Understanding Pet Obesity
Obesity in Dogs
iVillage
Obesity is the number one
nutritional disorder among dogs. Studies suggest that approximately 25 percent
of the dogs
presented to veterinary clinics are overweight. This extra weight puts pets at
risk for certain health problems involving the
cardiovascular, respiratory and skeletal systems. Knowing how to recognize the
signs of obesity and take corrective action is
important. But more important is knowing how to keep pets in good body condition
to start, thus avoiding the development of
obesity in the first place.
Animals with an excessive accumulation of body fat to the point of being 20% or
more over ideal body weight are considered
obese. Weight gain occurs when animals consume more calories than they use. This
gain may be slow and gradual or occur
rapidly depending on the size of the difference between energy intake and energy
use.
The causes of obesity generally fall into three categories: inappropriate diet,
genetic predisposition and hormonal disorders.
Diet
Although this category is
labeled diet, obesity is more accurately attributed to inappropriate feeding and
exercising of the
pet. As stated above, weight gain is a result of eating more calories than the
pet uses. When calorie intake equals calorie
expenditure, the animal will maintain its body weight. If intake exceeds output,
the animal will gain weight. As a result, there
are two ways to impact the animal's weight. The first is to feed fewer calories
and the second is to increase the number of
calories the pet uses by increasing the amount of exercise the pet gets. This
means reducing the amount of food the animal
receives and increasing the time spent walking or playing with the pet.
Genetic Predisposition
Certain breeds seem to be more
susceptible to obesity than others including beagles, basset hounds, dachshunds
and
Labrador retrievers. While some breeds of dog may gain more easily, it does not
mean an animal must become overweight.
Maintaining a healthy body weight requires more careful attention to the amount
of food and exercise the pet receives.
Hormonal Disorders
Diseases which impact hormone
balances in pets may contribute to the development of obesity. These include
thyroid or
pituitary gland dysfunction.
Castration and spaying also alter the hormonal balance of pets, sometimes
causing reduced activity and changes in
metabolism. These factors can contribute to obesity and increase the need for
carefully controlling food intake and
increasing exercise in neutered pets.
How to Recognize Obesity
A good method for evaluating
the body condition of dogs and cats calls for observing and feeling the animal's
body. By
using the pictures and word descriptions in the diagram at the end of this
section, the pet's body condition can be
determined. This system is most useful if assessments are repeated periodically.
This allows the pet owner to continually
adjust the amount of food they serve and the amount of exercise the pet receives
to maintain the dog in good body
condition. A veterinarian can provide assistance in determining a given pet's
exact body condition.
Weight Control Guidelines
Preventing excessive weight
gain is the best approach to weight control in pets. It is much more difficult
to achieve weight
loss once the animal has gained the extra pounds. For those pets at risk of
becoming overweight or for those animals
already carrying extra pounds, one or more of the following guidelines apply:
Reduce or eliminate table scraps and treats. These are often high in fat and
calories which contribute to excessive intake.
Reduce the amount of the current complete and balanced pet food. It is best to
measure the amount of food the animal
receives. This helps keep the serving size consistent and prevents the natural
tendency to pour a little extra in the bowl.
Increase the amount of exercise the pet receives. This can simply mean walking
the dog or playing catch in the backyard
more often.
Consider switching to a low-calorie pet food. These products are typically lower
in fat and higher in fiber. This allows the
owner to continue to serve a nice-sized portion while reducing the number of
calories the pet actually receives.
Consult a veterinarian before beginning any weight reduction program. The
veterinarian can design a weight loss program
for the individual pet and help identify specific problems and suggest
alternatives along the way. It is also helpful to have the
pet weighed periodically to track progress.
This article is available at
iVillage by using the following link:
http://home.ivillage.com/pets/dogs/0,,pj4,00.html
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