Overweight pets are at risk

Animals need to keep a healthy diet with regular exerciseRecently I was asked to do an evaluation on a 2-year-old boxer. The owners of this dog were concerned because he seemed depressed and lethargic. When I saw the rotund "Little John," I knew we were dealing primarily with a medical condition instead of a psychological problem.
His heavy breathing and panting suggested respiratory distress. When the dog reacted to me with anxious barking, his owners tried to appease him by feeding him treat after treat after treat. After the 10th or 11th "appeasement," I lost count. Little John's owners admitted that the dog had not seen a veterinarian in more than 18 months. I advised them to seriously consider making an appointment for Little John within the next few days. Their pet's life could depend on it.
Pet owners like Little John's should be aware that obesity is a serious medical condition that can cause a number of debilitating health complications. An obesity problem can shorten a pet's life or, at the very least, affect its quality of life.
According to Dr. William Burkholder, a veterinary nutritionist and an expert on obesity in animals, as many as 25 percent of dogs and cats that enter a pet clinic are overweight and are at risk for serious health conditions. The causes of this medical problem in animals are the same as for their human pack members: overeating and lack of exercise.
"Almost all obese pets are mature animals, usually 2 years or older," wrote Burkholder in a recent news release from Texas A&M. "The majority of obesity cases in dogs and cats occur from about ages 2 to 10. Animals that have been neutered are more likely to be obese," Burkholder said.
The health risks to overweight dogs are serious, and every dog owner should be aware of them. Just like overweight humans, dogs carrying extra pounds of fat place additional demands on virtually all their internal organs. Because of this overload, disease and sometimes premature death can result. According to the Burkholder, some of the more common health problems associated with obesity are:

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)
• Damage to joints, bones and ligaments
• Heart disease and increased blood pressure
• Respiratory problems
• Decreased stamina
• Heat intolerance
• Decreased liver function
• Increased surgical and anesthetic risk
• Digestive disorders
• Decreased immune function
• Skin and hair coat problems
• Increased risk of cancer
• Decreased quality and length of life

While any breed of dog can become overweight, it is more common in some breeds than others. Breeds that have a genetic tendency toward obesity include Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds and some Rottweilers, according to Burkholder.
As for cats, he says that obesity is not confined to any specific breed, and he adds that a significant proportion of the cat population tends to be overweight. A contributing factor is the difficulty of persuading cats to exercise. Diabetes and hepatic lipidosis, a potentially fatal liver disease, are conditions that affect obese cats.
So what is a pet owner to do when Fido or Fifi begins to look hefty? Just like in the medical treatment for human obesity, there is no magic pill to control obesity in our pets.
If the animal seems obese, you need to take it to your veterinarian who can diagnose the problem. A vet can also rule out any medical condition like low thyroid function that could be causing the extra pounds to pile on. It's important to take the pet in every three to four weeks to be re-weighed to determine if your efforts are working to get your four-legged friend closer to its optimal weight.
"The pet owner needs to decrease the amount of food given to the animal," Burkholder said. Sometimes, a special diet may have to be prescribed. Many pet food companies offer "lite" or "less active" formulations. Feed your animal the recommended amount of a high quality pet food twice daily. Do not leave any partially eaten meal down for grazing over at a later time. If you have more than one pet, make sure that the overweight one is not stealing food from its playmates. It is equally important to eliminate table scraps, which are usually high in both fat and salt content. Resist the temptation to treat your pudgy pooch with sugary or salty human snack foods.
"Exercising your pet is also recommended," Burkholder said. A brisk half-hour walk or a lively game of fetch once or twice daily will benefit both you and your pet.
"There are currently no medicines available that control obesity in animals, but numerous companies are working on such drugs right now," Burkholder said. "In the meantime, pet owners should be careful they don't overfeed their pets. The No. 1 nutritional problem for all pets is obesity."
Sometimes it is hard to admit that there might be something wrong with our pet even when it is looking us right in the face. Obesity is not only a major medical concern for people in this country, but also for the four-legged friends with whom they share their lives, and apparently their dinner plates also. The truth here is that many overweight pet owners tend to have overweight companion animals. We must take seriously our responsibility to feed and exercise our pets so that they can maintain their ideal body weights and increase their chances for a long life free from the health complications of obesity.