by Keith Schopp
The Purina veterinarian took one look at Emma, my 8-year-old Labrador retriever, and noted: “She hasn’t missed any meals lately.” Then Dr. RuthAnn Lobos announced Emma’s score on the Purina Body Condition System.
“She’s a solid 6, maybe even a 6.5,” said Dr. Lobos.
I was crushed.
View a PDF copy of Purina’s Body Condition System
With apologies to Bo Derek, when you’re a Labrador retriever competing in the Purina Body Condition Scoring game, you don’t want to be a 10. That would be a 55-gallon barrel with legs. You want to score a 4 or 5, which is “ideal” according to the Purina System: ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering and the waist easily viewed from above; abdominal tuck evident. In a word, svelte.
Stella, my 5-year-old German shorthaired pointer, scored a perfect 4.5.
“Stella is a star,” Dr. Lobos said. “And Emma is overweight.”
The Labrador shaming came during a Purina video shoot, where I brought my bird dogs for “B-roll” footage.
The German shorthairs were fine. But Emma had added more than a few pounds since the end of hunting season. Emma’s ideal weight is historically 51.5 pounds, and by the July video shoot she tipped the scales at 57 pounds. Sure, 5 or 6 pounds may not sound like a lot, but in Emma’s case it represented more than a 10% weight gain — and it showed.
Guilty as charged. I decided to get busy.
Here’s why: Dogs in ideal body condition tend to live longer, healthier and consequently happier lives.
We know this because Purina scientists conducted a landmark 14-year feeding study that proved the importance of keeping dogs in lean body condition from puppyhood throughout their entire lives. In this study, researchers monitored the health and weight of 48 Labrador retrievers throughout their lives. Half the dogs were fed 25% less (lean-fed) than their full-fed (control) siblings.
The results were significant:
- The median lifespan of lean-fed Labrador retrievers was extended an average of 1.8 years, or 15%.
- Maintaining optimal body condition throughout life can delay the onset, and reduce the severity of, osteoarthritis in dogs.
- Lean dogs also showed delayed onset of other chronic and age-related diseases.
Applying this to my Labrador Emma, the prospect of Emma potentially living an additional 1.8 years by keeping her ideal body condition is compelling.
I know I’d give anything to have a few extra days with Hannah, Greta, Claira, Tulah and Lena and all my faithful dogs that have crossed that rainbow bridge. That extra 1.8-years, lean-fed potential translates to a whopping 657 extra days!
So I got busy with Emma. The first thing I did was increase her exercise regimen. Instead of short walks or runs three times a week, we took short runs daily with some higher-intensity retrieving mixed in. I gradually increased the duration of our runs. We also reduced her caloric intake. Emma loves her daily ration of Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 Salmon and Rice. Now she just loves less of it. It’s amazing that the recommended feeding amount for a retriever Emma’s size is about 2¼ cups per day. We’d been feeding her 3 cups per day.
What a difference!
In two months, with increased exercise and decreased calories, Emma lost 5 pounds. She still has a pound or two to go, but she looks better, runs farther, faster and longer and is ready for another hunting season.
We owe that transformation to a video shoot and the honest assessment from my good friend Dr. RuthAnn Lobos, followed by action over time.
If you’re struggling to find your hunting dogs’ ideal weight, check out the Purina Body Condition System. Dr. Lobos offers another tip: Check your veterinary records for your dog’s weight at 18 months of age. This can be a benchmark and baseline, as your sporting dog should be prime at that time.
Remember, all dogs are individuals. Adjust feeding and caloric needs to attain ideal body condition. Increase feeding as needed, especially in colder temperatures and when you’re hunting extensively throughout the season. The reward for keeping your dog “ideal” might be measured in more days afield, and every day is a blessing.
