PUPPY FAT OVERFED AND UNDER-EXERCISED... DOGS ARE PACKING ON LOCKDOWN WEIGHT
WHEN lockdowns to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus began, Massachusetts retiree Lisa Allen took her state’s stay-at-home guidance seriously. She holed up in her high-rise Boston condo with her 6-year-old Pomeranian, Desi. Allen reduced walks from three to two a day – the better to avoid the elevator and lobby. She bought pee pads for Desi and gave him a treat when he used them. By late June, Desi was having trouble breathing. A routine visit to the veterinarian revealed that the tiny dog had gained 453g. “If I only gained a pound, I’d be very happy,” Allen said. “But when you’re 5 pounds, that’s 20% of your weight. It was putting strain on him.” The problem, the vet said, was one familiar to millions of pet owners and a growing number of dogs: a routine upended by Covid19. In many cases, housebound humans are giving their dogs more attention and walks, boosting
fitness for pets and people alike. But in others, veterinarians and professional dog walkers say, the changes have led to overfed and either under-exercised or overwalked dogs – and to new joint problems and obesity. Banfield Pet Hospital surveyed pet owners at the end of May about how they were faring during the pandemic. Many reported pudgier pets. “It’s too soon to tell if the Covid crisis has resulted in weight gain for the average pet,” said Andrea Sanchez, a Banfield veterinarian and senior manager of operations support. “But of 1 000 respondents, she said, “33% said they thought their pet had gained weight – and it was especially dog owners.” Sanchez said that 44% of respondents said they were paying closer attention to their pets. She had been encouraging them to think of new ways to give the dogs exercise and stimulation.
A veterinarian could also tell pet owners how many calories dogs should eat each day based on their current weight. The amount of food and treats varied from brand to brand, Sanchez said, so dog owners should work with veterinarians to determine a calorie count that worked for the food sources in the home. That’s what Allen is now doing with Desi, whose new nickname is “the portly Pomeranian”. His meal sizes have been slashed, and she throws a ball in the condo for him to chase while she continues social distancing. At first, Desi was not a fan of the new plan, which also includes fewer treats. But he’s coming around. “We spoil our pals because we love them, but watching their weight to ward off illness really is a better way to spoil them,” Allen said. “I have to keep reminding myself of that, even though he’s staring at me and I know perfectly well what he wants.”
