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| Diane, LVT |
Just as in the
human population, obesity in pets is reaching near epidemic proportions. In the
United States alone, 2013 statistics show approximately 58% of pet cats are
overweight or obese. That is equal to roughly 55 million overweight cats and 26
million obese cats. Statistics for dogs in the US are not much better –
approximately 53% of pet dogs are overweight or obese; roughly 43 million dogs
are overweight and 13 million dogs are classified as obese - staggering
numbers, to say the least.
Excess weight can
reduce life expectancy and negatively affect quality of life. The reality is:
obesity kills. Other significant health concerns are Type 2 Diabetes,
osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and many forms of cancer. Pets with
excessive weight can have many joint issues that will affect them for the rest
of their lives. Overweight pets are just not as comfortable as those at an
ideal weight. Overweight cats in particular, are not able to groom themselves effectively –
the fat gets in the way and prevents them from reaching the anal area, possibly
resulting in urine scald (almost like diaper rash in babies) and that can cause
much discomfort.
To determine if
your pet is at a healthy weight, please be sure to talk to your veterinarian. A
weight check is included in every physical exam done at Kaukauna Veterinary
Clinic. The first stop after getting checked in for appointments is the dreaded
scale! The veterinarian will also do a visual and “hands on” check of the body
status and assign a number on the weight scale. Some weight scales are 1-5,
some are 1-9, with 1 being severely underweight/emaciated and 5/9 being the
highest or morbidly obese. The goal is to strive to keep your pet in the middle
of the range (3 on the 1-5 scale and 5 on the 1-9 scale).
To aid you in
assessing the weight status of your pet, general rules of thumb for those at a
healthy weight:
*Ribs are easily felt
*Stomach doesn’t sag
*Waist is easily noted from the
side/above
When assessing overweight pets:
*Ribs are difficult to feel under the fat
*Stomach sags – you can grab a handful of
fat!
*The back is broad and flat
*Waist is barely visible or absent
Tips for keeping
your pet’s weight in check –
1. Talk to your vet, discuss the weight and
monitor it with routine weight checks.
2. Control food – check labels, limit treats
(use healthy alternatives for treats such as carrots, broccoli, frozen green
beans).
3. Stay consistent – use a measuring cup for
feeding (not a spoon, scoop or other container). Have one person in the house
be responsible for feeding so no double meals are offered – some dogs would eat
three or four times if it’s offered!
4. Get up and exercise! The more calories
burned versus calories consumed, the better!
Exercise for pets
is of vital importance. If your pet is feeling well and healthy enough for
exercise, do your best to encourage it. Keep in mind, for some overweight pets and
especially those who are obese, you need to slowly implement an exercise
program. If you start out too fast, injuries can occur and that will derail
your plan and cause your pet pain and suffering.
To help your cat get additional exercise,
you may want to move the food and water bowls to a different location that may
involve doing stairs for additional activity. There are many interactive toys
you can get to play with your cat: flashlights/laser lights, crinkly balls,
feathers, strings…average at least 10 minutes of play time twice a day to start
out. You can increase the time as your cat becomes more fit.
To help your dog get additional exercise,
brisk walking is a good way to start out for both of you. Walk for a minimum of
10 minutes, twice a day if possible, gradually increase the time and distance
as your dog starts to lose the weight and develop more stamina. Just a few
words to remember when walking an overweight or obese dog, do not walk too far
initially – you have to be sure you can get home again!
Many dogs love to play with balls and toys
that involve fetching. As with cats, moving the food and water bowls to a
different location to force additional walking within the house can help a bit
too.
As pet owners, our
primary goal is to provide the best life possible for our companions and to
give then every health benefit to keep them with us for as many years as
possible. Keeping them at their ideal weight will not only lengthen their lives,
but will also make their lives more enjoyable. There are web sites you can
utilize to help you figure out the caloric intakes your pet should have on a
daily basis. We can also provide you with a chart that has the calorie content
of many common dog treats/chew products to help you – just ask any of the staff
for this chart. We look forward to helping you keep your pets at their ideal
weights.
