When many of us look at our pets we don’t see their flaws, we see our furry best friend. It can be easy to overlook an increase in weight especially when we don’t often weigh our pets. For many people this only happens at a yearly appointment and by the time that comes around it can be a bit too late, those extra kg’s have piled on. Obesity can be considered an overconsumption of calories and a lack of exercise, though many factors may come into play. Feeding your pet the correct diet is a must for a long and healthy lifestyle, avoiding the many problems that can be caused by obesity.
Obesity – the facts on fat!
The definition of obesity is having a body weight greater than 20% of optimal body weight and is considered the most common nutritional disorder affecting our pets today. Around 25-44% of dogs and cats are considered obese, with the majority being female. Neutered animals also have a higher chance of weight gain compared to intact animals, so it is always a good idea to decrease your animals diet slightly once they have been desexed.
When we look at Obesity we have to consider two main starting points; primary causes and secondary causes. Primary causes of obesity include the likes of genetics, metabolic, hormonal, behavioural, age, gender or can be related to reproductive factors. Secondary causes are the result of underlying illness/disease such as Hypothyroidism or Cushing’s Disease. When it comes to breed predisposition to obesity, the following are at risk:
- Labrador Retriever
- Cairn Terrier
- West Highland Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Cocker Spaniel
- Collie
If your pet is one of these breeds this does not mean they are guaranteed to be overweight, it just means that there is an increased risk.
Risks
An overweight body can cause a lot of stress on the body. Some common issues obesity can cause are:
- Difficulty breathing
- Decreased immune functions
- Diabetes
- Skin and coat problems
- Heart disease or increased blood pressure
- Shorter life expectancy and decreased quality of life
- Decreased immune function
- Damage to joints, bones and ligaments
- Decreased liver function
- Digestive disorders
- Cancer and tumours
Signs:
So how do you know if your pet is obese? Well there are a few telltale signs that your pooch or puss might be packing the pouch;
- They are obsessed with food
- You can’t feel their ribs very well when applying gentle pressure and there is a lack of a ‘waist’
- You can see obvious fat rolls
- Your pet is relatively inactive most of the time or quickly becomes tired after a small amount of exercise
- They have a ‘waddle’ to their walk
- They are often panting without doing any exercise
What Now?
If you feel your pet ticks a few of those previous boxes then it would be a good idea to start them on their weight loss journey. We have a Weight Loss clinic set up by the nurses where we can discuss your current routine and identify any problem areas. Using the Royal Canin website we can come up with an ideal weight and body condition score for your pet. We then supply you with a Weight Management Book that includes a progress tracker, and a nutrition and activity tracker that will help get us to that target weight. Remember, this will be a gradual process with 1-3% weight loss each week so you can’t expect to see big changes fast. Here are some recommendations of things to help you along your journey:
- Feed your pet several small meals a day within the recommended nutrition requirements
- Isolate your pet when the family is eating so no one is tempted to feed them, no table scraps is very important!
- Use a scatterball or slow feeder bowl to encourage slower eating
- Take ‘Progress’ photos, they are a great way to keep track of progress
If you are interested in this then give us a quick call or pop into the clinic. We know this can be a big change and tough process but our team are there to help along the way!