The Truth About Obesity and Your Pet

The second Wednesday in the month of October has been deemed “Pet Obesity Awareness Week”. In this weeks Dog Blog, we will focus on the statistics, causes, health risks, and how to overcome a pets out of control weight issues.

The Basic Facts on Overweight Pets

Pet obesity is a growing concern in today’s fur family members. It may surprise you to find out that nearly 60% of dogs and 50% of cats are carrying too much body fat on their small frames. When you compare the over 50% of domesticated “pets” being obese, or on their way from overweight to obese, against the United States adult human population overweight/obese percentage of nearly 70%… one can quickly come to a conclusion that the two statistic are somehow connected.

Humans are usually overweight due to poor diet, lack of regular exercise, consumption of genetically modified food that are stuffed with chemicals/fillers/sugars/modified food sources, and/or predisposal to hereditary weight gain. In theory, the makeup of ones DNA couples with the natural slowdown in metabolism as one ages, influenced by diet and exercise to cause weight gain. The biggest change in humans is that we are fatter at a younger age due to children not being outside playing, running, and burning off the inflated calories in today’s food intake. Fast food, larger portions, less physicality in the daily routine, GMO modified foods, and the rising costs of eating healthy drive youth to become overweight early in life. This added weight impacts growth, overall health, and leads to chronic illness. And lets face it, gaining weight is easy… losing weight is a battle that few have the stamina and willpower see through till the end. We are fat almost by design, as if it was placed upon us in a direct and purposeful way.  To make a quick comparison on how much more prevalent being overweight, leaning towards obesity, the US population is compared to the rest of the world… in our country nearly 30% of all children are classified as obese. In the rest of the world, that number is 15% and falling. Our focus on diet and exercise in this country is leading us to be the fat and lazy Americans that the rest of the world already believes we are. The sobering fact is that obese people tend to live 10 years less than those who are at an optimal weight for their age, height, and physical condition.

Now compare those stark and alarming fact to household pets (focusing on cats and dogs). For a canine, being 30% above the ideal body weight for the size and breed of the animal is considered obese. A felines smaller average size and body type makes that obese percentage less, as any cat 20% above their ideal weight is considered obese. What we are feeding our fur kids is a major contributor to their weight gain, as most major animal food brands are heavy in grains, additives, and fillers… and light on meat, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and the building needed sources to create a healthy diet. Add to that the fact that our animals match our efforts in exercise, and you have the perfect storm for weight gain. Its almost like we humans control what the pet puts into their body, and we’re forcing them to look and act like we do… well, in truth, it’s EXACTLY like that!

My Fat Cat

For cats, the main source of being overweight is eating too much. (however diet, food choice, hypothyroidism, and insulinoma could also be a factor)  Age, body condition, and lack of exercise add to their lousy diet. As a cat gains weight, their bodies fat cells actually get bigger (yes, the fat cells get fatter). It’s been discovered that fat cells release inflammatory hormones that cause chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation leads to a variety of health problems like. Females that are neutered are predisposed to weight gain, they also tend to be more inactive, and sleep more. Indoor cats are more likely to be overweight due to their lack of exercise, when compared to outdoor cats. Sadly, obese cats have a mortality rate that is three times higher than a cat who maintains an ideal weight.

The Rotund Rover

The number of Heavy Hound is on a huge upswing, and we could see the epidemic soar past the 50% mark and push 70% if we do not address the controllable reasons for the massive weight gain. If your dog is packing on the lbs, it could be due to a lot of reasons, but the most common are:

  • Overfeeding: table scraps, free range feeding as opposed to controlled portions, the type of pet food you choose to feed them, portions to large and to often during the day.

  • Lack of Exercise: Once past the puppy stage, if you don’t set the pace for exercise for your dog, they will match your effort level. If they live a mainly indoor life, their motivation wanes and their sleep times increases.

  • Genetics: Some breeds are predisposed to weight gain. If you don’t intervene to assure they eat better and exercise more often, there is a good chance their genes will cause weight gain. (Labs, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels are a few)

  • Old Age: Older dogs are less active, their calorie burn is frequently less than the intake, and they become such a part of the family that they are always given more human snacks and treats which are full of calories and sugars.

  • Medical Conditions: Chronic illnesses (joint damage, arthritis, heart disease, for instance) will make exercise difficult. This, in turn, makes weight gain easier and weight loss difficult. Some medications that dogs take will promote weight gain.

  • Stress and Emotional Eating: Just like humans, dog will binge eat if they are having a “moment” or something in their environment suddenly changes.

A mostly ignored reason that is a major contributor in dog weight gain is pet parents failing react to weight gain until its become a chronic issue. Often we overlook them packing on the pounds, or write it off to age or breed, when the fact of the matter is that humans unknowingly are force feeding them calories and foods that create weight gain, and then promote a lifestyle that is inactive and over-fed.

What are the Health Impacts to my Pet Being Obese?

We’ve mentioned some of the major health impacts to a rotund fur kid, but lets get a look at a more complete list of the real life impacts that carrying a dangerous amount of weight carries for your favorite fatty catty or double chinned dog;

Cats:

Feline Diabetes/Osteoarthritis/Hip Dysplasia/Heart and Liver Disease/Weakened Immune System/Difficulty Breathing/ Certain Types of Cancer/ Urinary Problems/High Blood Pressure

Dogs:

Certain Types of Cancer/Diabetes/Heart Disease/Hypertension/Bladder Stones/Joint Degeneration/Osteoarthritis/Anesthetic Complications/Difficulty Breathing

Add to these conditions the fact that being so overweight that they are clinically obese will shorten your dogs life from months to years. Much like their humans, being that weighty will cause the body to breakdown and shut down if it is not addressed. Heart problems, joint damage, chronic pain, and depression will impact overall health and lead to an early exit to the Rainbow Bridge.

How Can I Tell if my Pet is Obese?

There is no better test than the eye examine, followed by a quick pat down. Here are some “quick tips” to follow that will help you make an educated guess on if your dog has reached a stage where their weight has become a major issue…

Lotta Pounds Puppy

Start by taking a birds eye view of your dog. If you are standing over a dog who is up on all four legs, they should have a visible ribs and backbone. You should see and obvious waist that is smaller than the ribs and hips.

Move from there to a “feel test”, which your dog should think is nothing more than a good petting from their favorite person in the world. Start by feeling your dog ribs, just behind their front legs. If the ribs feel like the back of your hand, your dog would appear to be fit. If your dogs ribs feel like your knuckles, your dog is too thin and needs to gain weight. If your dogs ribs feel like the palm of your hand, your dog is overweight. If your dogs ribs feel like a pillow, you have a majorly obese baby.

Keep in mind this is just a “Quick Test” for you to gauge your dogs body type. To get the real scoop on your dogs weight and overall health, you need to consult with your trusted veterinarian. By doing a full exam, your Doggy Doctor can give you a breakdown of your puppies poundage, then make suggestions on adjustments in diet and exercise needed. They can also see potential or current health issues that are being caused by the dogs weight and advise you how to help them get to a better weight place.

Fluffy Felines

The ideal look for a cat at optimal weight is sleek and fit. If you stand above them and look down, you should see an obvious waistline. They abdomen is tucked up and curves away from the waist at a 30-45 degree angle towards their hips. When you pat them down, feel the rib cage. You should clearly feel the ribs with a thin layer of skin and fat covering them. An underweight cat will have almost no fat covering on the ribs, and the angle of the abdomen from the stomach to the hips will be much steeper. An overweight cat starts to lose the abdomen angle all together, it will appear to be nearly a straight line to the hips, the ribs will not be visible and might take a bit of pressure to feel them through the layered fat. If your cat resembles the body type of a mouse when viewed from above (an obvious “eggplant with a tail” when viewed from above, they are likely obese.  If you can’t feel ribs, or if it takes a good bit of pressure to find the ribs, the cat is in danger of health problems from their weight. You need to take your findings to your everyday veterinarian and discuss how you can help the kitty with their fitness goals.

The Trick to Weight Loss for Your Fur Kids

We seem to say this a lot in our blogs, but its more true here than in most of our postings… change starts with YOU. If you suspect your pet is fat… chances are they are fat. It is up to you to take action because, they aren’t going to do it alone. Your pets don’t understand weight gain, they don’t really see they changes in their bodies, they just start to feel the impacts of carrying that much extra poundage. As  responsible pet parents, we need to step in and make the changes in their lives that will naturally cause slow and steady weight loss. Its not a sprint, its a marathon… one where you need to be the leader of the pack and guide them towards success.

We promise you, this is going to be painful for pet and parent. Pets love to eat, we love to feed them, and we often feed them too much unknowingly. We also control how much exercise time they get. You need to be the lead dog, or the dominate cat, and get them busy… and make it fun. If you think humans hate exercise for “exercise sake”, your pets REALLY hate it because it makes no sense to them. They don’t set goals for themselves, they aren’t going to get up in the morning and with a target to do 20 pull-ups, 20 push-ups, and fast walk a mile, all before work. They are content to help you watch TV, be  a pal and eat snacks with you, sleep every chance they get, and jut hang with their favorite person.

Your goal should be to slowly get them more active. For dogs, start with short walks or a backyard game, help your cat play with a laser pointer or a feather… the main point is to get the moving again. As they respond you should increase their playtime, outside time, walk time, or whatever they are doing to get moving. They more they do, the more they can lose… and if your make it a together thing, you both win. Who knows, you might shed a few unwanted lbs as well.

Diet it next, you need to change up what, when, and how they eat. You’ll need to cut out all “people food”, look at the food you feed them (REALLY LOOK AT IT! Look at whats on the ingredient label and figure out if its healthy), and figure out optimal portions. If you reduce their food portions, there will be big eyed sad looks, maybe a whine or two, increased begging, and sadness, as they adjust to the new feeding. They are NOT starving, they are just used to more intake. The key is lowering the calorie intake while increasing the nutrients they digest. The best method is to involve your veterinarian for a diet plan. They may suggest new food, portion controls, supplements, or even medications to help your heavy honey drop the pounds. Your vet can provide daily a calorie count target that you’ll need to live by. What we are suggesting is a total rework of the pets body and brain… and everyone in their life has to be onboard. No Aunties sneaking them treats, no rewards in food form, no “cheat days”, and no giving in to the tricks of a professional beggar. Stand your ground for the benefit of the pet you love. Reward success with treats that are calorie friendly, like fresh fruits and veggies. Treats should be less than 10% of their daily intake, as store bought treats are full of additives/sugars/fillers. Celebrate making weight loss goals, or make exercise time a fun interactive treat. Its a journey that you’re taking together, so your will power and focus need to be razor sharp! Together, you can get over the hill and find the promised land of better health through diet and weight loss.

Once you hit your target, you will switch to a “maintenance mode”, as bad habit are easy to fall back into. This change is a forever thing, not a short term “hit it and quit it”, so you need to be in it for the long run. Keep to the routine of portion control, because if you get out of the habit… the weight will return with a vengeance. Again, your veterinarian is your #1 resource for helping to change to the maintenance routine, and to keep an eye on overall health.

We hope this detailed look at your pets potential weight problems has been informative and complete, and perhaps gets you invested in finding out just how heavy your pet might be. Adding months and years to their life should be motivation enough for you to get involved.

Join us again next week for another pet focused Dog Blog. We’ve turned the page on September and are now racing towards HOWL-o-Ween, the scariest time of your pets year! We invite you all to join in the Fred-tastic fun of OctoBOOOOer at Freddie’s Fun Place, our “just for fun” social media site that looks at the lighter side of pets ownership. You’ll find us on Facebook at this link: Facebook We promise you 31 days of unique pet laughs and information!

Till next time, our Blog Team wishes you scary times ahead, hiding from noises in your bed, moments of Halloween frights and dread, Ghouls/Ghosts/Monsters visiting your homestead, lots of healthy treats  while reading posts by Fred, and as we head towards the scariest day of the year… remember to dress up your favorite furry for the season and always be Pet Friendly, #FreddieSez!