Don't Let Your Dog Be A FAT CAT!
Stephen Sheldon, D.V.M.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist the temptation as to the title of this article. Obesity, as you know,
is no laughing matter. Just like it is reaching epidemic proportions in people it is reaching
epidemic proportions in dogs. Estimates show close to 50% of American dogs are
overweight with about 30% considered obese. And, just like in people, being overweight
carries a risk.
We define obesity as an excess of body fat that will impair health and bodily function.
Again, borrowing from human studies we say a pet is obese if he or she is 20-25% over
their ideal bodyweight. Obesity in dogs is linked to problems in the musculoskeletal
systems, difficulty with arthritis, a compromised immune system, and a predisposition
towards diabetes. Obese dogs are at more risk for anesthesia and have more post-op
surgical complications. They also suffer more heat stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
They also don’t live as long, period. Do you still think an obese dog is "pleasantly
plump"?
There are a number of ways to tell you if and how obese your pet is. Common sense is
usually the best method. Then there are advanced diagnostic tests such as deuterium
dioxide dilution, bioelectrical impedance, ultrasound, and dual energy xray absorption.
The most common and practical is called body condition scoring (BCS..no not the
college football BCS). BCS is a subjective assessment of body conditioning using a scale
from 1-9. Most veterinarians have charts in their offices, and by using a combination of
palpation and observation they come up with a score. A score of 5 is ideal; you can
palpate the ribs without excess fat covering them, a waist is observed behind the ribs
when viewed from above, and the abdomen is tucked up when viewed from the side. For
kicks and giggles, let’s compare this to a 9, grossly obese. A 9 has massive fat deposits
over the sides of the chest, spine, neck, limbs, and base of the tail, there is no waist or
abdominal tuck and there is an obvious pot belly.
Most of the time the cause of obesity is obvious: too much food and not enough exercise.
It is very simple math; more calories eaten than calories spent equals excess calories
which equals obesity. There are a few medical conditions that can be ruled out with some
simple tests. Hypothyroidism, adrenal diseases like Cushings disease, and abdominal
tumors can make a sick animal appear obese so give these pups a break!
Most experts recommend a 3 step program to manage obesity: gaining owner acceptance,
designing a flexible weight loss program, and close follow-up.
Owner Acceptance
"Hi, my name is Rover, and I’m an overweight dog". All kidding aside, getting people to
realize that their pet is overweight is a big obstacle to managing obesity. By learning how
to look at your pet, feel the excess fat, and compare them to a chart at your veterinarian’s
office you will get a handle on accepting obesity. Then you need to change your daily
habits. You need to monitor and measure food intake, regularly weigh your pet, and
increase the daily exercise. You should keep a log of food intake; everyone who feeds or
gives treats needs to enter into the log book.
Designing a Program
One size does not fit all in weight loss programs; we all know this from dieting ourselves.
The problem is that darn old basal metabolic rate, or BMR. BMR is a very individual
thing; 2 identical looking dogs could have very different BMRs necessitating different
quantities of food. Most pet foods calculate this for "average" pets but studies now show
overweight pets need much less than average pets. The best way is trial and error; do this
by making weekly adjustments of 10-20% until weight loss is achieved. A good pet food
is very helpful but not absolutely essential. Think about it for a minute; as long as we are
burning more calories than we are giving an animal will lose weight. You can do this
with any type of nutritionally complete food. The weight reduction diets do have some
advantages though: they are higher in fiber, lower in calories, and adjusted to still provide
adequate levels of protein and vitamins while decreasing fat and calories. The high fiber
keeps the doggies full too. If 2 diets have the same amount of calories per serving go with
the lower fat one; studies show with equal calorie diets more weight is lost with the low
fat one.
Feed several small meals rather than one large one; again, we know from human studies
that eating small frequent meals increases the BMR. Treats also count so log them in the
log book! Go get some high fiber treats at the pet food store.
If your dog gets a good report from your veterinarian than you need to start exercising.
Walking is good for everyone and the interaction will let you feel less guilty about NOT
giving treats! Besides spending calories on the ledger, regular exercise stimulates the
BMR to work at a higher rate than it would without exercise. This means even more
calories burned.
Checks and Balances
No, I don’t mean this to be a financial lesson. However, greater success will be
maintained with regular follow ups. Schedule regular weigh ins at the veterinary office;
the staff will be able to help you weigh and record and answer any questions you have
about your progress. We suggest weekly weigh ins. Adjustments can be made at this
time. Don’t get discouraged, gradual weight loss is actually preferred as it leads to long
term weight control. Pets yo-yo just like people do.
Be patient, if you recognize your pet is overweight and are committed to doing something
about it your pet will lose weight. Getting started is usually the hardest part but the
rewards are tremendous. You’ll have a happier, healthier pet who will be more active and
live longer! Make sure to take before and after photos; send them to us and we’ll post
them on our web site. Promise.