Is Your Pet Overweight? Understanding Pet Obesity
In 2022, 59% of dogs and 61% of cats were considered overweight or obese, according to a survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Pet obesity is more than just a number on the scale; it's a growing concern that affects your pet's health, well-being, and overall quality of life. In this blog, we'll explore pet obesity, its causes and risks, and actionable steps to help your pet live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
Understanding Pet Obesity
When an overweight pet is in an exam room, it can be an awkward conversation with the owner. Still, it doesn't have to be when we understand pet obesity.
Pet obesity isn't just about a number on the scale; it's about how that number trends over time and what's known as the body condition score. The body condition score is a system used by veterinarians to determine whether a pet is underweight, overweight, or at an ideal weight.
Scoring is either on a five-point scale or a 9-point scale. At Buddy's Vets, we score on a 9-point scale, with five (5) being the ideal score. Scores of 7 through 9 indicate overweight and obese.
An ideal score of 5 means your pet has:
Obtaining the body condition score is a hands-on task that your veterinarian will perform to assess your pet's ideal body condition. Obtaining an accurate weight is also essential to establish a good starting point.
Assessing a pet's body condition score can be challenging in dogs with thicker fur, so it's necessary to feel their body physically.
Certain breeds, such as pugs, beagles, and schnauzers, are more prone to being overweight. Similarly, the cat population, as a whole, tends to struggle with obesity.
What Causes Pet Obesity?
Pet obesity isn't always as simple as "calories in versus calories out." Many factors can contribute to your pet being overweight, including:
Lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle
Overfeeding, improper portion sizes, or excessive treats
Inflammatory conditions
Underlying health issues
Identifying the root causes is essential to create an effective plan for managing your pet's weight.
The Risks of Pet Obesity
Health conditions are the main concern with pet obesity. Below is an overview of the risks associated with overweight pets.
Heart and Liver Disease
Obesity can put extra strain on a pet's organs, in particular the heart and liver. The organs have to work extra hard to handle the additional weight, which can lead to serious health problems or worsen existing ones.
Joint Pain and Arthritis
Overweight pets are more prone to joint issues such as arthritis, pain, and swelling, creating a vicious cycle where they're not exercising due to the pain. Not exercising makes weight loss difficult. Obesity-related inflammation can also worsen joint health. Your pet may be suffering more than you realize because they can't tell you they're in pain.
Respiratory Problems
Excess weight can lead to respiratory issues, like asthma or bronchitis, particularly in overweight cats. These conditions can impact your pet's ability to breathe comfortably.
Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the predominant health concerns in overweight pets, and in particular, overweight cats, who are up to four times more prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. Managing diabetes requires considerable commitment from the owners, including administering medications such as insulin, which can be challenging and expensive. Unfortunately, some owners elect to euthanize their pets due to the burden of this commitment and their pet's suffering.
Impact on Quality of Life & Reduced Lifespan
Obesity limits a pet's ability to enjoy activities and interact with their family, leading to decreased energy, difficulty moving, and reduced quality of life. Overweight pets also face a reduced lifespan, losing up to 20% of their expected years, with obesity affecting both their life expectancy and overall quality of life.
Preventing Pet Obesity and Supporting a Healthy Weight
We always need to pay attention to our pet's health; for overweight pets, it starts with a consultation with your veterinarian. They will assess your pet's health and weight to provide guidance on the proper diet and nutrition for your pet. Their guidance will include a discussion on feeding and movement.
Feeding
Your veterinarian will provide your pet's ideal caloric intake and feeding instructions. They will guide you on the right food for your pet, how much to feed them, and how often.
When it comes to how much you feed your pet, follow the instructions from your veterinarian and not the food bag guidelines. Most pet food feeding guides are going to cause you to overfeed your pet.
Measurements are critical once you know how much you need to feed your pet.
- Use an actual measuring cup and one that is designated just for feeding your pet.
- Measure an even amount, no more and no less.
- Avoid feeding your pet table scraps and excessive treats.
- Treats count towards your pet's caloric intake. If you are using treats as a reward, scale back on their food.
Pets often develop health issues like diabetes because of overfeeding, low-quality food, or feeding from the table. Measuring and understanding portion sizes is critical. For instance, if you say you're feeding your pet two scoops of food, what those two scoops are may vary depending on the size of the scoop. Overfeeding can have dire consequences for pets.
Managing feeding schedules in multi-pet households can be tricky, especially with pets of different sizes or ages.
- Feed them separately in designated spaces to ensure each pet gets their correct portion.
- If you have pets of the same age who eat quickly, feed them at the same time to create a routine, but portions still need careful measuring.
- If there are multiple cats, provide separate bowls and divide their daily food intake into smaller portions. Grazing throughout the day works well but aim for at least three feedings if you're not home. Be aware that not all cats can exert self-control to graze or free-feed throughout the day.
At the end of the day, you need to have good family communication about who is feeding the pets, how much, and at what time. It's best only to have one person assigned to feed the pet to avoid any miscommunication or overfeeding.
Movement & Enrichment
Movement is super important, and pets need movement not only for their weight but also to get out their spent energy. It's like the saying goes: abs are made in the kitchen, and you can't outrun a bad diet. Our pets need to move, but the key is ensuring their movement helps burn calories.
Our pets also need enrichment activities like food puzzles and snuffle mats, which are excellent tools to stimulate your pet, keep them busy, and make their meals last longer. For pets that like to inhale their food, these options can encourage slower eating, engage their brain, and even burn a few extra calories. Freezing food in a puzzle can also extend mealtime.
Interactive toys and play sessions are particularly beneficial for cats. Enrichment toys such as laser pointers, catnip-filled toys, and motorized gadgets can help increase your cat's exercise levels. Engaging in regular play with your cat not only provides physical activity but also strengthens your bond.
Happy & Healthy Pets
Pet obesity carries real risks, but with the right nutrition plan, regular exercise, and routine vet visits, you can help your pet achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It's not just about the scale; it's about building healthy habits and celebrating small wins, like seeing your pet's energy return or watching them move more comfortably. My role as a veterinarian is to educate and guide pet owners, but it's up to you to take action for your pet's health. By taking action now, you're allowing your pet to live longer and be healthier.
If you think your pet's weight is becoming an issue, call us today to schedule a visit. At Buddy's Vets, we work with you to keep your pet happy and healthy.