Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the body and results from a prolonged imbalance betweenincreased energy reserves and concomitant reduction in energy expenditure, often associated with low physical activity. This results in a positive energy balance that can become chronic. Several studies have described how in domestic dogs the condition of obesity is highly prevalent worldwide.
Excess body weight can lead to numerous adverse health effects, as well as being a risk factor for various diseases, such as orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular, respiratory and/or metabolic issues, particularly insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia.
In addition, a correlation between obesity and changes in the gut microbiome has been shown. As early as 2005, a study in mouse models demonstrated the influence that obesity can have in inducing changes in the relative abundance of major bacterial groups in the gut.
Because of the increasing prevalence of obesity and the health risks associated with it, prevention can have a decisive impact on pet health.
In cases where prevention has not been implemented and the animal still reaches the condition of obesity, a specific weight loss program(WLP) should be initiated so as to reestablish the ideal BCS(Body Condition Score). WLP is based on three main pillars: energy restriction, physical activity and low-calorie diet. Energy restriction for dogs is established based on estimated Ideal Body Weight(IBW).
Weight loss: a pathway to healthy microbiota
Some studies have shown that, in obese dogs, weight loss can improve quality of life and reduce inflammatory status, however, little work has evaluated the changes that weight loss can induce in the fecal microbiota. Therefore, the study by Macedo et al., aimed to evaluate the effects of WLP in the fecal microbiota of obese dogs by making a comparison with lean dogs.
The authors enrolled 20 female dogs of different breeds and aged between 1 and 9 years. The dogs were equally divided into three groups:
- Group of obese dogs(OG) with BCS 8-9/9;
- Lean dog group(LG) with BCS 5/9;
- Weight loss dog group(WLG), represented by OG dogs that had lost 20% of their body weight.
The results of the study showed, first of all, the effects of WLP. This was able to modulate the composition of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract: the WLG and LG groups had, in fact, a microbial composition with greater biodiversity than the OG group. The relative frequency, in terms of bacterial taxa, in the microbiota of WLG dogs showed values much closer to those of LG dogs than those of OG dogs.
Confirmation of the importance of weight loss
Macedo et al. confirmed the hypothesis that the composition of the fecal microbiota of obese dogs differs from that of dogs with an ideal BCS. The weight loss program used in the study promotedeffective changes in the fecal microbiota showing, thus, clear correlations between weight loss and improvements in terms of microbiota, which can easily translate into an overall improvement in gut health.
Reference
Macedo HT, Rentas MF, Vendramini THA, Macegoza MV, Amaral AR, Jeremias JT, de Carvalho Balieiro JC, Pfrimer K, Ferriolli E, Pontieri CFF, Brunetto MA. Weight-loss in obese dogs promotes important shifts in fecal microbiota profile to the extent of resembling microbiota of lean dogs. Anim Microbiome. 2022 Jan 6;4(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s42523-021-00160-x.
