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Cedar Way Veterinary Clinic, Ltd.
| Weight Management "Don't Blame Your Pets, They Don't Do The Grocery Shopping!" |
Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of body fat. In the U.S., over half of the dogs and cats obese. It is the most common nutrition-related health condition in dogs in our society. The primary causes of obesity are overeating and lack of exercise. When regular caloric intake exceeds the energy burned, the excess is stored as fat. As little as an extra 1 percent caloric intake can result in a 25 percent increase over ideal body weight by middle age. Most owners don’t recognize that their dogs are overweight until they take them to the veterinarian for another reason. Most pets begin slowly gaining weight and only a historical review of body weight reveals the insidious nature of this condition. I see four basic reasons for pets being overweight: 1.) Too many treats, snacks and/or table food 2.) Not enough exercise 3.) Too much food 4.) Disease (such as hypothyroidism) Consider This There are formulas for resting energy requirements for dogs and cats that help us determine the number of calories your pet needs. We use the Purina Feeding Guide computer program to determine an approximate caloric value for your pets. But even with this help we still have to look at your pet's individual life style and metabolic rate. Consider this: humans generally require 2000-2200 calories per day. A pet that requires 400 calories per day (about 1/5 of most humans). Giving this pet 1 slice of cheese is the same as you eating 5 slices of cheese - all in addition to what has already been fed. HOME CARE Weight loss should be a family effort. All members of the family must admit that your pet is overweight and commit to a weight loss program. It may be helpful to maintain a log of intake (food and treats) and weight to monitor progress. It might be most effective if one person takes charge of feeding your dog, but all members can help exercise him. Re-check visits are essential every 4 to 6 weeks to monitor your pet's weight loss since adjustments to the feeding plan are often needed. As your dog approaches ideal body weight, caloric intake must be reduced further to maintain weight loss. You are always welcome and encouraged to come to the clinic for a weigh in. Make sure you tell us what the weight is so that we may document your pet's weight. To achieve significant weight loss, the diet may need to be changed to a therapeutic veterinary diet specifically designed for weight loss. We carry Royal Canin (overweight management diet). Simply feeding less of your pet’s regular food is rarely, if ever, successful. You must be willing to measure exactly the amount of food offered and minimize treats. If treats are necessary, offer low calorie snacks such as Royal Canin Treats or air popped popcorn or a piece of vegetable (such as a carrot). What happens when everything you are doing is not helping and your pet is still gaining weight..... We will want to determine the cause of your dog’s obesity before deciding upon treatment. Diagnostic tests that we may wish to perform include: · A thorough physical examination, including an accurate measure of body weight and an assessment of body condition score. · Assessment of your dog’s current daily intake of all food, treats, snacks, table foods and exercise schedule. · Routine blood work including a complete blood cell count, chemistries - including thyroid tests and urinalysis. If the results are normal, obesity is probably the result of excessive caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure. However, if the results of these routine tests indicate a potential problem, additional tests are warranted to specifically identify the condition. |