not food. In our busy lives it’s often easiest to fob off an attention-seeking dog with a tasty treat. Food-obsessed dogs will always be food-obsessed, but avoid reinforcing that. Remember that dogs can often be satisfied with a fuss or a game as with a biscuit. Try it next time your dog comes ‘begging’.
Exercise is the last part of ‘restricting food kindly’. Many dogs don’t get as much exercise they could enjoy. In obesity-prone breeds, keeping dogs really fit means they burn off so much energy at exercise you have more leeway when it comes to food restriction. In the final Strategy, we focus on exercise.