One of the most common resolutions after the start of a new year is to get in shape. We all know what it takes - eat healthy, eat the proper amount, get enough exercise, and be consistent in these habits. The hardest part is sticking to those rules!
Imagine if we had a personal trainer who could guide us through the process...someone to let us know which food is best, prepare healthy meals for us, lead us through exercise routines, and give us fun games to keep in shape. Well, we may not all be able to get that help for our own resolutions but lucky for your pet they already have this personal trainer - it’s you!
Obesity is by far one of the most common problems we see in the pet health profession. People tend to look at chubby pets and think they’re adorable (i.e. chonks). Okay, okay, we won’t deny it - fat cats can be pretty cute. But what’s not cute is the health issues this obesity will ultimately cause your pet. Check out the graph below for some serious health concerns relating to a pet being overweight:
In 2018, an estimated 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the U.S. were overweight or obese
According to the Veterinary Oath, veterinarians have an obligation to protect animal health and welfare, promote public health, and prevent and relieve animal suffering. Every day we come to work with the goal of helping your pets be the healthiest they can be, and using our knowledge about pet obesity is one way we can do that.
A large percentage of the pets we see daily are overweight, but often we are afraid to say so because some owners take it personally. We want you to know that you are not the only owner to experience this. You are not a bad pet parent and we are not judging you. We don’t want anyone to feel shame about their pet’s weight, we just want to see them be healthier and live longer.
Excess weight can decrease your pet’s life expectancy up to 2.5 years
Dogs and cats come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so coming up with an ideal weight in pounds is not always practical. A Body Condition Score System focuses on the amount of skin and tissue that can be felt over the ribs, as well as the shape over the waist and underbelly.
Check out this example of a Body Condition System for dogs.
What score do you think your pet would get? Next time you’re at the vet, be sure to ask!
When it comes to fat cats, Iowa is top five in the nation with a whopping 42% of our cats being considered overweight or obese.
If you’re interested in helping your pet lose weight, check out some of these tips:
Reduce the Amount of Food Offered
Most pets are overfed. It’s tough to know exactly how much to feed, as each pet and each food is different. The best way to find out how much food you should be feeding is to speak with your veterinarian about your pet’s food and lifestyle.
Provide Toys That Encourage Active Play
If you’re unable to take your pet on walks, there are a lot of fun indoor options to increase your pet’s activity level. For instance: rolling toys, remote control toys for chasing, tall cat trees, etc.
Change How You Give Treats
Every treat you give your pet should be considered part of their daily calorie intake. This means for every treat you offer, you should subtract that from their food volume. A good way to manage this is to measure out the amount of treats you plan on giving that day in the morning and plan to subtract that amount from dinner that night.
Regular Weight Checks
When you bring your pet in to the clinic for weight check visits it just takes about a minute, help us keep track of weight loss or gain, gives a trained staff member a chance to look at their body condition - and best of all - these visits are FREE!
Put Cat Food Bowl in Hard to Reach Location
Getting cats to exercise is a little harder than taking your dog on a walk. Sometimes simply putting their only food source in a high or hard to reach location will at least lead them to climb and jump more than they normally would. Plus, it keeps the other pets out of the food bowl.
Offer a Low Calorie Food
If you change the amount of food your pet gets, they may start to complain (loudly). One way around this is to still feed the same volume of food, but switch to a low calorie option. This way your pet thinks they are eating the same amount but is still eating fewer calories. It would be a good idea to discuss this option with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s food.
Regular Walks
Daily walks (even if just for 10-30 minutes) can help pets lose weight, gain muscle, improve behavior, reduce boredom, improve heart health, reduce the frequency of nail trims, and so much more. Plus, it’s good for us humans, too!
Feeding in a “Toy Feeder”
We LOVE toy feeders! They can help you restrict your pet’s calorie intake, encourages them to stay active for a long period of time, and they have fun while they’re at it. Kongs are a good example of a toy feeder, as well as treat balls for cats.
Timed Meal Feeding
Only offering a measured amount of food for 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon can lead to your pet having a more healthy relationship with food. You will know exactly how much they have eaten, and they won’t be able to over-eat as easily.
One pound lost in a canine is the equivalent to five human pounds, this means weight loss may be slow but each pound makes a big difference
If you have any questions about pet obesity or want to schedule a time for a doctor to take a look at your pet to discuss whether or not they are a healthy weight, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at All-Pets Hospital (515-262-8535).
RESOURCES:
https://petobesityprevention.org/
https://www.avma.org/policies/veterinarians-oath
https://www.americanveterinarian.com/news/top-10-animal-ailments-exacerbated-by-obesity
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/fat-dogs-and-dog-obesity/
