Sometimes it’s difficult to look our precious pets in the eyes and deny them the extra treat they so desperately want, or a slice of turkey when your dog behaves so well as you make a sandwich. However, when we give in too often, it doesn’t take long to notice that our dog or cat looks a little plump. October 13 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, when pet owners across the U.S. are reminded that a little discipline about spoiling our pets is genuinely in their best interest.
Whether you want to avoid obesity in your furry family member or you’ve noticed a few extra pounds that need to be shed, there are straightforward ways to keep your pet healthy and living their best life for as long as possible.
Dangers of Obesity in Pets
Unfortunately, surveys suggest that more than half of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese, mostly through a combination of overfeeding and too little activity. It remains an overlooked problem, though. Much as with people, extra weight has become normalized in pets, and many owners are genuinely surprised to hear their dog or cat is carrying too much—so rather than preventing weight gain, they find themselves in the harder position of needing to reverse it.
Carrying extra weight predisposes pets to a number of health problems, and the evidence suggests it shortens their lives.
Extra weight predisposes your cat or dog to problems including:
- Osteoarthritis and other joint problems
- Diabetes, particularly in cats
- Heart and respiratory problems, and reduced exercise tolerance
- Increased risk under anesthesia and during surgery
- Liver disease, including fatty liver in cats who stop eating
- Urinary problems
- Some forms of cancer
- Skin and coat problems, partly because an overweight cat can’t groom properly
- Chronic low-grade inflammation
- Back and neck problems
- Difficulty grooming, climbing, and using the litter box, in cats
Overweight pets also tend to be less active, which makes further weight gain easier and creates a cycle that’s hard to break. If you have a small dog, weight is worth watching especially closely: on a toy breed, three extra pounds represents a far bigger proportional change than it would on a large breed—the equivalent of many times that on a big dog.
How Do I Know If My Pet Is Overweight?
The number on the scale only tells you so much, since a healthy weight varies enormously between breeds. What we use is a body condition score, and you can check the basics at home. Run your hands along your pet’s sides: you should be able to feel their ribs fairly easily, with a thin covering over them, without having to press. Look down at them from above and you should see a waist behind the ribs. From the side, the belly should tuck up rather than running straight or sagging.
If you can’t find the ribs without pushing, or there’s no waist, it’s worth a conversation with us. We’ll weigh your pet, score their condition, and can give you a target and a plan to get there.
Tips to Avoid Obesity in Pets
The proven approaches are moderating food intake and building in regular activity.
Proper Diet
The cause is the same as in people—more calories going in than being used. Pets given generous portions, frequent treats, or food from the table gain weight quickly, and inactivity compounds it.
A few things make a real difference. Measure meals with a proper cup or, better still, a kitchen scale, rather than estimating—and treat the guidelines on the bag as a starting point, since many pets need less than the label suggests. Keep treats to no more than about 10% of daily calories, and count everything, including what you use for training and anything the rest of the household hands out. Feed measured meals rather than leaving food available all day. And get everyone in the house on the same page, because one person’s generosity can undo everyone else’s effort.
Please talk to us before putting your pet on a diet, though. Weight loss needs to be gradual, and cats in particular can develop a serious liver condition if they lose weight too fast or stop eating. We can work out how many calories your pet actually needs, recommend a suitable food, and check that there isn’t an underlying medical reason for the weight gain—hypothyroidism in dogs and a few other conditions can be part of the picture.
Adequate Exercise
Increasing activity helps keep weight off and helps take it off. Most dogs love a walk and enjoy swimming or hiking. Cats do best with several short play sessions through the day—wand toys, food puzzles, and putting their meals in a few different places around the house so they have to go looking.
Work out which activity your pet enjoys most, and which you enjoy doing with them, and make it part of the daily routine. If your pet is significantly overweight, start gently and build up as their stamina improves—and talk to us first, particularly if they have joint problems or a flat face, since an unfit, overweight dog pushed too hard is at real risk of injury and heat stress.
In honor of National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, take an honest look at your pet and get in touch if you think they may be carrying too much. Recognizing the problem is the first step to helping your pet feel better, move more comfortably, and avoid preventable illness. As veterinarians we care a great deal about this, and we promise there’s no judgment involved—so if you’d like help getting your cat or dog to a healthier weight, please don’t hesitate to call us.