The title may be a little dramatic but it’s the truth. When we
love our pet, how do we usually express it? With treats! The most common reason
that dogs and cats are overweight is by consuming more calories than they need.
That pleasantly plump pet may have some serious health risks to consider.
Respiratory
Obesity increases exercise intolerance and increases the risk of
heat exhaustion. Obesity also worsens existing respiratory conditions. If your
pet has a collapsing trachea, a fatter neck will surely make it harder to
breath. If you own a breed with an adorable squishy face, they already have
predisposed respiratory issues made worse with weight gain, such as small
nostrils or an elongated palate.
Skeletal Disease
Obesity causes existing arthritis issues to be more painful or
may even speed up arthritic changes in your pet’s joints. All that extra
weight can even be the cause of your pet’s osteoarthritis due to the increased
mechanical stress on the joints.
Injuries
A cranial cruciate ligament tear is more likely to occur in
overweight pets because their joint structure is already compromised by their
mass. Your dachshund is more likely to get a slipped or ruptured disc due to all
that extra weight they are carrying on their back.
Disease Processes
Obesity increases the risk of insulin resistance in both cats
and dogs which leads to Diabetes Mellitus. Treatment includes weight loss, diet,
daily insulin injections, and sometimes oral medications. One clinical sign of
Diabetes Mellitus as well as Hypothyroidism is weight gain, so it is important
to run certain diagnostics to rule out these diseases before beginning a weight
loss regimen.
Healthify Your Pet
You can determine if your pet is overweight by evaluating his
body condition at home. Does he have a well-proportioned waist? Does his abdomen
‘tuck’ when viewed from the side? Can you easily feel his ribs (not see his
ribs) when you slide your fingers up and down his sides? If you answered ‘NO’
to any of these questions, then your pet is likely overweight. Please contact
your local veterinarian to help you formulate a weight loss program specific to
your pet’s needs. Your veterinarian can offer many options for pet owners to
help keep our furry friends lean.
Here are a few helpful hints:
1.Watch what he eats – many times pets require a prescription
diet to get the weight off and keep it off!
2.Low-Calorie Snack Alternatives: 17 calories in ¼ cup of
carrots, 12 calories in ¼ cup of apple, 9 calories in ¼ cup of green beans
3.Exercise: Take your dog for a 30-minute walk, play fetch,
create an obstacle course, hide the catnip toy or treat and make your pet hunt
for it
4.Visit your veterinarian on a monthly basis to monitor your pet’s
progress.
Now that you know the serious health risks that accompany
obesity, maybe little Oscar’s saddle bags aren’t so cute anymore. Let’s
resolve to all get fit together! GOOD LUCK! ◊
