Obesity in Pets
I chose to speak about this topic because it is such an important aspect of your pet’s health. Lean dogs live, on average, 1.8 years longer than obese dogs. Studies show that at least 25% to 30% of dogs and cats in industrialised countries are obese!
How will you know if your pet is overweight? At Castle Vets we weigh all our patients at their health checks and will quickly identify if there has been any recent weight gain. You are more than welcome to call us on 014640499 for any advice or BOOK ONLINE NOW for our free weight clinics.
Is my pet overweight?
Below are some simple pointers to identify if your pet is overweight:
1. We should all be able to feel the outline of our pets’ ribs. The ribs should not be prominent so that we can visibly see the rib cage, but we should be able to feel each rib when applying gentle pressure along their chest.
2. Does your pet have a waist? When looking at your pet from the side as he/she is standing we should notice the abdomen is tucked up directly behind the rib cage.
3. Does your pet have an hour-glass shape from above? All our pets are widest at the chest, narrow around the abdomen and wider again at the pelvis.
Health issues associated with obesity
1. Arthritis
Our overweight pets put much more pressure on their knees, hips, shoulders and elbows which can result in arthritis, causing our pets to become stiff and sore as they grow older.
2. Diabetes
Just like us, our pets can develop insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Thankfully with the advances in veterinary medicine we can now treat diabetes successfully. However, diet is known to be a big risk factor in the development of diabetes so keeping our pets fit, healthy and lean will certainly reduce the incidence of this disease.
3. Heart and lungs
Excess weight puts a lot of pressure on our pet’s cardio-respiratory system. Heart disease and lung issues are common conditions we see at Castle Vets on a daily basis. Excess fat around our pet’s chest and neck makes it more difficult for them to breathe comfortably exacerbating treatable conditions.
4. Cancer
Recent studies have shown that obese pets have increased risks of developing certain types of cancers.
5. Liver disease
Excess fat and cholesterol in your pet’s bloodstream make it more difficult for their livers to function efficiently, leading to several types of liver diseases.
6. Heat intolerance
When temperatures rise during the Summer months, overweight pets find it increasingly difficult to dissipate heat due to the fat insulating their bodies. This is not only uncomfortable for your pet, but it can also lead to life-threatening hyperthermia if they develop heat stress.
Treatment – operation transFURmation!
Prevention is better than a cure! Remember, ‘puppy’ fat is just that – and once your pet is no longer a growing pooch then it is very important to keep a close eye on their food intake.
Weight gain occurs when your pet consumes more food energy than they require. Your pet’s daily food requirement depends on their age, size, level of activity and health profile. At Castle Vets, once we have reviewed your pet’s specific needs, we will advise you on a suitable diet and the exact amount to feed! We stock a range of diets including weight loss diets for our obese patients. Exercise is key to helping our loved pets lose weight. Regular exercise can include daily walks and interactive play. We are happy to give useful tips on how to get your pet active again and to reduce the stress of lower calorie feeding!
At Castle vets we advise all our clients to regularly weigh their pets at our clinic. Please click this BOOK ONLINE link to avail of our free weight clinics.
