The Pet Obesity Epidemic

In the United States over the past twenty years, there has been a substantial rise in the number of overweight/obese people and it seems we are bringing our pets right along with us.

According to the latest information from the American Veterinary Medical Association, there at least 17 million overweight/obese pets. The standard for “overweight” is between 5% and 19% above the ideal weight and “obese” is anything 20% or more above the ideal weight.

As an example: A 35lb. dog with an additional 7lbs. is equivalent to a 150 lb. person carrying an extra 30 lbs!!!

Now you’re thinking, “Well, if my pet is overweight at least they aren’t malnourished.” This could not be further from the truth. Obesity is a form of malnutrition! In a nutshell, malnutrition is defined as “ the condition that results from taking an unbalanced diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess or in the wrong proportions. A number of nutrition related disorders may arise, depending on which nutrients are under or overabundant.”

As in people, excess intake of calories coupled with the lack of activity/exercise predisposes pets to many of the same medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, arthritis). Arthritis, in particular is made worse by the excess weight. The most important key in maintaining a healthy weight is to balance the calorie intake with the exercise level – this is termed weight control.

Most commercially prepared pet foods (dry and canned) come with a printed guideline on the container.  These guidelines are based on the use of a standard 8 oz. measuring cup (not the big red Solo plastic cup which is 16-20 ounces – or – the “Big Gulp” from the gas station which is 44 ounces or more). The guidelines are the amounts of food (calories) needed per day to maintain the suggested body weight.

As an example: A female Labrador Retriever that weighs 50-60 lbs. should be fed 2-3 cups of food per day (if you feed twice daily then 1.5 cups per feeding)

Feed the amount for what they SHOULD weigh not what they actually weigh. This holds true for underweight animals as well. That’s why these are guidelines so you have the leeway to adjust the amount of calories to control the weight!

 Our next issue with weight control is TREATS. We all like to give our pets a little something special once in a while and there is nothing wrong with this. However, we must remember that treats are also calories and need to be factored into your pet’s daily calorie intake (especially if they get treats on a daily basis). Many of the commercially prepared treats are manufactured and marketed to catch our eye so are we really buying them for us or our pets? Either way here’s something to keep in mind – one medium to large size MILK BONE is equivalent to a BIG MAC!!  Also, the use of “people food” should be a complete “no, no”. They are usually higher in bad calories and are frequently the culprits in other dietary problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal obstruction and pancreatitis.

O.K., now you’re thinking, “My dog/cat has arthritis and can’t exercise like before.” Here is the double edged sword! As our pets age, arthritis is probably going to happen and it is a progressive disease. Yes, it hurts to move when you have arthritis but it hurts more when you’re carrying extra weight! With the advent of arthritis medications and laser therapies, we are able to significantly reduce the pain and inflammation so that they feel like moving around more. The point here though is still the same – if your pet has a reduced activity level, reduce the calories.

From young to old, proper weight maintenance should be near the very top of your considerations for your pets’ overall good health. Good eating habits and regular exercise will benefit them throughout their lifetime!!!!