2013: Your Pet Can Have Resolutions Too!

This year, why not make a 2013 resolution for your pet?

Pet obesity is a huge problem with companion animals, both dogs and cats. It has been reported that over 50% of household dogs and cats are considered either overweight or obese. Another study has shown that around 25% of America’s pets are considered obese. This is a serious problem with serious health implications for your pets.

So, how do you tell if your pet is overweight, or even obese? Weight is not a helpful number in dogs and cats, as there are so many breed variations. The body condition system (BCS) is an accurate way to assess dogs and cats based on body fat percentages. Below are the ideal findings on a dog or cat as well as the findings on a pet that is overweight.

• Ideal Dog/Cat: Cannot see ribs, but you can easily feel them. Pet has a waist behind rib cage when viewed from above. Viewed from side, the stomach tucks behind the rib cage.

• Overweight Dog/Cat: Cannot feel ribs, or can feel them only with significant pressure. Fat deposits at base of tail. Belly is rounded when viewed from the side.

Obesity affects various systems in the dog and cat, including the musculoskeletal system, respiratory system, endocrine system and liver function. Numerous studies have been conducted on the relationship between body condition scores (BCS) and osteoarthritis. Just as in humans, the less stress (from excess weight) placed on joints over time will limit the development of arthritis in your pets. Diabetes is another disease humans may be familiar with. This disease is heavily influenced by a pet’s BCS. In cats especially, a healthy diet and appropriate weight can lead to discontinuing insulin therapy in some cases! Overall, dogs and cats with a normal BCS are likely to be healthier longer and live extended lives.

There are several keys to weight loss in your pet. As in humans, caloric restriction combined with exercise is the key to success. Dogs should go on regular, long walks to help with weight loss. Exercising cats can be more of a challenge. Laser lights on the wall or pulling a toy across a room can get most cats to play. This should be done for a 15 to 30 minute time period daily to see weight loss results. Equally important to weight loss is a diet. There are a lot of products out there that claim to be “weight management” foods. It is very important to read the label and know how many calories are in a serving. Some excellent weight loss diets can be found at most pet stores. Sometimes, however, a more severe calorie cut is needed. Companies like Royal Canin, Hill’s and Purina have developed prescription veterinary diets to make weight loss manageable. If you have any questions about these diets, please do not hesitate to ask us! Finally, never forget the power of treats when helping your pet lose weight. Most commercial dog and cat treats are full of unnecessary calories for your pet. Consider healthy alternatives for treats outside the typical treats. Green beans or other vegetables are low calorie, healthy treats. Also, Trader Joe's has a treat called "Charlee Bears" that are 3 calories each! There are many lower calorie options for rewarding your pet. 

Have a look at these BCS charts for dogs and cats. How does your pet score? If your pet is up in the 7 to 9 range, please give us a call or shoot us an email at techs.csah@gmail.com to discuss a weight loss plan for your pet! And always, we encourage you to swing by the office whenever you are out around town with your pet to check their weight and monitor your progress.

Need more information? Purina has a Project Pet Slimdown to help get your pet on track to a healthy weight in 2013.