The Artful Dogger: The Fat Factor. Bigger is definitely not better.
August 16, 2008 by Dr. Davis
Here’s the skinny: An estimated 40% of all dogs are overweight! Say it ain’t so! Pet obesity is indeed a very serious issue, so much so that Pfizer Inc., a leading human and veterinary pharmaceutical company, developed a weight loss drug for dogs. If you’re an owner of a rectangular dog or cat, then please read carefully.
The other day, I saw a 25 pound cat. It should have weighed 8 or 9 pounds max. And big surprise, the owners were concerned that the cat was having trouble breathing. Really? Because I was concerned that the cat looked like a tick and was circling the drain. The sad thing is, obesity can be prevented, and much of the responsibility lies in the hands of the you, the owner.
One of the most common questions I’m asked is, “How much should my dog/cat weigh?” And I refer them to this chart, displayed in all of my exam rooms. My answer is generally that I don’t care how much your dog weighs, but rather what it’s body condition score (BCS) is. And my goal is a 4 or 5 out of a 9 point scale.
Most of the time, my overweight patients are simply over fed. Did you know an ounce of cheese fed to a dog is equivalent to you eating 1.5 hamburgers? The point is, dogs and cats don’t metabolize food as you and I do. Their lifestyles are dramatically different, and therefore, so are their caloric requirements. So just before you’re about to cave in to those hopeful eyes of a begging pooch, remember that piece of steak or bacon is going straight to his thighs. Stay strong!
If your dog or cat has a BCS greater than 5, consider adjusting the amount of food you’re feeding your pet. Your veterinarian can calculate the amount of calories your animal needs–the equations we use account for breed, activity level, and whether or not your animal is spayed/neutered. We can then calculate specifically how much food your animal should be eating. Often, it’s a drastic decrease from what you usually feed your pet.
One of my tricks is using canned pumpkin (note: not canned pumpkin pie mix) as a “filler” when dogs go on a diet. The stadium cup some owners used to feed is reduced to a real 8 oz. cup, and to make Fido feel like he’s still eating “a lot”, I substitute in some canned pumpkin with his meal. Fiber is a great weight loss tool for dogs because it’s low in fat and calories, and it slows the transit time of food from entry to exit. In the end, your dog feels “fuller” for a longer period of time. Not to mention being a bit more ‘regular!’
For our fat felines, it’s a bit tricky because well, they’re cats. And most cat owners will agree that the cat either rules the house or very rarely readily accepts change in it’s lifestyle. Consult your veterinarian for the juicy details, but generally a high protein low carb diet is ideal (the “Catkins” Diet).
If you’ve given it the old college try–decreasing food intake and increasing exercise–and your pup is still unpleasantly plump, you may need to consult with your veterinarian to discuss illnesses which contribute to weight gain and the inability to lose weight. Your dog may need to have his thyroid hormone tested–a low thyroid hormone is sometimes the culprit if your dog can’t seem to lose weight.
I’m a stickler for achieving the ideal body condition in my patients. Of course, if I could just do the opposite and encourage cankles, muffin tops, and inner tubes, treating obesity related illnesses would give me a nice salary. It’s true that a plethora of diseases are implicated to be associated with obesity. Numerous types of cancer, bone and joint disease, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes are examples that just scratch the surface of obesity-related diseases. Not to mention shorter life spans. However, my job is to care for my patients, to keep them by your side for as long as possible, and to have them enjoy the best quality of life. I want your dog chasing squirrels and tennis balls without blowing his knees out, and I’d like your kitty to climb the Christmas tree and hop in your lap without your legs going numb. And a svelte, fit pet is the key to making this all possible.
How many of you have overweight animals? Are you concerned? What ways have you tried to lose the ell bees? Let me know! And thank you for reading!
The Artful Dogger pet column is a regular CvilleStyle feature written by Dr. Erin M Davis, DVM.
I have the reverse problem…a dog that’s underweight by a few pounds. People think I’m anal about what goes into his mouth, but it’s because anything out of “routine” (a stick, a new kind of treat, human food) leads to problems. I don’t want to be too graphic, but those problems often lead to a visit to the vet, sub-q fluids, and probiotics.
I get tons of comments about how skinny he is and there are times when I snap back because I’m extremely aware of his weight and am constantly thinking about getting high-quality calories into him (I feel like I’ve done so much research on doggie nutrition that I could write a thesis on it). How odd that people don’t say “wow, your dog is fat!” to a friend with a massive golden, but they feel that it’s appropriate to comment on my skinny, little guy.
Is he truly skinny? Or normal (bcs= 4 or 5) compared to your run-of-the-mill fat lab?
I had a German Short Haired Pointer who was neurotic and a compulsive runner. She was skin and bones. I had good luck with Eukanuba Max Calorie….have to get a prescription for that, though.
Either way, good on you for being concerned about your dog’s weight. High five.
He’s about 5 pounds underweight. Front quarters are fine, but abdomen and hips are a little thin. After much research, we settled on a rotation of grain-free foods about two months ago. He loves the stuff and I’m so pleased by how he’s done on it. He’s still thin, but I have seen a little progress. He’s so active that I guess I should expect slow improvement.
Here’s a possible topic for the future: pet food. Once I started reading and look at labels, I was shocked by how much of the food out there is total garbage. We’re lucky to have a number of stores that stock wholesome, premium food around here.
An article is already in the works!!