26 East Baltimore Street
P.O. Box 669
Funkstown, Maryland 21734
301.733.7579


 

Obesity Management
Over the years the 'pudgy pup' and the 'fat cat' have become a sign of a well loved pet. However, we know that a pet does not have to be over fed to be considered well cared for and loved. As a matter of fact excess weight can increase the risk of health problems sometime in your pet's life. It is estimated that 25-30 percent of dogs and 40 percent of cats are overweight. obesity is an excess amount of body fat due to increased intake of calories and a decreased or nonexistent amount of exercise. An animal in considered obese if they weigh 20 percent more that their ideal body weight. Here are some things you should consider if you think your pet may be overweight.

	Have a veterinarian examine your pet for any medical conditions that could cause sudden weight gain such as thyroid disease and other endocrine disorders, certain diabetic conditions, adrenal gland problems, etc.
	Work with you veterinarian on a diet that is formulated specifically for your pet. Remember this is not an instant fix. A pet that is 30% overweight should take no less than about 6 months to reach it's ideal weight.
	Measure your pets food. Be aware of exactly what your pet is eating and how much. Keep a log if needed. This will help you and your veterinarian know how much your pet is actually getting. And most importantly be honest. It won't help your veterinarian or your pet if you leave anything out; even a piece of bread crust 'Fluffy' off your sandwich can potentially be a problem.
	Instead of one large meal a day feed your pet two or three smaller meals. If they are to be given 2 1/2 cups of food a day split that up. For example, give 1 cup in the morning 1/2 a cup at lunch time and 1 cup at night. Your pet fells it is getting more food even though it isn't, and they burn calories as they eat. More meals eaten means more calories burned.
	NO TABLE SCRAPS. They call it people food for a reason. If your pet is used to getting a treat during your meal inform your veterinarian so that it can be worked into your pet's diet. Snacks can include such things as raw carrots, raw cauliflower, ice cubes or even better store part of their daily food in a jar and use that as a treat. No onions or raw potatoes!
	While on a diet it is very important to weigh your pet routinely to be sure that they are not losing weight too quickly or that they are at least maintaining their weight.
	Incorporate physical activity with their diet. Toy or small breeds need two 20-30 minute walks a day. Medium size breeds need approximately 90 minutes of exercise a day, and large breed animals 60-90 minutes of exercise a day (dependant on the age and health of your pet). At least 20 minutes of some form of exercise is recommended to avoid muscle injuries. Most importantly don't expect your pet to snooze on the couch through the week and spend hours playing on the weekend.
	Swimming is a good nonweight-bearing activity for arthritic dogs.
	Know when your pet is tired. Dogs will limp, hesitate before fetching, pant rapidly, or let their tongue droop when they are tired.
	MOST IMPORTANTLY discuss everything with your veterinarian and don't be afraid to ask questions.

A way to check if your pet is overweight is to check the ribs. With your thumbs on your pet's backbone, GENTLY put pressure on your pet's rib cage. If you cannot readily feel the ribs, your pet is over weight.

BODY CONDITION CHART 1. Emaciated Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences evident from a distance. No discernable body fat. Obvious loss of muscle mass. 2. Very Thin Ribs, lumbar vertebrae, pelvic bones and all bony prominences easily visible. No palpable fat. Minimal loss of muscle mass. 3. Thin Ribs easily palpable and may be visible with no palpable fat. Tops of lumbar vertebrae visible. Pelvic bone becoming prominent. Obvious waist and abdominal tuck. 4. Underweight Ribs easily palpable with minimal fat covering. Waist easily noted, viewed from above. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side. 5. Ideal Ribs easily palpable without excess fat covering. Waist observed behind ribs when viewed from above. Abdomen tucked evident. 6. Overweight Ribs palpable with slight excess fat covering. Waist is discernible viewed from above but is not prominent. Abdomen tuck apparent. 7. Heavy Ribs palpable with difficulty, heavy fat cover. Noticeable fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent or barely visible. Abdominal tuck may be absent. 8. Obese Ribs not palpable under very heavy fat cover, or palpable only with significant pressure. Heavy fat deposits over lumbar area and base of tail. Waist absent. No abdominal tuck. Obvious abdominal distention may be present. 9. Grossly Obese Massive fat deposits over thorax, spine and base of tail. ŠPurina (by permission)

Any breed of dog can become overweight due to too much food. However, some breeds are more genetically prone to obesity. These are merely averages and may vary depending upon the individual animal. Be sure to consult your veterinarian concerning your own pet.

Mixed breeds may vary from the breed standards

Medical Conditions That Occur As a Result of Obesity

1. Heart Disease- Obesity, in general, causes the heart to work harder. If your pet already has a problem, obesity may aggravate the condition.
2. Excess weight can cause more stress, and put undue strain on bones and joints that can lead to early or aggravated arthritis.
3. Excess weight can also cause respiratory problems, gastrointestinal problems such as indigestion, constipation, and pancreatitis in addition to being a greater surgical risk for anesthetic procedures.

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