Pet Obesity

As we all see on the news lately, some splash about the obesity epidemic in people and possible causes, etc. more notice is being brought to the problem of pet obesity also.Obesity has become an important health issue not only for us but for our fur family also.

According to a 2009 study, it was estimated that 89 million US dogs and cats are overweight. While they estimated that 26 million are obese. Unfortunately many will state that obesity is more complicated than intake and output or exercise. And obesity for pets is also being labeled a disease. I have a problem with labeling it a disease, for our pets it is not caused by a virus or germ, it is due to improper diet and exercise, period. Ok, I might concede that some obesity issues for animals may be caused by hormones such as thyroid dysfunction or diabetes.

Numerous health problems can be associated with obesity. They can range from Diabetes, insulin resistance, joint problems, skin problems, respiratory issues, heart disease, cancer, and decreased life span.

However, the majority of our overweight pets falls back on the owner. Much is due to the poor foods that are commercially available to us now. Many are full of fillers and cereals with very little real protein that can be used by the body. And food that is filler or not able to be used immediately for proper body function is either stored as fat or excreted. And the animal because they aren't getting the nutrition they need to keep up energy and body function, are always hungry, or you have to feed more. And then with all the carbs, they might have a sugar high for a bit and be active, but that wears off quickly and they slow down and sleep a lot. Carbs are converted to sugars. And if they aren't used right away they are stored in the fat cells.

Many Vets and articles state to reduce caloric intake and increase exercise. However, this really doesn't benefit them either. Feeding a correct, species appropriate diet is the answer. For cats, they are obligate carnivores, therefore they aren't "carbi"vores. Their systems are set up to get their needed nutrition from hunting and eating meat. Have you ever seen a cat stalk a wheat stalk? And contrary to popular belief, they don't get carbs from eating the digestive tract of their victims. Have you ever really paid attention to what is left behind when your cat ate a mouse or bird? They will not eat the digestive tract. Dogs are primarily carnivores, but are also opportunistic eaters. They will eat some vegetation, but they aren't built either to eat grains. And they really cannot digest them. A excellent site that talks about feline nutrition is by Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM. And doing a google search on "species appropriate pet food" will give you many links on foods for dogs. However the best is one called BARF.

I also can tell you first hand that when I changed my cats (who were all overweight) to raw (which they absolutely love) or a good meat based canned, they lost weight on their own and their energy levels picked up so they were running and playing more. My dogs also profited from being fed better food without grains. And feeding correctly has helped extend their lives and be much healthier, happier, and more active. And don't worry, they will lose weight and reach the proper level of weight for them. Their coats will be sleeker and softer, they will be more engaging, active and attentive. And... the very best benefits, because they utilize more of their food, there is less waste and no odor. Odor in the stool comes from feeding fillers that they cannot digest and therefore are basically toxins then. Hey everyone likes less poo to clean up right? And having less odor is so much better! :)

Pet Obesity.....

Lately you read a lot about the human population and how obesity has literally become an epidemic  in the US. Well it isn't just us humans who are reaching epidemic proportions, it's out pets also who are suffering from obesity.

Face the facts here, like us over 40% of our pets are obese and dangerously overweight. Obesity shortens their lives also and creates compounding illnesses, such as Diabetes, Arthritis, Pancreatitis, Inflammatory bowel disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiac disease, thyroid problems and a myriad of other problems.

One myth on the cause of obesity, spaying or neutering your pet will cause obesity. This is absolutely untrue. Any pet, altered or not will gain weight if it is over fed and not exercised enough. And aging will naturally alter a pet's metabolism, therefore burning off calories at a slower rate.

Types of overweight pets:

The Nibbler: this type probably has access to food all day, and nibbles off and on all day. Thereby giving you the impression that they hardly eat anything. However..... over a 24 hour period they have probably taken in an excessive amount of food and thereby gaining weight.

The Beggar: This type has learned that by begging, (the sad starving puppy look) or by being annoying they can get what they want which is your food and scraps. They have trained you to give in to their desires and cravings for things that probably aren't the best for them in the first place. The more fuss and noise they make the more likely they will be rewarded with food.

The Good Pet: This one is overweight because the owner's signal of affection has been focused on feeding. Usually each person in the household will secretly offer the pet treats and doesn't know the other people are doing the exact same thing. Unfortunately for the pet, too much of this can be a bad thing.

The Gourmet Pet:  The usual excuse to the vet will be, "But Doctor, she just refuses to eat her pet food!" In thi scase the pet has trained it's owners to feed it select foods like chicken, ice cream, cookies, etc. Although some table scraps are ok to feed, and there may be times when you need to feed a special made food (i.e. boiled chicken and rice), this type of pet has been given a choice of what it wants to eat and it has chosen people food. This type also usually overeats because it isn't getting a proper balance of nutrition, plus everything to him tastes so good there is a reward factor in eating.

Ok, so how do you help your pet be healthier and live a longer, happier, more energetic life? Well here are some ideas....

Find a good quality food, you choose, the pet doesn't. A grain free or one with very low carbs. Pets need more protein than carbs and grains really aren't so good for them. The first 3 minimum ingredients should be meats, or meat broth. No meat by products, or meal, these are just the unedible parts, like beaks, feet, feathers, etc. Canned is preferred over dry. Dry simply does not have enough moisture content, and is too easy for it to get spoiled. When you are feeding a good quality food with good quality meats,  your pet will require less as it is using all of the food for nutrition and to keep their systems running properly. Weight loss foods simply don't work, they are lower in protein and higher in the fillers, carbs. One way to know you are feeding a good diet is the amount and how often your pet defecates. When they are using the maximum of their food, their stools will be much smaller, much less frequency, mostly dry looking and will crumble easily, and don't smell hardly anymore!

Take your pet on longer walks, play more, or find your area dog park so he can socialize and play with others. For your cat, provide more toys to keep him entertained and moving more.

And always make sure there is fresh water available. Change your pets diet slowly, this helps avoid digestive upsets, and yes, it is ok to provide a variety of good meals so they don't get bored with one flavor or type.

You will find as you get your pet on a good food, that the weight will come off, slowly, but it will come off and they will maintain a healthy weight. And as their body adjusts to having nutritional food in it, instead of fillers that don't do anything for them, that their craving and amount they eat will decrease naturally too.

There are many resources of good feeding practices on the web, my favorite is Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM's site: www.catinfo.org , however, her site mostly pertains to cats. But the basics are not that different for dogs.