VETERINARIAN'S COLUMN: New Year resolutions for pet nutrition and weight loss

By Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital, Inc.

The average amount of weight that the average American packs on during the holidays between Thanksgiving and Christmas is seven pounds! Have you resolved to shed these additional pounds yet? Could your pet stand to loss a couple of pounds with you? Just like humans, a pet's weight directly impacts their health. Pets that are over weight can experience heart disease, increased stress on joints, and diabetes to name just a few. Keeping your pet in shape will help ensure an improved quality of life.

How can you tell if your pet is overweight? With your pet in a standing position, stand over your pet and take a view from above. The general contour ought to be wider in the chest, along the ribs, and then become narrow behind the rib cage. There are some breed variations, but all pets (cats and dogs) should have “waists.” Next, while your pet is still standing, place a hand on either side of the rib cage. You should be able to feel the ribs well enough to count them. You should not necessarily be able to see the ribs. If it takes you a few minutes to identify a rib, or if you're not sure it is the rib that you've found, consider your pet overweight. During a physical examination your pet is given an official number, which is based on a scale of 1, very thin, to 5, very obese. Pets that score below a 3 may need to gain weight, while pets scoring above a 3 may need to loose weight.

What can you do if your pet is overweight? First, evaluate what and how much you're feeding. This includes all of their normal food, treats, and any people food that they might happen to get by “accident.” You might immediately see the solution that your pet is simply eating too much. Reducing the food by just cutting out “people food” might be answer. Just like with people, everything that you put into the body has a caloric value and can add on pounds.

Second, evaluate what type of food your pet is eating. Pet foods are especially formulated to meet their needs depending on their age and their physical demands. Growth formula foods (puppy/kitten chow) are higher in calories and proteins to give the body the energy to grow. As your pet ages and stops growing, their body's calorie demand drops. At that time, they should be switched to an adult formula. When your pet enters into their geriatric years which is six years and older their dietary needs change again. They need less protein and more fiber to maintain a healthy weight. When transitioning your pet from food to food, make sure that the transition is gradual to prevent gastric upset.

After you check to make sure that you're feeding the correct food, check the label to see if you're feeding the correct amount. Measure how much your scoop delivers. Many owners are surprised to see that the “cup” that they use is really a one and a half cup container and that they are over feeding.

We recommend feeding the highest quality food to your pet as we consider this preventative medicine. As a general rule, the higher the quality the product, the higher the price will be. The quality of the products used to formulate the food is more closely regulated in premium brands versus the generic types of food.

If you feel that you are feeding the right amount of a high quality food and your pet still needs to drop some pounds, there are specially formulated foods that promote weight loss. Increasing the fiber content and decreasing the calories allows the pet to feel satiated because the quantity will be the same.

Another option for weight loss is adding exercise to your daily routine. Walking is a great, low stress exercise that can be done anywhere and can be done with your dog. All that is required is a good pair of shoes for you and a leash and properly fit collar for your pet. Making sure that your collar is properly adjusted is key for ease and safety while out on your walk. If your cat is in need of extra activity, consider tapping into their hunting instincts. There are toys especially designed to get your feline up and moving. Indoor cats may enjoy time outside wearing a harness, and it is not unheard of for cats to go for walks, too! Increased activity coupled with a lower calorie diet is a no fail way to loose the extra pounds for all species, including human!

If you find that your pet is not losing weight, contact your veterinarian to make sure that an underlying disease is not prohibiting weight loss. A physical examination and blood work will be able to rule in/out hypothyroidism or Cushing's Disease that may be contributing to your pet's weight problem.

Make both your pet(s)' health as well as your own health a priority in 2008! Additional information about safe methods of weight loss for your pet is available at your veterinarian's office.



Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital, Inc. is at 14405 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, PA 16335; contact (814) 382-5446 or clvet@zoominternet.net

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