Pet Obesity
WHAT IS OBESITY?
Obesity is one of the most common nutritional disorders in our pets today and close to 60% of all dogs are overweight and 40% of cats are obese. Your pet is considered obese when it is 15% over its optimal weight. It occurs when there is excess caloric intake and reduced physical activity. Eating too much is partly the result of the attractive taste of today’s commercial pet foods; however, the major cause is supplementation with table scraps, snacks, and other foods. The obese pet responds to particularly good tasting food by eating beyond its requirements. Reduced physical activity or exercise that is not matched by reduction of calories eaten contributes to obesity, as does eating when bored or idle. Over feeding puppies predisposes them to obesity as adults by increasing their number of fat cells. Allowing them to become obese during growth will often plague them with obesity throughout life.
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Obesity can predispose your pet to the following medical conditions:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Pancreatitis
- Respiratory distress
- Arthritis
- High blood pressure
- Digestive disorders
- Skin diseases
- Liver disease
- Heat stress
- Increased risk during surgery and anesthesia
- Musculoskeletal diseases
This is why it becomes extremely important that we treat our pets for obesity. With these related medical conditions our beloved pets live shorter and more uncomfortable lives.
There are four main contributing factors in your pet’s overweight or obese conditions:
- Overeating
- Inferior quality or incorrect food
- Insufficient exercise
- Medical conditions (such as Cushing’s disease and Hypothyroidism)
HOW DO I TREAT MY OVERWEIGHT/OBESE PET?
As pet owners we control what they eat, how much they eat, when they exercise, and their weight. By far the most important part of a successful weight reduction program is that every member of the family is certain of the necessity of weight reduction. Your total commitment to achieving weight loss is necessary; otherwise, the effort may result in frustration, wasted time, energy, and resources. It is essential that everyone cooperate to reach the agreed upon goal. So, no more table scraps are to “accidentally” fall off the table. Which means as a beloved pet owner it takes time and patience as this is a gradual long-term process to get your pudgy pooch or fat cat to reach their optimal weight.
It is especially important to be honest during any weight loss process. Your pet losing its love handles is solely based on you, in the form of “owner compliance.” By stopping the delicious treats does not mean you do not love your pet, but rather that you want them to have a longer, more comfortable life.
At GVH we suggest replacing the “give them a treat “habit with offering exercise, attention, pats, and cuddles or some grooming/brushing instead. Environmental enrichment can help your pet by providing “boredom busters.” Button training your dog can be a fun and helpful thing to try. A recent patient surprised his owner, (who thought he was food obsessed and overfed treats), he had 4 buttons, outside, walk, play and food – this doggo hit the walk button way more than the food one (much to everyone’s surprise!). The result – a slimmer doggo and a happy owner who felt they really connected and understood their pet. There are many similar ways you can switch out the treats
Join a pet weight loss program such as the GVH Fit Pet Program.
Take the first step today and phone us on 9817 5758 for an appointment
