Veterinarians have estimated that more than 88 million pets are far too heavy and this tendency towards chubbiness is causing injuries, illnesses and even shortening life spans. Unfortunately, there is a serious disconnection between what veterinarians tell owners and what the owners see in their pets.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) surveys veterinarians and owners each year to find just how overweight our pets are. Recent surveys have shown that their veterinarians classify 53% of dogs and 55% of cats as overweight or obese, but 15 to 22% of owners see those same pets as normal weight! In the words of APOP founder, Dr. Ernie Ward, pet owners have now normalized obesity and made fat pets the new normal.
What’s even worse is that despite veterinarians’ warnings, the numbers of fat pets continues to grow. In recent years, pets classified as obese (greater than 30% above normal body weight) have increased with each survey. This means that each year greater numbers of pets are at higher risk for a variety of weight-related problems.
Carrying excess pounds can cause pets to develop breathing problems; the extra fat can cause fatty liver disease and it can aggravate arthritis. The fat molecules are a great source of inflammatory agents, called free radicals, which can aggravate arthritis or any other inflammatory disease such as asthma or pancreatitis.
Cats are extremely prone to acquiring Type 2 diabetes when they are overweight and any anesthetic procedure for your pet is automatically more of a risk because of increased body fat.
Above all, excess weight will shorten a pet’s lifespan. A landmark study has shown pets that intake a limited amount of calories actually live almost two years longer than pets without calorie restriction.
Pet owners are the major gateway to both preventing our pets from becoming obese and in helping them lose the excess fat. After all, it’s the owner who controls the pet’s access to all foods!
If your veterinarian has diagnosed your pet as overweight, first, don’t despair. Your veterinarian is happy to develop a plan that will safely and effectively lose the extra pounds.
Involve your whole family in the pet’s weight loss process. Assign one person to be the pet’s primary feeder and make sure that no one else in the family is providing non-approved treats or snacks on the side. It may not seem like much, but even a couple of dog biscuits each day can add an extra 50-100 calories. That’s almost 25% of a small dog’s total daily requirement!
For obese pets, your veterinarian will recommend a prescription weight-reducing diet for your pet. Although you might be tempted to continue feeding the previous brand of food at smaller portions, this practice could actually lead to nutritional deficiencies. Reduction diets are specially formulated to provide the right amount of all nutrients while still limiting the number of calories.
You may need to change your pet’s feeding schedule too. Most pet owners leave food out for their pets all day (free choice feeding) and that often leads to the obesity problem or they only feed a large amount once a day. By feeding the right amount twice or even three times a day, you can actually help your pet lose more weight.
Increasing your pet’s exercise is also a crucial component to weight loss. Once your veterinarian gives the okay, try to work up to two 20 minute walks per day or even one-hour long walk. The extra benefit is the positive effects on your health also!
For cats, use kitty toys to encourage play and movement. Play chase games up and down stairs so your kitty gets some step aerobics in. Teasers on strings and even laser pointers can keep your cat moving and a couple of twenty-minute sessions each day will help your feline burn more calories.
Many cat clients ask me what is the pouch that hangs down between some cats’ hind legs. It is not a normal part of cat anatomy. My brother-in-law coined the term “Ventral Turret” for the saggy skin there. It is present in cats that are not getting enough exercise. They are indoors sitting in a sunspot rather than climbing, jumping and hunting. So really our kitties need an abdominal workout and doing play sessions on stairs is a good start.
Once you have started the process, your veterinarian will want to see you for regular weigh-ins and consultations to make sure you are meeting goals and adjusting as needed.
This is a serious issue and has proven an effect on longevity. We all want our pets to be with us for as long as possible, so helping them lose excess weight is just one way we can help make that happen! Be sure to schedule regular appointments with your local veterinarian to monitor the health of your pet. Contact All Creatures Veterinary Hospital today to schedule with us!
Pet Obesity Prevention: Useful information on assessing pets’ body weight, calorie needs, and weight loss tools www.petobesityprevention.com