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Does Metabolic Syndrome Occur in Our Pets?


es. It may present itself as obesity or insulin resistance or diabetes. While there are many contributing factors, I will touch on a few of the more common causes and explain some helpful lifestyle changes and herbs that can help to prevent, or work to change, this outcome. In the past 10 years, reports show that at least 30% of all dogs and cats seen by veterinarians are obese. This statistic is important because obesity is not just the accumulation of large amounts of adipose tissue, but is also associated with important metabolic and hormonal changes in the body. Obese pets have many serious health issues that may include diabetes, osteoarthritis, respiratory issues, hypertension, intolerance for heat, some cancers, and ACL tears.


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Adipose tissue is a type of connective tissue that contains stored fat and serves as a source of energy for the body while it cushions and insulates vital organs. Obesity is defined as an ac- cumulation of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body and is said to be the most common nutritional disease of dogs and cats in the United States.


What Influences Can Contribute to Obesity or Meta- bolic Syndrome in Our Pets?


One of the most common causes for obesity is too many calories consumed daily and not enough energy spent burning them. Sedentary lifestyle is as unhealthy for dogs and cats as it is for humans as we all need to move regularly to keep metabolism and circulation engaged while strengthening bones, ligaments, and tendons. With the busy lifestyles most families have today, our pets’ exercise is sometimes put on the back burner in order to complete the rest of the daily chores; but it is essential for good health. Running off-leash whenever possible (keeping safety first and foremost) is necessary for cardiovascular support, as well as strengthening the musculoskeletal system and overall wellbeing of the dog’s body. Exercise is essential for burning calories taken in, controlling anxiety, and overall wellbeing. Wholesome, good quality fresh meat is essential to the overall good health of your pet. A diet consisting of whole foods with the appropriate balance of fresh meat, fat, bone, organ, and vegetable


24 Essential Living Maine ~ November/December 2014


is necessary for your dog to have the nutrients (building blocks) for optimum health. This is where the adage “you are what you eat” comes to fruition. Food that is not digested well will create inflammation and imbalance in the body. Providing a supplement of digestive enzymes and probiotics with each meal will help your pet to absorb these whole foods’ nutrients. When dogs slow down as they age, it is typical that we want to comfort them as we would our human family members by giving them a treat or extra food as a feel good kind of measure. However, doing this many times a day can cause harmful weight gain to our companion. As a dog starts to slow down, he will naturally be exercising less with fewer, shorter and slower walks, thus having less of a need for the same amount of calories as he did when he was running and playing for many hours. It is im- portant to monitor the caloric intake (meals and treats included) to the energy used on a daily basis, so as not to put extra pounds (leading to increased stress and inflammation) on his joints, ten- dons, and possibly contributing to Metabolic syndrome. Free feeding is a common practice in many homes for cats


and dogs. They are left to graze as much food as they want 24/7. Yet this is not necessarily the right amount needed to maintain proper body composition and good health. Depending on the age of the pet, feeding twice daily is typically a healthier choice as it gives necessary nutrients to the body and allows time for digestion and metabolism of the food in between. Spaying and neutering dogs also lowers their metabolic rate so they need fewer calories than intact dogs. This also changes their metabolism, androgens, and estrogens (male and female sex hormones). Herbs can be quite helpful during the spay and neuter process to help balance these hormones. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza


glabra) roots in a combination for 2-4 weeks post-surgery has proven to help balance hormones with dogs. Shatavari is an adaptogen that contains phytoestrogens to gently and naturally rebalance estrogen levels. It is an immune system and nutritive tonic, and has a direct effect on the pituitary gland, which is one of the endocrine glands and part of the HPA axis, which is a con- trol center of much of the body. Licorice is also an adaptogen that works as a catalyst in this blend more specifically for the adrenal


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