Canine and Feline Obesity Management

Possible relationship between long-term post neutering complications in dogs and caregiver burden in the owners

Gonadectomy, commonly known as neutering, is widely used to address dog overpopulation and reduce reproductive disease risks, such as mammary cancer and pyometra. It is also advocated for behavior modification. However, neutering is associated with an increased risk of certain musculoskeletal disorders, obesity, several types of cancer, immune-mediated diseases, and cognitive dysfunction. These conditions may necessitate ongoing care and treatment, that require special care that the caregiver must provide furthermore burdens the caregiver with daily tasks, which encompasses the emotional, physical, social, and financial impact on pet owners caring for chronically ill animals. This burden can result in burnout, health issues, depression, social isolation, and financial stress. The potential benefits and risk of gonadectomy can affect the quality of life of both humans and pets. Relevant research findings should therefore be incorporated into each pet's and owner's particular situation. The purpose of this review is to address the long-term neutering risks and the potential caregiver burden that arises from these risks.

Effects of Isoflavone Intake on Energy Requirement, Satiety, and Body Composition of Neutered Adult Cats

Isoflavones are composed of phytoestrogens (genistein and daidzein), which can be metabolized by cats. These compounds can promote the maintenance of lean body mass and control food intake. These effects are desirable in neutered animals, as they are predisposed to obesity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of 1.0% isoflavone on the metabolizable energy intake, serum concentrations of satiety-related hormones and peptides, and body composition of neutered cats. Sixteen neutered adult cats were blocked by gender and divided into two groups (n = 8): the control group (CG) received a commercial diet, while the isoflavone group (IG) received the same diet supplemented by 1% of isoflavone for 99 days. Computed tomography was performed on the first and last experimental days to assess the animals' body composition. Satiety challenges were conducted on days 19 and 44. In the last day of the study, blood samples were collected to determine the concentration of insulin, ghrelin, leptin, peptide YY, and GLP-1. A statistical analysis was conducted using R software 3.5.2, considering both the interaction and individual effects of group and time (p < 0.05). The average intake of genistein in the IG was 0.75 ± 0.10 mg/kg body weight, and daidzein intake was 51.73 ± 7.05 mg/kg. No significant individual or interaction effects were observed for any of the analyzed variables. Therefore, the inclusion of 1.0% isoflavone in the diet did not affect the energy requirements, satiety responses, or body composition of neutered adult cats.

Application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus lactis on Lipid Metabolism, Anti-Inflammatory, and Fecal Microbiota in Cats

Probiotics have been used in functional foods and dietary supplements, and in recent years, they have become more widely used in pets. In our previous experiment, Lactobacillus plantarum L-27-2 and Pediococcus lactis L-14-1 were isolated from cat feces and proved to have positive effects on lipid metabolism in mice. To further discuss their possible effects in cats, a total of 12 healthy cats (British Shorthair) were randomly divided into two groups. One group was fed Pediococcus lactis L-14-1 (1 × 109 CFU/kg/d, n = 6), and the other group was fed Lactobacillus plantarum L-27-2 (1 × 109 CFU/kg/d, n = 6), and the experiment was conducted for 28 days. Blood and feces were collected on days 0 and 28 separately. ELISA was used to detect blood biochemical indexes in cats. The results showed that L-27-2 and L-14-1 could reduce the content of TG (triglyceride, p < 0.05) and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, p < 0.01) in the blood, increase the content of HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein, p < 0.01), and L-27-2 could significantly reduce the content of IL-6 (p < 0.01). The diversity of feces microbiota was also tested. On the phylum level, there was no significance in the phylum level of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (p > 0.05), but on the genus level, in the L-14-1 group, the abundance of Lantiplantibacillus and Cetobacterium was increased (p < 0.05), and the abundance of Ruminococcus, Olsenella, and Labanicoccus was decreased (p < 0.05), while in the L-27-2 group, the abundance of Libanicoccus was also decreased in L-14-1 (p < 0.05). Above all, L-27-2 and L-14-1 can be considered potential probiotics to improve cat gut health and lipid metabolism.

Overweight and obesity in domestic cats: epidemiological risk factors and associated pathologies

The domestic cat has evolved in various aspects in its journey from original domestication to the present day. Many domestic cats today lead a sedentary indoor lifestyle with low environmental stimulation. In addition, cats have changed their eating habits, transitioning from being carnivorous hunters to animals that eat commercial processed foods. Eating patterns have also changed since cats no longer need to hunt for food but instead have access to several portions throughout the day. All these variables, known as extrinsic epidemiological factors, added to animal-specific or intrinsic epidemiological factors (genetics, sex and breed, among others), predispose cats to the development of overweight and obesity (O&O). The prevalence of O&O has significantly increased in the global cat population, making them a growing clinical concern for companion animals. In turn, O&O contribute to the onset of other pathologies by either increasing susceptibility or creating conditions that allow existing or incipient pathologies to manifest or worsen. Some of these diseases correspond to changes in the musculoskeletal tissue, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, skin disorders, and kidney and urinary tract diseases, among others. Therefore, the aim of this review was to analyze the epidemiological variables and diseases associated with O&O in the domestic cat.

Interobserver variability of assessing body condition scores and muscle condition scores in a population of 43 active working explosive detection dogs

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between explosive detection dog (EDD) handlers and a team of veterinarians in assessing body condition score (BCS) and muscle condition score (MCS), hypothesizing significant BCS differences between handlers and veterinarians, and no significant MCS differences in healthy active duty EDDs.

Methods

This prospective study analyzed variance and inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of agreement within BCS and MCS assessments collected from the 43 EDDs by four blinded graders; the EDDs' respective handler and three veterinarians with varying levels of veterinary expertise.

Results

The results of the study showed that 74.4% of the EDD population was graded as ideal BCS (4 or 5 out of 9) by the handlers compared to 67.44% by the members of the veterinary team; however, the graders scored different subsets of individual EDDs as ideal. Normal MCS (3 out of 3) was assessed in 86.05% (n = 37) of EDDs by the handlers versus in 70.54% by the veterinary team.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of standardized training and guidelines for BCS and MCS assessments in working dogs to improve agreement between all members of the healthcare team.

Safety of white adipose tissue activator cyclophilin A intracellular peptide (Pep19™) in healthy dogs

Oral consumption of Pep19™, a 10 amino acid intracellular peptide, has been associated with weight loss in rodents and humans via induction of nonshivering thermogenesis. This study aimed to test its safety and tolerance in dogs. Eight healthy adult neutered university owned beagles (4 female and 4 male) were individually housed in runs and fed an extruded kibble in a quantity historically associated with weight stability. They were administered Pep19™ (5 mg/dog/day, 0.32 - 0.49 mg/kg/day) as a once daily oral dose for 28 days. Health screening, including physical examination, body weight, body condition score (BCS), complete blood count, chemistry, total thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, and urinalysis were collected at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Faecal score, appetite, and overall animal temperament and condition were assessed daily. At baseline, average age, weight, and BCS were 3.8 ± 0.3 years, 12.68 ± 2.11 kg, and 6.4 ± 0.7/9, respectively. There were no adverse effects and all blood and urine analyses remained normal. At study termination, average weight, and body condition score (BCS) were 12.53 ± 2.01 kg, and 5.6 ± 0.7/9, respectively. Despite no changes in diet or calorie intake, seven of the dogs lost between 0.7% and 3.8% of their body weight (p<0.01); this was associated with a reduction in body condition score (p<0.05). This initial study shows that Pep19™ is safe for dogs. Future clinical research should investigate its utility as a new approach to reduce excess body fat in dogs.

Retrospective investigation of the energy requirements for weight loss and weight maintenance after weight loss programme in obese dogs

Obesity is a highly prevalent disease in dogs and is characterized by the excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that results in metabolic changes. Its treatment is based on a negative energy balance focusing on energy restriction. However, there are few studies in dogs that assessed the energy intake needed for adequate weight loss and to weight maintenance afterward. The aim of this study was to evaluate data about the treatment of canine obesity, with emphasis on energy restriction to induce weight loss and to maintain body weight (BW) and ideal body condition after weight loss. This was a retrospective study in which records of obese dogs from a veterinary teaching hospital were assessed between 2014 and 2020. Sixteen dogs were considered in the study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria and 10 of these participated in the maintenance phase after weight loss. The animals lost a mean of 23.2% their initial weight in a mean of 422 days. The mean weekly weight loss rate was 0.58% of BW, and the mean daily energy intake for weight loss was 59 kcal/kg current BW0.75. When the target BW was considered, which was defined as the current weight minus 10% for every point in the body condition score scale above 5, the mean energy for weight loss was 71 kcal/kg target BW0.75. In the maintenance phase, the animals were assessed for a mean of 134 days. The mean energy intake to maintenance BW was 70 kcal/kg BW0.75. The lower energy requirement of obese dogs during and after weight loss can work as an alert for the formulations of therapeutic weight loss diets to contain a high nutrient density focusing on the wellbeing, health, and quality of life of obese dogs, not just for the weight loss phase, but a diet for the weight maintenance phase.

Dietary supplementation with probiotics promotes weight loss by reshaping the gut microbiome and energy metabolism in obese dogs

Obesity and overweight among companion animals are significant concerns, paralleling the issues observed in human populations. Recent research has highlighted the potential benefits of various probiotics in addressing weight-related changes, obesity, and associated pathologies. In this study, we delved into the beneficial probiotic mechanisms in high-fat-induced obese canines, revealing that Enterococcus faecium IDCC 2102 (IDCC 2102) and Bifidobacterium lactis IDCC 4301 (IDCC 4301) have the capacity to mitigate the increase in body weight and lipid accumulation in obese canines subjected to a high-fat diet and hyperlipidemic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain VS29. Both IDCC 2102 and IDCC 4301 demonstrated the ability to reduce systemic inflammation and hormonal disruptions induced by obesity. Notably, these probiotics induced modifications in the microbiota by promoting lactic acid bacteria, including Lactobacillaceae, Ruminococcaceae, and S24-7, with concomitant activation of pyruvate metabolism. IDCC 4301, through the generation of bacterial short-chain fatty acids and carboxylic acids, facilitated glycolysis and contributed to ATP synthesis. Meanwhile, IDCC 2102 produced bacterial metabolites such as acetic acid and butyric acid, exhibiting a particular ability to stimulate dopamine synthesis in a canine model. This stimulation led to the restoration of eating behavior and improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance. In summary, we propose novel probiotics for the treatment of obese animals based on the modifications induced by IDCC 2102 and IDCC 4301. These probiotics enhanced systemic energy utilization in response to high caloric intake, thereby preventing lipid accumulation and restoring stability to the fecal microbiota. Consequently, this intervention resulted in a reduction in systemic inflammation caused by the high-fat diet.IMPORTANCEProbiotic supplementation affected commensal bacterial proliferation, and administering probiotics increased glycolysis and activated pyruvate metabolism in the body, which is related to propanate metabolism as a result of pyruvate metabolism activation boosting bacterial fatty acid production via dopamine and carboxylic acid specialized pathways, hence contributing to increased ATP synthesis and energy metabolism activity.

Comparing different strategies to reduce hepatocellular damage in obese common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

BACKGROUND

Obesity in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) can lead to various liver pathologies. In other species, reduced caloric intake and weight loss improve prognosis, and, often, hepatoprotectants are used to halt or reverse hepatocellular damage from fat deposition in the liver. There are no published therapies for reducing hepatocellular damage in obese marmosets.

METHODS

Fifteen obese marmosets were used to evaluate the ability of caloric restriction and pharmacologic therapy (S-adenosylmethionine + milk thistle extract, or SMT), alone and combined, to reduce elevated liver enzymes. Body weight and serum chemistries were measured every 4 weeks for 6 months.

RESULTS

Across treatment groups, there was a significant reduction in liver enzymes ALT and AST over time. SMT alone significantly reduced liver enzymes ALT and AST at 6 months from baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Caloric restriction and SMT, alone and combined, are effective at reducing liver enzyme levels in obese marmosets.

Identifying the target population and preventive strategies to combat feline obesity

Feline obesity continues to be a priority health and welfare issue. Most research surrounding obesity currently focuses on obesity treatment. However, treatment for feline obesity is slow, often unsuccessful and not without consequences. Identifying high-risk populations for obesity onset is crucial for developing and implementing preventive strategies. This review identifies post-gonadectomy kittens aged 5-12 months as the primary target population for obesity prevention in domestic cats and highlights dietary and feeding management strategies to be implemented for obesity prevention.

Birth weight, puppies' growth and health with limited-ingredient novel protein diet vs standard diet in late pregnancy

Great attention has been given in the last years to the protein source of dog food, and commercial limited-ingredient diets with a single protein are available also for late pregnancy. This work compared the effect of a fish-based limited ingredient diet (LID), and of a standard mixed-protein diet (Mixed), fed to the bitches from the last three weeks of pregnancy and to the puppies at weaning, on birth weight, growth and health of the puppies. From a breeder's records, the weight of 22 Lagotto Romagnolo (LR) and 10 Appenzeller Cattle Dog (ACD) bitches on the day of mating, and of their 199 puppies, were extracted. The effect of diet on puppies' weight on day 0, 6, 30 and 60 was analyzed, considering litter size and sex. The analyses were repeated on puppies' weights normalized on the relative dam's non-pregnant bodyweight. Birth weight was available for 146 puppies, 82 LR and 64 ACD. Median birth weight of LR puppies was 287.5 g (170-400 g); sex ratio was 1.11 (males/females, N = 80). Median birth weight of ACD puppies was 390 g (240-525 g); sex ratio 1.15 (males/females, N = 58). Diet did not significantly affect birth weight in both breeds; however, it showed a significant effect on normalized birth weights (LR, P = 0.016; ACD, P = 0.034), with higher values for LID. At day 30, ACD puppies showed significantly higher weights with the Mixed diet (P = 0.002), and, at day 60, diet significantly affected the normalized weight in both breeds (LR, P = 0.019; ACD, P = 0.001), with higher values for the Mixed type. LID may help the dam to invest the energy in the growth of her litter, however, the same diet resulted in lower puppies' weights around weaning, compared to the Mixed diet. Although our results should be confirmed with larger numbers of animals and more breeds, they set some points worth to be further investigated. The choice of a limited-ingredient single-protein diet can affect litter weight and weight at weaning. Whether, administered to dams and puppies, it can prevent later pathologies, like chronic gastrointestinal diseases or food allergies, is a field of research deserving full attention.

Stem Cell Therapy for Aging Related Diseases and Joint Diseases in Companion Animals

Stem cell therapy is an attractive treatment for diseases in companion animals that cannot be treated by conventional veterinary medicine practices. The unique properties of stem cells, particularly the ability to differentiate into specific cell types, makes them a focal point in regenerative medicine treatments. Stem cell transplantation, especially using mesenchymal stem cells, has been proposed as a means to treat a wide range of injuries and ailments, resulting in tissue regeneration or repair. This review aims to summarize the veterinary use of stem cells for treating age-related and joint diseases, which are common conditions in pets. While additional research is necessary and certain limitations exist, the potential of stem cell therapy for companion animals is immense.

Dog Owners' Perceptions of Canine Body Composition and Effect of Standardized Education for Dog Owners on Body Condition Assessment of Their Own Dogs

Overweight in dogs is an increasing problem, with a prevalence of about 30% in Sweden. To prevent the negative health effects of overweight, it is important to identify and treat canine overweight. Dog owners are essential for such interventions. The aim of this study was to evaluate dog owners' perceptions of various canine body compositions via indirect assessment based on photos and direct assessment of their own dogs. A second aim was to evaluate the effect of a standardized practical education for dog owners on body condition score (BCS) assessment of their own dogs. The 9-point BCS scale was used, and two study samples were recruited: one was a survey sample where 564 dog owners assessed the BCS of dogs using photos, and one sample was a separate clinical sample where 82 dogs were assessed by their owners and by veterinary health care personnel. The initial BCS assessment by the dog owners in the clinical sample (mean ± SD) was significantly lower (4.6 ± 1.0) than the BCS assessed by the veterinary health care personnel (5.2 ± 1.1), but the owners improved significantly after receiving the standardized education (5.1 ± 1.0) (both p < 0.0001) and performed as accurately as the veterinary health care personnel (p = 0.99). The results should be verified in the broader dog owner population based on a randomized selection of participants. "Weight blindness", defined here as an underassessment of normal-weight dogs and an inability to identify overweight dogs, is likely to have a negative impact on canine overweight prevalence. Deeper knowledge about dog owners' perceptions can inform the development of new strategies to help prevent and manage canine overweight, whereof standardized practical education on BCS assessment is shown here to be one example.

Different Diet Energy Levels Alter Body Condition, Glucolipid Metabolism, Fecal Microbiota and Metabolites in Adult Beagle Dogs

Diet energy is a key component of pet food, but it is usually ignored during pet food development and pet owners also have limited knowledge of its importance. This study aimed to explore the effect of diet energy on the body condition, glucolipid metabolism, fecal microbiota and metabolites of adult beagles and analyze the relation between diet and host and gut microbiota. Eighteen healthy adult neutered male beagles were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Diets were formulated with three metabolizable energy (ME) levels: the low-energy (Le) group consumed a diet of 13.88 MJ/kg ME; the medium-energy (Me) group consumed a diet of 15.04 MJ/kg ME; and the high-energy (He) group consumed a diet of 17.05 MJ/kg ME. Moreover, the protein content of all these three diets was 29%. The experiment lasted 10 weeks, with a two-week acclimation period and an eight-week test phase. Body weight, body condition score (BCS), muscle condition score (MCS) and body fat index (BFI) decreased in the Le group, and the changes in these factors in the Le group were significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05). The serum glucose and lipid levels of the Le and He groups changed over time (p < 0.05), but those of the Me group were stable (p > 0.05). The fecal pH of the Le and He groups decreased at the end of the trial (p < 0.05) and we found that the profiles of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bile acids (BAs) changed greatly, especially secondary BAs (p < 0.05). As SCFAs and secondary BAs are metabolites of the gut microbiota, the fecal microbiota was also measured. Fecal 16S rRNA gene sequencing found that the Me group had higher α-diversity indices (p < 0.05). The Me group had notably higher levels of gut probiotics, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Bacteroides plebeius and Blautia producta (p < 0.05). The diet-host-fecal microbiota interactions were determined by network analysis, and fecal metabolites may help to determine the best physical condition of dogs, assisting pet food development. Overall, feeding dogs low- or high-energy diets was harmful for glucostasis and promoted the relative abundance of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, while a medium-energy diet maintained an ideal body condition. We concluded that dogs that are fed a low-energy diet for an extended period may become lean and lose muscle mass, but diets with low energy levels and 29% protein may not supply enough protein for dogs losing weight.

Effects of weight loss and feeding specially formulated diets on the body composition, blood metabolite profiles, voluntary physical activity, and fecal metabolites and microbiota of obese dogs

Canine obesity negatively influences health and well-being, but can be managed by altering diet composition and caloric intake. Restricted feeding, dietary intervention, and consequent weight loss may be used to improve health and modify gastrointestinal microbiota. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of restricted feeding of specially formulated foods on weight loss, body composition, voluntary physical activity, serum hormones and oxidative stress markers, and fecal metabolites and microbiota populations of obese dogs. Twenty-four obese dogs [body weight (BW) = 15.2 ± 1.7 kg; body condition score (BCS) = 8.7 ± 0.4; muscle condition score (MCS) = 3.5 ± 0.3; age = 7.2 ± 1.6 yr] were used in a 24-wk study. A control (OR) food was fed during a 4-wk baseline to identify intake needed to maintain BW. After baseline, dogs were allotted to one of two diets: OR or test (FT), and then fed to lose 1.5% BW/wk. Food intake, BW, BCS, and MCS were measured, blood and fecal samples were collected, DEXA scans were performed, and voluntary physical activity was measured over time. Microbiota data were evaluated using QIIME2 and change from baseline data from other measures were evaluated using the Mixed Models procedure of SAS, with P < 0.05 being significant. Restricted feeding led to reduced BW, BCS, fat mass, and blood cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and leptin concentrations, and increased MCS and lean body mass percentage. Blood cholesterol reduction was greater in dogs fed FT vs. OR. Fecal metabolites and bacterial alpha-diversity were affected by diet and weight loss. Dogs fed FT had greater reductions in fecal short-chain fatty acid, branched-chain fatty acid, and ammonia concentrations than those fed OR. Dogs fed OR had a higher alpha-diversity than those fed FT. Weight loss increased alpha-diversity (weeks 16, 20, and 24 > weeks 0 and 4). Beta-diversity showed separation between dietary groups and between week 0 and all other time points after week 8. Weight loss increased fecal Allobaculum and Ruminococcus torques. Weight loss also increased fecal Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, and Parasutterella, but were greater in dogs fed OR. Weight loss decreased fecal Collinsella, Turicibacter, Blautia, Ruminococcus gnavus, Faecalibacterium, and Peptoclostridium, but were greater in dogs fed OR. In summary, restricted feeding promoted safe weight and fat loss, reduced blood lipid and leptin concentrations, and altered fecal microbiota of obese dogs.

A protein- and fiber-rich diet with astaxanthin alleviates high-fat diet-induced obesity in beagles

Background and aims

Overweight or obesity is one of the most prevalent health burdens in companion pets and predisposes subjects to multiple comorbidities and reduced longevity. Dietary management and sufficient exercise are effective options for weight loss but challenged by modern lifestyle and calorie control-triggered malnutrition. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a formulated obesity control diet characterized by protein- and fiber-rich diet and supplemented with astaxanthin. We systemically evaluated global influences of the designed weight-loss diet on metabolic homeostasis in an obese beagle model.

Materials and methods

Beagles were induced for obesity by a 24-week HFD treatment and then included into weight-loss programs. Briefly, obese beagles were randomly assigned to two groups that were fed with a formulated weight-loss diet or control diet, respectively. Body weight and body condition scoring (BCS) were analyzed biweekly. Computed tomography (CT), nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, and blood and adipose tissue biopsies were collected at 0 and 8 weeks. Plasma lipids and adipocyte size were also measured after 8 weeks of weight-loss diet feeding. The global influence of the formulated diet on the whole spectrum of gene panels were examined by adipose RNA assays.

Results

Twenty-four weeks of continuous HFD feeding significantly induced obesity in beagles, as evidenced by increased body weight, BCS, abdominal fat mass, and serum lipid levels. The obese and metabolic condition of the modeled canine were effectively improved by an 8-week weight-loss diet administration. Importantly, we did not observe any side effects during the weight loss duration. Transcriptional analysis of adipose tissues further supported that a weight-loss diet significantly increased energy metabolism-related pathways and decreased lipid synthesis-related pathways.

Conclusion

The prescribed weight-loss diet exhibited profound benefits in canine weight management with well safety and palatability. These findings support effective strategies of nutritional management and supplementation approaches for weight control in companion animals.

Potential Owner-Related Risk Factors That May Contribute to Obesity in Companion Dogs in Aotearoa New Zealand

Approximately a third of all Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) households include a dog, with 28% of these dogs being overweight or obese, conditions that are associated with many serious health issues. Therefore, healthy weight interventions that focus on the owner’s role are of great importance to companion animal welfare in NZ. Accordingly, the present study explores the feeding practices associated with NZ dogs and identifies potential owner-related risk factors contributing to these animals being overweight or obese. The current study used data collected from a survey conducted online in 2019 between January and March of NZ residents over 18. Along with demographic questions, the respondents were asked questions regarding their dog’s body condition and diet questions related to the body. Nearly a quarter (26%, n = 609) of the survey participants (n = 2358) owned at least one dog. The current study reported that increasing age range, household income and the number of children increased the likelihood of having a dog while increasing qualification level and living in a town/city decreased the likelihood. The majority of the respondents fed their dog(s) treats (59%) and 85% fed them specialised food bought from a pet shop, veterinary clinic and/or different online sources. Just over a third of the participant (39%) reported that they fed their dog(s) biscuits from the supermarket, 36% fed their dog(s) raw meat, and 34% of respondents fee their dog(s) table scraps/human food. These results suggest that many dog owners feed their dog(s) various food types, making it a challenging task to determine the exact amount required from each type in order not to exceed caloric intake. Disagreement regarding the correct body condition were reported among twenty per cent of the respondents. This finding indicates a knowledge gap among the NZ dog-owning population that may negatively affect their dogs’ welfare and wellbeing. Future research into pro-equity approaches to address these issues is needed so that dogs in NZ can live not only a good life but also their best life.