Things are getting too big. Cars, houses,
kids, and yes, pets. That’s right, our pets are getting
too big. We all know obesity in American is an epidemic that
has gotten out of control, but did you realize it was beginning
to affect our companion animals as well? Obesity is defined
as an increase in body weight, beyond the limitation of skeletal
and physical requirements, resulting
from an accumulation of excess body fat. It is ultimately caused
by an intake of more calories than the number of calories being
burned by the body. It has gotten very difficult for a dog
or cat in this culture to maintain an ideal body weight and
achieve optimal health and well being simply because people
are feeding more food than their pets ought to be eating and
giving them less exercise than they need.
However, that is
not always the case. Sometimes your seemingly active, seemingly
healthy-eating pet may be carrying more weight than her body
can handle,
no fault
of yours. That is to say, there are instances of obesity
caused by heart, thyroid or other metabolic disorders, and
not overeating.
But regardless of the cause, overweight pets can face some
serious pet health problems most often related to the function
of their
heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and joints – not to mention
a deterioration in mobility which can lead to self-grooming
issues
which, in turn, can cause skin problems. Obese cats in particular
can be predisposed to diabetes, Hepatic Lipidosis and arthritis.
And in the end, overweight pets will generally experience
a dramatic decrease in lifespan.
So what can we do to help turn
the tide toward a nation of lean, healthy animals? The first
thing is to assess your pet’s
body condition so you can determine if obesity is even an issue.
Unfortunately, standing on a scale won’t give you the
answer because “ideal weight” differs
depending on the breed. You can usually tell if a cat is overweight
just by looking at it. Cats should be straight and slender;
not round or barrel-shaped. Cats get fat on their tummies,
not along their ribcages the way dogs do. If they have a pudgy
pouch hanging down from their belly, they need to lose a few
pounds. You can tell if a dog is overweight by running
your hands over the animal's sides along its chest. You should
easily
be able
to feel its ribs. A dog at a healthy weight should have an
abdomen that is slightly tucked up when viewed from the side.
Dogs should have waistlines;
if you look at it from the top, it should have an hourglass
shape. If you can't feel the ribs easily, or your dog has no
waist and its abdomen drags … you’ve got an overweight
dog.
If you have an overweight pet, the next step
is to talk to your veterinarian about your concerns. Your pet’s
ideal weight is based on several factors like overall health
conditions and breed, so consult your vet before changing your
pet’s food, decreasing meal portions, or increasing your
pet’s daily activity. For example, cats should
never
be
put on a weight-loss program without a vet’s input because
a dramatic decrease in caloric intake can cause your cat to
develop Hepatic Lipidosis, a life threatening
liver disease.
Once you’ve been given the green light
to put your pet on a weight-loss program, you will need to
make a commitment to some lifestyle changes that are directly
related to the success of tackling obesity. It’s all
about diet and exercise. Forget all the fad diets humans follow
these days. The healthiest way for your pets to eat is a fresh,
raw pet food, rich in naturally-occurring
vitamins and minerals like those present in whole grains, raw
fruits and vegetables
as well as fresh, human-quality meat. If your pet’s diet
consists of healthy, raw dog food
or raw cat food, you won’t have to
worry as much about counting calories.
Also keep an eye on the portions
you’re feeding. You
know how shampoo bottles suggest lathering and rinsing twice?
We all know they’re just trying to sell more shampoo.
Well some pet foods have the same approach – especially
those that recommend free-feeding. Free-feeding is like a person
having an open buffet in their house 24 hours a day. Dogs and
cats need to rest their digestive systems, even more so than
humans, so having set feeding times once or at most twice-a-day
is the best way to go. This will allow your critter to fully
digest their meals and then burn off some of those calories.
If you visit a holistic veterinarian, it’s possible that
they may also recommend one day of fasting every week, which
promotes a longer period of digestive rest and cleansing.
Once
you’ve got the diet under control, it’s time
to consider exercise. This doesn’t mean your dog needs
to spend an hour a day walking on the treadmill. Whether it’s
the dog park, an agility class, or even just a walk around
the block, dogs should have at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise
daily to eliminate extra calories and sustain muscle tone.
For cats, use a string or toy to encourage jumping and chasing,
or give it something interesting to climb. If your cat is not
prone to running away, spending some time in the yard can be
very helpful as well.
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Sojourner Farms. All rights reserved.
