Excerpts from “From fat and feeble to lean and lively”

by Dr. Ernie Ward

Our pets are getting fatter. The latest data from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) reveals over half the nation's dogs and cats are overweight or obese.* With increasing weight comes increased weight-related disorders, especially osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes. It's up to the veterinarian/owner team to reverse this trend and save our pets from suffering needlessly. While this task may be daunting, the veterinarian/owner team can succeed. Here are tips on how we, as a team, get our pets from fat and feeble to lean and lively.

1) Recognition The first step in combating obesity is recognition. This is best accomplished by comparing the pet's historical weight trends with its current weight. If you observe that a pet gained 3 pounds during the previous two years, something has changed (remember to calculate the weight gain as a percentage of your pet’s total body weight, not just a number!)l Often it's a combination of changes in diet, treats, and lifestyle. Because weight gain is insidious, most pet owners fail to appreciate a few extra pounds over a year or two. "But, doc, it's only 2 pounds since last year." We, as owners, need to understand that weight gained slowly is just as deadly as weight gained rapidly. Recognizing and addressing weight gain in its early “pounds” is so much easier and healthier than addressing it once your pet has reached the “obese” stage.

Another important aspect in evaluating overweight pets is recognizing underlying health conditions. We recommend every obese patient undergo complete blood tests, urinalysis, and blood pressure evaluation. Many times an emerging problem such as early kidney disease, elevated blood glucose concentrations, or hypertension is discovered by these tests. If an overweight pet has not displaying outward signs of illness, these abnormal results may be the only way that we know that change is needed. Further, if a pet has hypothyroidism, a weight loss program is unlikely to be effective. Once the reason for the weight gain is diagnosed, whether it be overeating or an underlying medical issue, we now have the necessary information to proceed with a weight control/loss plan.

2) Recommendation The best approach to weight loss is one that promotes fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass. As pets lose weight and gain muscle, owners often report an increase in activity levels, enthusiasm, and greeting behaviors and playfulness. The veterinarian is the best person to recommend the proper diet for your pet’s specific weight loss plan.

Weight loss isn't about starvation or deprivation; it's about safe and sustainable lifestyle changes. We're not simply chasing a number on a scale; we're improving overall quality of life. Whatever your weight loss approach, keep in mind the goal is to improve health and prolong life, not just to get skinny. Choose diets that support optimal health and enhance overall wellness while helping lose weight safely. With today's scientifically formulated weight loss diets, we can have it all.

3) Rejuvenation Obesity steals the joy of living. Weight-loss done correctly changes lives. Owners often forget how rewarding life with a dog or cat can be because the excess weight has slowly sapped the pet's vigor and mobility. Nothing pleases us more than hearing owners exclaim, "He's like a puppy!" or "My cat now jumps on the bed and wants to play!" Not only is the owner happy but the pet is rejuvenated.

4) Re-examination Weight loss isn't a single battle; it's a lifelong war. Follow-up care is essential for success. We typically have patients weighed once a month for the first three months and then every one to three months based on their progress and condition. For clients who don't accept weight loss recommendations for their pet this year, we will review it again next year — and the year after that, for as long as we are their veterinarian. We feel it is our professional and ethical obligation to inform clients whenever we see illness, neglect, or ways to improve health, well-being, and comfort. Addressing obesity certainly qualifies as an obligation in our book, and we feel compelled to discuss it whenever appropriate. Many owners simply aren't aware of the problem; they believe their pets are just "big." It's our duty as a profession to speak for our patients that cannot speak for themselves. By making nutrition and weight loss a central part of each appointment, our patients have a chance to change from fat and feeble to lean and lively.


*see www.petobesityprevention.com