Evaluation of the nutrients supplied by veterinary diets commercialized in Brazil for obese dogs undergoing a weight loss program

During a weight loss program, energy restriction is performed, which can result in nutrient intake below the minimum recommendations if a proper diet is not offered. A common recommendation for dogs undergoing energy restriction is to use a veterinary diet formulated for the management of obesity to potentially reduce the likelihood of nutritional deficiencies. The objective of this study was to perform bromatological and essential mineral analysis in veterinary diets for the management of canine obesity available in the Brazilian market and to analyse whether these diets provide the recommended amount of nutrients per kg of metabolic body weight (kg BW0.75) for animals undergoing energy restriction. Samples of all veterinary diets for the management of canine obesity available in the Brazilian pet food market were analysed (n = 8). The nutrient supply per kg BW0.75 was calculated and compared with the NRC recommended allowance and FEDIAF recommendations by descriptive statistics. For this purpose, the weight loss energy requirement equations of 70 kcal/target body weight(0.75) and 63 kcal/target body weight(0.75) were used, in which target body weight corresponds to 10%-40% of the initial body weight according to the body condition score. The manufacturers' intake recommendations were also evaluated and compared to the NRC and FEDIAF recommendations. Almost all of the diets (n = 7/8) had at least one nutrient below the NRC and FEDIAF recommendations when target weight of minus 10%, 20% or 30% was considered, and all diets had at least one nutrient deficiency when the target weight was minus 40%. When the energy intake was restricted a further 10%, all diets had at least one nutrient below recommendations at the minus 30% target weight. The nutrients for which the recommendations were not met were as follows: calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sodium, protein and fat. When compared to the manufacturers' recommendations, nutrient deficiencies were observed in all of the diets when compared to the NRC and in 7/8 when compared to FEDIAF, and all diets had at least one deficiency when compared to both NRC and FEDIAF after an extra 10% calorie restriction. It was concluded that the majority of veterinary diets formulated for weight loss/obesity management in Brazil did not meet all the recommendations of the analysed nutrients, which reinforces that diets for weight loss should be used according to veterinary prescription and should ideally be prescribed by nutrition specialists that can better understand the limitations of the diet's composition.