Eat to Live, obesity part IV

OK, guys, so we've discussed how obesity is a health issue of epidemic proportions. And that it is our fault as pet parents. So what do we do about it? Well, the concepts are simple, but I'm the first to admit that the execution can be difficult. Not impossible, though, and well worth the time and effort you will invest.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sayings like this are out there because there is at least a grain of truth to them. Start early. Roly-poly puppies are cute, yes, but lean pups are healthier. I don't mean ribs-poking-out skinny, just not watch-the-fat-rolls-shift-as-he-runs chubby. Many puppies come from the breeder a little overweight. They are eating solid foods, but may still be nursing, so they can be over-nutritioned. That's OK, just keep in mind that you will want to monitor weight gain to allow them to slim down as they approach adolescence. In other words, we want to be sure the baby fat goes away.

For dogs, a complete, balanced puppy food will do fine until they either reach a year old or are spayed or neutered, at which time a complete and balanced adult dry food will be fine. A treat of canned food is ok, too, just be aware that the canned foods tend to be calorie dense. You can start with the recommended amount of food on the bag, but if your pet is spayed or neutered, or over the age of 3, he/she will likely need a smaller amount than their bag recommends. So be prepared to cut back. I like to recommend feeding at least twice daily, but you can certainly decrease the amount per feeding and feed more frequently, allowing your dog to share in mealtime patterns. Some vets will tell you that feeding carrots or green beans can add bulk and promote a feeling of fullness with each meal, or as a snack in between. I agree.

The prevention method is good for cats, too. But there are some differences. Cats have very limited calorie requirements compared to dogs. Cats require more protein than dogs do, so their food is higher in protein and sometimes fat. But dry food still has a large percentage of carbohydrates present (that's how it is made into dry food). An increasing number of veterinary nutritionists are recommending a paradigm shift- it is very likely healthier for cats to be on a canned food exclusive diet. I know, this is very different from what we have been told for years- dry food for dental health, right? Not so. Cats on canned food get more protein, which their bodies need, less carbohydrates, which their bodies do not need, and generally seem to do better. The canned food also forces more water into their systems, which is very helpful.

Starting kittens off on canned food diets is great. If you have an older cat who has only eaten dry food, she might not realize canned food is food. Don't panic, and don't force. We adjust all plans to suit the individual.

So, what to do with a pet that is already overweight? Diet, diet, diet. Start by talking to your vet. Make a detailed plan for calorie control, exercise, and periodic weigh-ins. You might be shocked at how much you will need to cut back in calories to get good weight loss, but we are not talking fad diets, or getting into those old jeans in a week!  Weight loss needs to be gradual. Especially for cats. Cats that loose weight too quickly can actually get sick. Their bodies mobilize fat, but instead of using it for energy, they store the fat in their livers, which makes the liver unable to function properly. This is called hepatic lipidosis, or fatty liver disease. It can be life-threatening. So proceed with caution. Dogs are more resilient, but we will get better long term results taking the weight loss slowly.

Good luck! And always enjoy your pets!

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obesity part III- special effects

Obesity is not just cosmetic. It is truly an illness, and increases the chances of developing other illnesses. This is a true for our pets as it is for us.

Arthritis pain can be increased by obesity. All that extra weight increases the impact on joints, aggravating the pain that may have already been present from arthritis, hip dysplasia, or intervertebral disc disease.

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Diabetes is highly correlated with obesity in pets. Cats are at particular risk of this effect.

Hypertension. Again, cats are at particular risk of increased blood pressure. The hypertension, in turn can have terrible effects of other organs- kidneys and heart in particular.

Heart disease. If the heart has to work harder to push blood through more vessels supplying fat cells, it can show problems with it's ability to pump that blood effectively.

Respiratory (breathing) issues. Dogs that are overweight have an increased risk of cough. They tend to pant more- working harder to move those fat-covered ribs. They seem to snore more, too.

Infections. Skin folds create great spots for bacteria to overgrow and cause skin infections. Extra skin that flaps over the vulva can make dogs more prone to vaginal and bladder infections.

So, there you have it. None of this is new information, but it all leads into the importance of attaining and maintaining a healthy weight.

One last word today. Dogs can have a condition in which the thyroid gland (a gland in the neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism) under produces thyroid hormone. This is hypothyroidism, and it can decrease the metabolism top the point that dogs gain weight even on reduced calorie diets. Cats are very rarely hypothyroid. Your veterinarian can do blood work to confirm or rule out hypothyroidism, and can prescribe medication when it is present.

Enjoy your pets!

Live To Eat, obesity part II

We like to eat. Americans eat as a social bonding experience. Think about it. We eat at weddings, at wakes, at birthday parties and office meetings. Food is a part of how we interact with each other. First date? Dinner and a movie. Or coffee and a sweet roll. How many people meet for a jog in the park to discuss their day? Some, I'll grant you. But not most.

Our pets are part of our families, and we like to include them in our social eating. They like to be included in it, too. My dogs certainly will sit near the table in hopes of a last bite finding its way to them. We enjoy knowing our pets enjoy their meals just like we beam at the compliments our human guests give the food we prepare for them.

This leads to a couple problems- contributors to obesity issues. The gist is that our pets take in too many calories. Those little bites of people food add up quickly. A single french fry could be the caloric equivalent of a Big Mac for small dogs or cats. I'm not saying you cannot ever give a small treat, but we all need to be very aware of what we are putting in our pets' mouths.

What's that you say? Your pets never get table food. Awesome. They certainly will not miss out on needed nutrients. The pet foods of today are, generally speaking, nutritionally complete in and of themselves. This is a good thing. Like those funny square things people ate on the original Star Trek series, the brown kibble in the bowl has everything a cat or dog needs, neatly packaged and very appealing to their senses. Well, maybe too appealing.

Who buys the pet food? (Insert eye roll here) This is actually a pertinent question. It leads to the deeper question- to whom do pet food companies market their product? You and I, of course. And what makes us want to but a particular brand. If it is "nutritionally complete and tastes OK" are we going to run out and get it? How about a commercial that shows a dog run to two bowls, sniff them over, then choose the "one on the right?" Yep, that'll do it. Just like the Coke vs Pepsi blind taste test commercials. We want to be complimented on our choice of dinner. We see the compliment in the way our dogs wolf down the food and look for more. It's like dinner guests getting seconds.

So why am I bringing this up as a contributor to obesity? Here's an analogy: Say I'm hungry. Put a salad in front of me. A nice salad, maybe romaine and spinach, tomato, cucumber, a little cheese, yummy vinaigrette dressing. I will eat it until I am full.

 Now put brownies in front of me. With chocolate chips. I will eat until I am sick.  This is the issue with highly palatable pet foods. The ideal pet food would be just yummy enough that out pets would eat what calories they need for the day. Our newer generation of foods, while still nutritionally sound, tend to be delicious like brownies. So our pets will eat themselves sick, or obese, given the opportunity.

We tend to live to eat, rather than eat to live. This is a societal problem. And fortunately, the cure for our pets is pretty straightforward- feed them less. They are not driving through McD's on a whim. We control their calories. If your dog is getting a bit "fluffy," cut back the calories in and maybe work on increasing the calories out.

Enjoy your pets!