Millions
of UK cats and dogs are suffering from obesity. Obesity is thought
to be a serious problem for over a third of the UK’s combined
cat and dog population.
Discounting
genuine medical conditions, obesity is caused quite simply by overfeeding,
inappropriate feeding and/or a lack of exercise. Animals, like us,
get fat if they consume more calories than they require. It is not
only overfeeding of commercial pet foods. The current trend for
treating pet cats and dogs like members of the family means that
many owners give their pets the wrong types of food. Owners need
to be aware that food intended for humans can have a detrimental
effect on their pet’s health. Dogs can be greedy and they
don’t differentiate between healthy and non-healthy foods.
They rely on their owners to feed them correctly.
The ideal body weight for any animal varies dramatically according
to breed, sex and age. The Pet Food Manufacturers Association www.pfma.org.uk
offers the following ways to assess whether your animal is overweight:
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Thin
– ribs easily felt, backbones and hip bones visible.
Underweight – ribs easily felt, waist very obvious.
Ideal – ribs can just be felt, no excess fat covering,
tummy tucked up when viewed from side, waist narrows after
ribs.
Overweight - ribs can be felt but with a bit of excess fat,
waist can be seen but not easily, tummy tucked up, but just.
Obese - ribs not easily felt, waist almost invisible, tummy
may be sagging. |
If your pet is overweight and seems hungry and thirsty all the time,
it is important to visit your vet and rule out any medical conditions
first. A number of medical conditions can cause increased appetite,
such as diabetes, Cushing’s disease and exocrine pancreatic
insufficiency. If your dog has been checked out by the vet and is
otherwise healthy, it may just be that your dog has more of an appetite
than most. A change of diet is one option. Feeding a high fibre
diet helps the dog to feel fuller. If the dog is a scavenger then
it might be habit more than hunger that drives this. Distraction
from the scavenging might be a solution.
Obesity
puts strain on the joints which, combined with reduced exercise,
can lead to arthritis. An overweight dog can also experience stress
on internal organs and all body structures, can be at risk if undergoing
surgery, is at increased risk of suffering from diabetes, heart
and kidney problems, heat intolerance, and has a reduced life expectancy.
Genetics,
age, appetite, activity level, reproductive status and the gender
of a dog can influence how likely they are to become obese.
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If your dog becomes less active due to age or other factors,
reduce the amount of food offered. Many bitches require less
food after being spayed. If your dog is fed treats in the
day, make sure their meal time portions are reduced accordingly
(no more than 15% of their food intake should be treats though).
Consider substituting food treats for praise, strokes, games,
a favourite toy or a nice massage. You dog will appreciate
these things and your bond with your dog will improve. You
could also substitute high calorie treats for healthy options
such as raw carrots or rawhide chews. |
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If you feed a commercial pet food, make sure you are feeding a food
that is suitable for your dog’s requirements. Many companies
make food especially for puppies, adults and senior dogs. Many pet
foods also offer a ‘light’ option and some distinguish
between working and non-working dogs. Once you have selected the
best type of food for your dog, start by feeding the amount recommended
by the manufacturer’s feeding guide but keep an eye on your
pet’s weight and alter their food intake until the right weight
is achieved and maintained. Think of the recommended feeding guide
as simply a good starting point that does not need to be adhered
to if your dog needs more or less than that amount. Remember that
feeding guides are by their nature very general, based on the average
dog having the average amount of exercise. Do measure the food out.
Guessing is not advised. And do bear in mind that each brand of
dog food varies as to the calories, so if you change food brand
you may need to change the quantity you are feeding to your dog.
If your dog needs to lose weight, do so slowly but surely. Crash
diets are not advisable. Slow weekly weight loss is best. Weight
loss of 1-2% of body weight is ideal. For example a dog weighing
50lbs should be losing about ½ to 1lb a week. Consider feeding
your dog twice a day (rather than once) and you could even put a
portion of their food in an activity ball, stuffed into a Kong or
scattered around the house or garden so the dog has to work for
it.
If you have more than one pet make sure that one dog is not stealing
food from the other. Closely supervise all pets at feeding time.
Walking is an essential element of a healthy dog’s lifestyle.
Daily walking is great exercise for dogs and owners. It has many
physical and psychological benefits and best of all is absolutely
free. Do take your dog’s age, breed and medical history into
account when planning walks and don’t forget to take a bottle
of water and a bowl for your pet to have a drink along the way.
Try to vary the route of the walks and try different ones regularly.
These walks are for your dog so make sure it is all about them and
that you don’t spend the majority of the walk on the phone
or socialising with others. Make walks a time for you and your dog
to bond and have fun together. Play games and do some training along
the way. Don’t drop your dog in at the deep end. Gradually
increase activity if your dog is not used to exercise.
Most of the time weight gain creeps up slowly and before you know
it your pet may be overweight. Try to weigh your dog every month
or so. That way you can spot any weight fluctuations sooner. Ask
the vet to weigh your dog or do it yourself at home. The easiest
way, for dogs that can be picked up, is to weigh yourself first
and then weigh yourself again holding your dog this time. The difference
is your dog’s weight.
Useful websites and resources
PFMA have a handy downloadable leaflet PFMA’s
Top 5 Feeding Tips giving advice on feeding cats and dogs, including
how to maintain the ideal body condition, something every cat and
dog owner should be aware of to help prevent weighty pets.
For schools, colleges, vets and pet shops they have a downloadable
poster
with top feeding tips.
PDSA offer a range of leaflets designed to promote a healthy life
for all pets, from Body Condition Scoring to Getting Your Dog into
Shape. There is also a PetCast where PDSA vets show the owners of
dogs, cats, rabbits and small pets how they can find out if their
pets are a healthy shape. Visit www.pdsa.org.uk/obesity
Joe
Inglis has teamed up with the RSPCA to launch Pets
Get Slim to help pet owners take action against obesity. Visitors
can upload photos and stories about their pets, share weight-loss
experiences and have the chance of being voted slimmer of the week.
The site also includes helpful diet tips and exercise suggestions
as well as a virtual pet weight checker and search facility for
weight clinics.
Research
has shown that the correlation between overweight owners and their
pets is high. The Pet Health Council has developed a ‘Petsercise’
programme in conjunction with fitness expert Nicki Waterman and
vet Alex German. It encourages owners to do a range of activities
with their dog. Free downloads about activities plus food and exercise
diaries are available at www.pethealthcouncil.co.uk.
The programme is designed to help both overweight dogs and their
owners. You can check your own weight and your dog's weight in the
comfort of your own home and then follow the programme of suggested
activities.
Hill’s
launched their website www.hillsweightloss.co.uk
featuring a weight management programme to help you get your dog
or cat back in shape. Simply fill in details such as the animal’s
weight and breed and receive a tailored weight loss and exercise
plan for them to follow. The website also includes animated illustrations
and videos demonstrating how to check a pet’s Body Condition
Score (BCS). The site features a weight loss programme email newsletter
consisting of additional support, handy tips and helpful reminders. |
