| Pet Primer: If Fido (or Fluffy) tips the scales |
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By Hillary Frank, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (avian) “At our regular visit to the animal hospital, I was told my cat was about 5 pounds overweight. Other than tipping the scales, no other problems were found. What can I do to improve my pet’s health?” Does any of this sound familiar? While some pets are obviously pudgy, many people are surprised to learn from the veterinarian that their pet is overweight. Experts estimate that about one in three dogs and cats in America is overweight. This diagnosis is based on a weight gain compared to previous checkups and assessments during the physical examination. A full evaluation by your veterinarian is most important, as some diseases can contribute to weight gain. However, most overweight pets simply eat too much and do not exercise enough. As with people, overweight pets can be plagued by problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis. The easiest way to tell whether your pet is overweight is by feeling for his ribs. Place your hands on each side of his rib cage and press gently. If you feel his ribs with this gentle pressure, he probably weighs the right amount. If you have to push harder to feel the ribs, he’s overweight. Looking at your pet from above, a waistline or indentation should be present in the area between where the ribs end and the hips begin. A gradual change to a food with more fiber or lower calories is often enough to control body weight. Discuss the best choice of food with your veterinarian who knows your pet and the medical history. Your veterinarian can assess your pet’s ideal body weight and can then calculate the calories needed for weight loss and weight maintenance. Dividing the daily food allowance into three to six servings may keep your pet from realizing he’s not eating as much. A portion of his regular food allowance can be saved and used for treats, or use a high fiber low fat snack such as carrots or air-popped popcorn. A lower calorie diet is just half of the solution for a pet that is overweight. Exercise is the other half of the solution. You must consider the age, breed, and general fitness level of your pet before starting. It is also important to take the weather into account. Walking, jogging, Frisbee and fetch are great ways to exercise your dog. A kitty condo, catnip, and interactive cat toys can get your cat more active as well. To help keep your pet looking—and feeling—good, this is a New Year’s Resolution worth keeping!
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