So Dog Fancy says yo fat? Well… I am down with that. Your vet isn’t just picking on you when he says your pet is a little “big boned”. We all love our pets and want to make them happy. So we give in with extra treats and bits of table food here and there. I feel the same way when those big brown wishful eyes are looking up at me, and I have a little innocent morsel on my plate. But these little scraps add up and so do the pounds and the next thing we know, we are tipping the scales at borderline obese!
 |
| http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00389/fat_cat_384_389178a.jpg |
"I don't think you're ready for this jelly... "
It has been estimated that approximately 50%(!!!) of cats and dogs in the US are overweight. You might be thinking… what’s wrong with a little more to love? But being overweight is not a cosmetic issue. That extra weight can contribute to changes in behavior such as decreased energy, playing, and grooming. But more importantly it can exacerbate serious health problems such as orthopedic (arthritis, torn ACL), respiratory (laryngeal paralysis, brachycephalic syndrome), metabolic (diabetes, fatty liver) and urinary issues to just name a few. Sadly those extra calories have also been correlated with a shorter life span as well.
Now I know you are thinking- “That’s nice but MY pet is not heavy.” Are you sure about that? In a survey of pet owners, the majority of them viewed their pets as ideal body weight whereas their pet’s Body Condition Score (I’ll review this in a bit) said otherwise. So it miiight be possible that you just didn’t realize that Muffin was so voluptuous. Well, here is how you can tell what a fine figure looks like: Body Condition Score is a value from 1-9 (some vets use a 1-5 scale) with 5 being the ideal BCS, 1 is emaciation and 9 is morbid obesity. It evaluates a few basic things:
-Are the ribs easily felt with minimal fat covering?
-Is the waist easily noted when viewed from above?
-Does the tummy tuck up when viewed from the side?
Take a look at the following chart then grade your little fuzzies at home.
 |
| http://www.purina.com/dog/weight-and-exercise/bodycondition.aspx |
Here is the link for cat lovers
Finally coming around? Well the challenge doesn’t stop here. It’s not just hard for humans to shed the junk in the trunk; it can be very difficult for pets as well. That’s why it’s best to consult with your veterinarian to formulate a weight loss plan to make sure (number 1) the pounds come off and (number 2) they come off safely and in an appropriate time frame. (Drastically dropping the weight in dogs and cats can lead to serious problems as well. Concurrent health problems may also change the recommendations of your vet.)
It’s not too late to improve your pet’s quality of life. There was a study in patients with severe hip osteoarthritis who lost weight over the course of 6 months. They started showing progress within a few weeks and by the end of the 6 months there was marked improvement in the ability to get around/decreased limping/pain. The same can be applied to other conditions.
OK, so hopefully it’s understood why that extra jiggle isn’t so cute. I know I sound harsh but it’s only because I see the consequences every day in the hospital! So you might be thinking, now what do I do? Well step one is speaking with your vet directly as they know your pets best, but my next entry will include some pointers.
So stay tuned… and lay off the snausages!
Dr. Chu
No comments:
Post a Comment