The Skinny On Pet Obesity –by Timothy Hodge, DVM
Obesity is a problem. A huge
problem.You know it, I know it. But do you know the how and the why, and more importantly, what to do about it? Let’s “chew the fat”!
that’s exactly what we have done. No one sets out to create a fat dog or extra fluffy cat, but that has been the unfortunate outcome. So, how did we get to this point with our
Underweight: Bones (ribs, spine & hips) protruding. No visible body fat. Dog looks “sucked in” after the ribs. Loss of muscle mass be be evident.
Ideal: Bones (ribs, spine & hips) should be easily felt. Short coated dogs, the last couple of ribs may be visible when twisting and turning during normal play and/or exercise. Waist visible from above and side of body. Body should “tuck in” after the rib cage.
Overweight: Dogs are considered overweight if they weigh 10-20% more than their ideal body weight. Difficult to feel ribs. Fat deposits visible over body including belly and base of tail. The waist is starting to disappear. Minimal abdominal tuck after ribs when looking from above. Back looks broader.
Obese: Dogs are considered obese if they weigh 20% more than their ideal body weight. Ribs cannot be felt due to heavy covering of fat. Fat deposits visible. Fat rolls visible around neck and chest; belly may be drooping. Waistline has been lost. No abdominal tuck after ribs.
The American Medical Association desig-
Timothy Hodge, DVM is the owner/practioner of two Tampa Bay Area veterinary facilities: Harbourside Animal Hospital and Cross Creek Animal Medical Center. He has a special interest in internal medicine, dermatol- ogy and holistic care. He has completed his training at the Chi Institute and provides acupuncture and herbal therapies in addition to traditional medical care.
nated human obesity as a disease in 2013. This same trend has been a pet problem and noted by veterinary organizations for the same amount of time. The American Veterinary Medical Association published updated weight guidelines in 2014, but officially adopted the definition of pet obesity in 2018. Currently, nearly 100 million pets in the
U.S. are overweight or obese and thus the leading health issues affecting our beloved four legged friends. Who loves statistics? 59% of cats and 54% of
dogs in the U.S. are classified as overweight or obese, as of 2016. This can be broken down a lit- tle more. Of those 59% of cats, 28% were over- weight and 31% were obese. Of the 54% of dogs, 34% were overweight and 20% were
obese.That’s a lot of extra pounds, causing lots of problems and poorer quality of life. Okay, so we now have the numbers and data
that give credence to the pet overweight and obesity problem. We love our pets, and would never wish to cause them any harm, pain, dis- comfort, increase disease occurrence, etc. But,
80 THE NEW BARKER
pets? Multiple factors have been implicated as causes of pet obesity and it’s likely a combination of these factors for most pets. •Lack of awareness. With the human
obesity epidemic, many pet parents don’t always recognize excessive weight in their pets. When this occurs, actions to reduce food portions and reduce weight can be delayed. Many veterinari- ans or veterinary staff do not discuss weight and diet, as the owners may have weight issues and thus it could be a sensitive topic. •Lack of compliance. It can be difficult to
use portion control, exercise for the pet and the person, and multi-pet households. And, with many people’s lives being so busy and stressed, exercise and eating right is generally pushed to the sidelines. Thus, the waistline suffers as well. •Genetics, such as with certain breeds,
genetic mutations and nerve-hormone pathways that respond to food can lead to the pet being overweight. Sometimes, the hormones and genes are wreaking havoc on weight control. Laboratory testing may be necessary to determine if your pet suffers from some of these disorders. If treated, weight loss will be an easier goal.
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