Obesity is the number one pet disease seen by veterinarians. It is estimated that currently 35-40% of the pet population is overweight or obese.
A study by Purina divided 7 groups of littermates into two groups. One group was free fed and they became overweight, the other group was fed the daily recommended calories and stayed in a normal weight range. The group that stayed lean lived 15% longer than the other group and had less health problems. That means your pet could live 2 years longer if not overweight!
Reasons why pets become obese
1. Overfeeding – this could be because pets are free fed, or the food is not measured accurately (1 cup does not equal a coffee can or large scoop), or the food is too high in calories. When pets are fed a lot of treats and table scraps along with their normal diet, it can add extra calories. Families with children at home also make it hard to control the amount of food given to the animal because the kids either give extra treats or accidentally drop food onto the ground during their meal.
One oatmeal cookie for a
dog = 1 hamburger for a human
1 oz of cheese for a dog/cat = 2-3 hamburgers for a human
One potato chip for a cat = 1/2 a hamburger for a human
One hotdog for a dog = 3 hamburgers for a human
1 cup of milk for a cat = 4 hamburgers for a human
2. Neutering – once an animal is neutered, their metabolism slows down and they need to be fed less than an equivalent animal that is not neutered.
3. Genetics – some breeds are prone to obesity more than others, they include the: Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Beagle, Shetland Sheepdog, Boxer, Cairn Terrier, Basset Hound, Cairn Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Bulldog, and Pug.
4. Diseases – certain endocrine diseases like Cushing’s disease and hypothyroidism predispose dogs to gain weight because they affect their metabolism.
Health problems associated with obesity
Arthritis
Respiratory/heart problems
Increased blood pressure
Diabetes
Hepatic Lipidosis
Increased risk of cancer
Reproductive problems
Reduced life span
Increased anesthetic/surgical risk
Weight loss in pets comes down to 2 things, just like with humans – decrease calories and increase exercise. (Blood tests may need to be done first to rule out endocrine disease as a reason to why your pet my be overweight.) The first step is discussing with your veterinarian an exact meal plan for your pet. Actually measuring food (not free feeding) and decreasing extra treats/table scraps will be required. Sometimes a prescription weight loss diet that is lower in calories than commercial diets is needed. Substituting high fat treats for lower fat treats or carrots and green beans will also be helpful. The next step is increasing the exercise, for dogs – talking them for walks/jogs, playing fetch, swimming, playing with other dogs, or doing a group activity like agility. For cats playing with balls, feathers, laser pointers, etc. can be good activity. Place food/treats in different areas to make them have to walk around more.
At this time there is a medication that is approved for dogs only called Slentrol. This is an appetite suppressant that manipulates the absorption of fat into the body in such a way as to fool the brain into feeling full. Diet change is not necessary for this program to work but it is important in the long run (when the goal weight has been reached) to have modified the pet’s lifestyle to a healthier nutritional plane and exercise level.
Weigh your pet regularly so that you know if your plan is working. Aim for a gradual weight reduction of approximately 1% of the pet's body weight per week. Most animals can lose between 0.5% - 2% of their body weight per week. Rapid weight loss is dangerous, especially for cats. Cats that lose weight too rapidly can suffer from hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening disease.
For more information, you can visit
http://www.petobesityprevention.com
-Dr. Tricia Trunek, DVM
