Health
Obesity can be dangerous for dogs, experts warn — here’s how to help your pudgy pup lose weight
The need to shed unwanted pounds affects not only humans, but also dogs, according to veterinary experts.
Pet obesity rates have been on the rise over the past two decades in the U.S., with 59% of dogs classified as overweight or obese in 2022, according to a report from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
Obesity can shorten a dog’s life expectancy, contribute to pain and increase the risk of diseases such as diabetes, skin conditions, respiratory disorders, renal dysfunction, osteoarthritis and cancer, according to the report.
TEXAS K9 IS AWARDED PURPLE HEART AFTER SURVIVING OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING: ‘BRAVERY AND PURPOSE’
So how to help your furry friend battle the bulge?
Fox News Digital spoke with several experts who offered advice for helping your pup shed some pounds.
Pet obesity rates have been on the rise over the past two decades in the U.S., with 59% of dogs classified as overweight or obese in 2022. (iStock)
Dr. Jeffrey Krasnoff, a veterinarian at Brookville Animal Hospital on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital that if your dog is gaining weight, it is important to start by seeing your veterinarian.
“Overweight dogs should be checked for underlying medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism and Cushing disease (an excess of the hormone cortisol),” Krasnoff said.
KEEPING PETS SAFE IN THE COLD: 5 KEY TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR FURRY FRIEND THIS WINTER
For Linda Fiordiliso — an American Kennel Club (AKC) judge who also shows bulldogs in national competitions and owns a dog grooming business in West Islip, New York — keeping her dogs in shape and healthy is a priority.
“The dog should look toned. I don’t need an Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I need a dog that looks healthy,” she said, noting that this requires monitoring the animal’s diet and exercise.
Even for dogs who aren’t on the competitive circuit, it’s important for them to remain at a healthy weight, the AKC judge told Fox News Digital.
Advice for monitoring intake
Overweight issues in dogs are usually caused by overfeeding, Krasnoff said — noting that pet owners need to be disciplined when it comes to feeding dogs the appropriate food and portions.
“Dogs can’t open refrigerators, so it must be the owners who are giving the food to their beloved dogs.”
“A lot of people give too many treats — and that’s how the dog gains weight, just like a person who eats too many snacks and then sits on the couch all day.”
Krasnoff said he’s had success with certain prescription diet foods — as long as the owner strictly adheres to the diet plan.
To reduce calorie intake, Fiordiliso said she adds frozen peas or string beans to her bulldogs’ food to help them feel fuller with fewer calories.
If your dog is gaining weight, it is important to see your veterinarian, experts agree. (iStock)
There are a variety of tactics to help dogs lose weight — starting with identifying the source of the extra calories, said Lori Asprea, a licensed veterinary technician and assistant professor at Long Island University Post Veterinary Technology School.
“Perhaps the pet is being overfed at meals or is being given too many treats, or kids or other family members might be handing out extra goodies or parts of their dinner,” Asprea told Fox News Digital.
TEXAS TODDLER HELPS FEED FAMILY DOGS, ASKS THEM TO ‘SAY GRACE’ BEFORE RELEASING THEM WITH ‘AMEN’
The next step is to determine the pet’s caloric needs.
“I suggest that anyone interested in weight loss for their pet consult with their veterinarian to help them calculate the furry family member’s caloric needs,” Asprea said. “There is a base formula, but we tailor this based on pet activity, breed, health status and goals.”
For best results, reduce a pet’s daily intake gradually, veterinary experts suggest. “We never want the pet to be underfed or to have behavior and health changes from a drastic reduction in food,” an expert said. (iStock)
In households with multiple people, it can be difficult to keep track of how often the dog is fed.
Asprea recommends coming up with a plan to track what the pet gets daily — the amount of food and treats, including the calorie counts — and then comparing the actual intake with the recommended intake.
“Some of the treats out there have a lot of calories and can really pack on the pounds for our pets,” Jacqueline Geary, a licensed veterinary technician specializing in emergency and critical care on Long Island, told Fox News Digital.
CAT SAVES DOG’S LIFE BY CHASING OFF COYOTES — SEE THE AMAZING VIDEO OF THE RESCUE
“Substituting treats with something such as a baby carrot can make a difference,” said Geary, who’s also a faculty instructor at Long Island University Post Veterinary Technology Program in Brookville, New York.
She recommends breaking treats into smaller pieces rather than giving an entire milk bone for one reward.
For best results, veterinary experts suggest reducing daily intake gradually.
“With overweight pets, just like people, we start small and make gradual changes to daily activities.”
“We never want the pet to be underfed or have behavior and health changes from a drastic reduction in food,” Asprea said.
“You can speak with your veterinarian about low-calorie snack options and certain prescription diets that are low-calorie but high in fiber, which allow pets to eat a higher quantity and feel satisfied while reducing calories,” she added.
One expert recommends breaking treats into smaller pieces rather than giving an entire milk bone for one reward. (iStock)
It’s never a good idea to try a human diet trend on your pet, experts emphasized.
For example, animal experts said there is not much research to show that intermittent fasting is effective in dogs.
“It is not a tactic we use, since the studies were fairly inconclusive and more research will be needed to better understand how something like intermittent fasting would affect our pets,” Asprea said.
“For now, we do not recommend fasting your pet unless it is medically necessary.”
Tips for keeping dogs active
Increasing activity levels not only helps pups shed pounds, it also boosts the animal’s mental and physical health, experts agree.
“The time spent being active depends on the pet’s health, age, disposition and breed,” Asprea said.
ANTI-AGING DRUG FOR DOGS FROM SAN FRANCISCO FIRM MOVES CLOSER TO GAINING FDA APPROVAL
“We always say ‘a tired pet is a good pet,’ so it’s important for owners to tune into their individual pets’ needs.”
Each animal, even within the same breed, can be different, she pointed out.
Increasing activity levels not only helps pups shed pounds, it boosts the animal’s mental and physical health, experts agree. (iStock)
“It’s worth taking note of how much they want to engage or if they have destructive behaviors because they are bored,” Asprea said.
Consult with your veterinarian before starting your furry friend on a new exercise regimen, she also said.
“As a general rule, with overweight pets, just like people, we start small and make gradual changes to daily activities so as not to overwhelm or stress them physically,” Asprea told Fox News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
There are ways to encourage lower-impact activity while being mindful of the extra stress the added pounds put on your dog’s joints.
“In my house, we play hide and seek with dinner,” Asprea said. “I take half the meal of kibbles and hide them all over and give the command to find. This is physically and mentally stimulating, all while getting dinner done.”
It’s never a good idea to try a human diet trend on your pet, veterinary experts emphasized. (iStock)
Fiordiliso suggested increasing the animal’s activity level by going on more walks and playing with a ball to get the dog moving to help burn calories for both the pet and the owner.
If at-home tactics do not seem to work, veterinary experts recommend using other services, such as physical therapy for pets.
There are also veterinarians who specialize in sports medicine and rehabilitation, using special tools like underwater treadmills to help get pets moving safely.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
Related Article
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A drug that has long been used to treat seizures has shown promise as a potential means of Alzheimer’s prevention, a new study suggests.
The anti-seizure medication, levetiracetam, was first approved by the FDA in November 1999 under the brand name Keppra as a therapy for partial-onset seizures in adults. The approval has since expanded to include children and other types of seizures.
Northwestern University researchers recently found that levetiracetam prevented the formation of toxic amyloid beta peptides, which are small protein fragments in the brain that are commonly seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
The medication was found to prevent the formation of amyloid-beta 42 in both animal models and cultured human neurons, according to the study findings, which were published in Science Translational Medicine.
The effect was also seen in post-mortem human brain tissue obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The medication was found to prevent the formation of amyloid-beta 42 in both animal models and cultured human neurons. (iStock)
“While many of the Alzheimer’s drugs currently on the market, such as lecanemab and donanemab, are approved to clear existing amyloid plaques, we’ve identified this mechanism that prevents the production of the amyloid‑beta 42 peptides and amyloid plaques,” said corresponding author Jeffrey Savas, associate professor of behavioral neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in a press release.
“Our new results uncovered new biology while also opening doors for new drug targets.”
HIDDEN BRAIN CONDITION MAY QUADRUPLE DEMENTIA RISK IN OLDER ADULTS, STUDY SUGGESTS
The brain is better able to avoid the pathway that produces toxic amyloid‑beta 42 proteins in younger years, but the aging process gradually weakens that ability, Savas noted.
“This is not a statement of disease; this is just a part of aging. But in brains developing Alzheimer’s, too many neurons go astray, and that’s when you get amyloid-beta 42 production,” he said.
The effect was also seen in post-mortem human brain tissue obtained from individuals with Down syndrome, who are at high risk for Alzheimer’s disease. (iStock)
That then leads to tau (“tangles”) — abnormal clumps of protein inside brain neurons — which can kill brain cells, trigger neuroinflammation and lead to dementia.
In order for levetiracetam to function as an Alzheimer’s blocker, high-risk patients would have to start taking it “very, very early,” Savas said — up to 20 years before elevated amyloid-beta 42 levels would be detected.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“You couldn’t take this when you already have dementia, because the brain has already undergone a number of irreversible changes and a lot of cell death,” the researcher noted.
The researchers also did a deep dive into previous human clinical data to determine whether Alzheimer’s patients who were taking the anti-seizure drug had slower cognitive decline. They reported that the patients in that category had a “significant delay” in the span from cognitive decline to death compared to those not taking the drug.
“This analysis supports the positive effect of levetiracetam to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology,” the researcher said. (iStock)
“Although the magnitude of change was small (on the scale of a few years), this analysis supports the positive effect of levetiracetam to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s pathology,” Savas said.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to find people who have genetic forms of Alzheimer’s to participate in testing, Savas said.
Limitations and caveats
The study had several limitations, including that it relied on animal models and cultured cells, with no human trials conducted.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Because the study was observational in nature, it can’t prove that the medication caused the prevention of the toxic brain proteins, the researchers acknowledged.
Savas noted that levetiracetam “is not perfect,” cautioning that it breaks down in the body very quickly.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The team is currently working to create a “better version” that would last longer in the body and “better target the mechanism that prevents the production of the plaques.”
“You couldn’t take this when you already have dementia, because the brain has already undergone a number of irreversible changes and a lot of cell death.”
The medication’s common documented side effects include drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, irritability, headache, loss of appetite and nasal congestion.
It has also been linked to potential mood and behavior changes, including anxiety, depression, agitation and aggression, according to the prescribing information. In rare cases, it could lead to severe allergic reactions, skin reactions, blood disorders and suicidal ideation.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Funding for the study was provided by the National Institutes of Health and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
Fox News Digital reached out to the drug manufacturer and the researchers for comment.
Related Article
Report: Lions tender K Jake Bates ERFA offer
SF scientists build robotic storm samplers to track pollutants before they reach the Bay
Public frustration grows as Dallas leaders debate billion‑dollar City Hall fix or relocation
City of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project
Each mile is for her miracle: This Granby mom is running the Boston Marathon with her daughter in mind
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
Which oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been attacked?
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of former supreme leader, tipped to become Iran’s next head of state
Video: Senators Question Kristi Noem on ICE Immigration Tactics
Combustible Republican Senate primary in Texas heading into overtime
-
World7 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Wisconsin3 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Florida4 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland4 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling