Pets Need To Count Calories Too

Pets Need To Count Calories Too, Says Texas A&M Vet

COLLEGE STATION - If you've got a fat cat or a portly pooch, your pet may be in danger. Pets need to count their calories, too. Animals can suffer from obesity just as people can, and like humans, it can shorten their lives or at the very least, affect their quality of life.

     It's estimated as many as 25 percent of dogs and cats that enter a pet clinic are overweight, says Dr. William J. Burkholder, a veterinarian at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and an expert on obesity in animals.

     The reasons for obesity in animals are the same ones that apply in humans. Number one is over eating, and the second major reason is lack of exercise. The rule of taking in more calories than you burn equals excess weight is true for pets just as in people.

     "Almost all obese pets are mature animals, usually two years or older," says Burkholder. "The majority of obesity in dogs and cats occurs from about ages 2 to 10. It's easier to get dogs to exercise than it is cats. It's harder to manage weight control on cats."

     Animals that have been neutered are more likely to be obese, Burkholder explains. Obese animals can suffer a variety of health problems. Some develop heart and liver problems, arthritis, diabetes, bladder cancer and skin disorders. Also, animals that are overweight have a higher surgical risk while undergoing anesthesia.

     Animals that are obese can have a shortened life span compared to an animal whose weight is normal, Burkholder adds.
     Obesity in dogs occurs in some breeds more than others. Breeds that have a genetic tendency toward obesity include Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Basset Hounds and some Rottweilers, Burkholder says.

     Obesity in cats is not confined to any specific breed, Burkholder points out, but he adds that a significant proportion of the cat population tends to be overweight. Diabetes and hepatic lipidosis, a potentially fatal liver disease, are conditions that affect obese cats.

     As with humans, controlling obesity requires no magic formula.
     "The pet owner needs to decrease the amount of food given to the animal," Burkholder notes. "If the animal is obese, you need to take it to your veterinarian and he or she can diagnose the problem. It's important to take the pet in every 3-4 weeks to be re-weighed to determine if it is getting closer to its optimal weight.

     "Exercising your pet is also recommended, and if a dog enjoys swimming, it helps a great deal. "Sometimes, a special diet may have to be prescribed and these are available from many pet food companies," he says. "There are currently no medicines available that control obesity in animals, but numerous companies are working on such drugs right now. In the meantime, pet owners should be careful they don't over feed their pets. The No.1 nutritional problem for all pets is obesity."