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Obesity is Unhealthy in Dogs and Cats

Obesity is a health problem not limited to people, but our dogs and cats can suffer from it as well. Obesity in pets has been associated with joint problems, increased risk of diabetes mellitus, respiratory complications, and overall decreased lifespan. Recent studies show approximately 60% of dogs and cats in the U.S. are classified as obese or overweight, making obesity an epidemic. Additionally, most pet owners underestimate their pet’s body. This may be in part because overweight pets are so common that an overweight body condition now seems to be normal. There is nothing normal about being overweight!

Complications of being overweight or obese

Increase stress joints, including disc vertebrae and hips.

  • These stresses result in degeneration of the joints and results in pain
  • Weight management alone can decrease these strains and possibly eliminate the need for arthritis medications!

Increased risk for metabolic disease such as fatty liver or diabetes mellitus

  • Extra body fat leads to insulin resistance in cats just like people.
  • Overweight cats that go off food or partially off food can result in liver failure secondary to hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver). This could happen with a cat simply not having an appetite from a cold, resulting in a life-threatening condition!

Obesity can result in fat forming in the chest, resulting in constriction, heat intolerance, or difficulty breathing. It can exacerbate conditions such as tracheal collapse.

Shorter lifespan

  • We all want to keep our furbabies with us for as long as possible. Did you know a study in Labrador retrievers found that dogs kept on the slender side of normal lived a median of 2.5 years longer than their overweight counterparts!

But how do we accomplish weight loss?

Portion control!

  • Feed our dogs and cats based on their ideal body weight, and split their feedings so the total amount is provided in their morning, (lunch), and night feedings.
  • Purchase a true measuring cup and portion control based on this.

Limit treats!

  • A common justification for over-feeding is trying to provide a pet with a treat to enhance their overall quality of life. But is this treat worth the risk or disease or joint pain associated with being obese?

Exercise!

  • Simply decrease or eliminating treats and increasing a dog’s/cat’s play time will help burn calories and facilitate weight loss.
  • This can be as simple as throwing the ball in the back yard after work for a few minutes every day, to playing with your cat’s favorite laser light around the house
  • Remember, just like with us when we are out of shape, starting back an exercise regime should be done slowly and to patient’s tolerance.
  • Overweight pets are more susceptible to warmer temperatures, and in general it is best to avoid the heat of the day or exercising at warmer times.

Limit/omit table foods!

  • Not only does giving table foods increase weight gain, but it also results in a pickier pet.
  • If a dog or cat ever developed a condition where therapeutic dies is a great benefit, those that are used to a diet of table scraps may be unwilling to accept commercial pet foods of any kind, much less food modified to be beneficial for specific disease process.

Consider a metabolic panel if no weight loss success. Low thyroid hormone can make weight loss extremely difficult. Cushing’s disease is a metabolic disease that contributes to overeating and slows the metabolism. Having a biochemistry panel and thyroid panel may be necessary to help in achieving weight loss goals.

Additional Concerns

  • Patients who are obese have increased anesthetic risk. Not only through the anesthesia and the fat constriction from fat deposits in the chest suppressing breathing but also in dosing of medications. Anesthetic medications are dosed on lean body mass and become less accurate when the patient is obese.
  • Surgery becomes more difficult and hampered by the slippery nature of the extra fat and decreases the ability to visualize normal structures of the abdomen.
  • From an annual dental scaling and polishing for teeth cleaning or when a pet needs emergency surgery, the extra weight increases the patient’s risk of anesthetic and surgical complications.

 

Discuss weight loss with your veterinarian during your pet’s next wellness exam, or schedule an office consultation to further evaluate your pets overall body condition.