Obesity is a growing problem for our pet population.  Health risk studies in animals show that being overweight can lead to gait impairments as well as traumatic and degenerative bone and joint disorders.  Overweight dogs may have a greater risk of developing certain cancers.  Overweight animals have low activity levels and are at increased risk for suffering heat intolerance and stroke.

Other health problems common to overweight pets are difficulty breathing, congestive heart failure, fertility problems, diabetes, and skin diseases.

On the other side of the scale, pets maintained at optimal weights are more active, more fit, and may live an average of one to two years longer than obese pets.

Dogs with an ideal body score may live up to 15% longer than heavier dogs of the same breed living in the same environment eating similar diets.

Calorie restriction and regular exercise are the primary factors shown to promote longevity.

At Country View Veterinary Service, we refer to a standard body conditioning scoring system (BCS) to evaluate a patient’s weight.  The scores are based on a nine point scale with 1/9 being extremely thin and 9/9 being very obese.  An ideal body condition score is a 4-5/9.  The ideal pet should have normal body contours including a waist thinner than the chest and ribs that can be easily felt but not seen at the skin surface.

Here are some suggestions for you to maintain them at a healthy weight:

•Consider the food they are eating. Less expensive foods have more fillers and by-products added to keep manufacturing costs low. This reduces the nutritional value.

•Consider the amount you are feeding.  Most over-the-counter pet foods are not designed for weight loss.  You can safely decrease the amount fed to your pet by 20-25% less than what is recommended on the label to promote weight loss.  Do not reduce the amount by more than 30% because it may not be healthy for your animal.

•Consider the treats being fed to your pet. This includes edible toys (rawhides), treats from the kids (off the table), and treats from friends.  These extra calories can add up quickly.  Try changing their treats to vegetables with high water and/or fiber content or simply limiting the quantity of food rewards offered.  As with any weight loss program, decreased caloric intake should be coupled with increased exercise.

If your pet is a senior or very out of shape, begin increasing exercise slowly, just as we would for ourselves.  If they are still not losing weight after you have tried exercise and calorie monitoring, do not become frustrated.  Contact us because a metabolic problem may be the cause for their weight gain.  Taking the time to manage your pet’s health is ultimately the best reward you can offer them.

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