Don't Let Your Dog Be A FAT CAT!
Stephen Sheldon, D.V.M.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist the temptation as to the title of this article. Obesity, as you know, is no laughing matter. Just like it is reaching epidemic proportions in people it is reaching epidemic proportions in dogs. Estimates show close to 50% of American dogs are overweight with about 30% considered obese. And, just like in people, being overweight carries a risk.

We define obesity as an excess of body fat that will impair health and bodily function. Again, borrowing from human studies we say a pet is obese if he or she is 20-25% over their ideal bodyweight. Obesity in dogs is linked to problems in the musculoskeletal systems, difficulty with arthritis, a compromised immune system, and a predisposition towards diabetes. Obese dogs are at more risk for anesthesia and have more post-op surgical complications. They also suffer more heat stroke and cardiovascular diseases. They also don’t live as long, period. Do you still think an obese dog is "pleasantly plump"?

There are a number of ways to tell you if and how obese your pet is. Common sense is usually the best method. Then there are advanced diagnostic tests such as deuterium dioxide dilution, bioelectrical impedance, ultrasound, and dual energy xray absorption. The most common and practical is called body condition scoring (BCS..no not the college football BCS). BCS is a subjective assessment of body conditioning using a scale from 1-9. Most veterinarians have charts in their offices, and by using a combination of palpation and observation they come up with a score. A score of 5 is ideal; you can palpate the ribs without excess fat covering them, a waist is observed behind the ribs when viewed from above, and the abdomen is tucked up when viewed from the side. For kicks and giggles, let’s compare this to a 9, grossly obese. A 9 has massive fat deposits over the sides of the chest, spine, neck, limbs, and base of the tail, there is no waist or abdominal tuck and there is an obvious pot belly.

Most of the time the cause of obesity is obvious: too much food and not enough exercise. It is very simple math; more calories eaten than calories spent equals excess calories which equals obesity. There are a few medical conditions that can be ruled out with some simple tests. Hypothyroidism, adrenal diseases like Cushings disease, and abdominal tumors can make a sick animal appear obese so give these pups a break!

Most experts recommend a 3 step program to manage obesity: gaining owner acceptance, designing a flexible weight loss program, and close follow-up.

Owner Acceptance

"Hi, my name is Rover, and I’m an overweight dog". All kidding aside, getting people to realize that their pet is overweight is a big obstacle to managing obesity. By learning how to look at your pet, feel the excess fat, and compare them to a chart at your veterinarian’s office you will get a handle on accepting obesity. Then you need to change your daily habits. You need to monitor and measure food intake, regularly weigh your pet, and increase the daily exercise. You should keep a log of food intake; everyone who feeds or gives treats needs to enter into the log book.

Designing a Program

One size does not fit all in weight loss programs; we all know this from dieting ourselves. The problem is that darn old basal metabolic rate, or BMR. BMR is a very individual thing; 2 identical looking dogs could have very different BMRs necessitating different quantities of food. Most pet foods calculate this for "average" pets but studies now show overweight pets need much less than average pets. The best way is trial and error; do this by making weekly adjustments of 10-20% until weight loss is achieved. A good pet food is very helpful but not absolutely essential. Think about it for a minute; as long as we are burning more calories than we are giving an animal will lose weight. You can do this with any type of nutritionally complete food. The weight reduction diets do have some advantages though: they are higher in fiber, lower in calories, and adjusted to still provide adequate levels of protein and vitamins while decreasing fat and calories. The high fiber keeps the doggies full too. If 2 diets have the same amount of calories per serving go with the lower fat one; studies show with equal calorie diets more weight is lost with the low fat one.

Feed several small meals rather than one large one; again, we know from human studies that eating small frequent meals increases the BMR. Treats also count so log them in the log book! Go get some high fiber treats at the pet food store.

If your dog gets a good report from your veterinarian than you need to start exercising. Walking is good for everyone and the interaction will let you feel less guilty about NOT giving treats! Besides spending calories on the ledger, regular exercise stimulates the BMR to work at a higher rate than it would without exercise. This means even more calories burned.

Checks and Balances

No, I don’t mean this to be a financial lesson. However, greater success will be maintained with regular follow ups. Schedule regular weigh ins at the veterinary office; the staff will be able to help you weigh and record and answer any questions you have about your progress. We suggest weekly weigh ins. Adjustments can be made at this time. Don’t get discouraged, gradual weight loss is actually preferred as it leads to long term weight control. Pets yo-yo just like people do.

Be patient, if you recognize your pet is overweight and are committed to doing something about it your pet will lose weight. Getting started is usually the hardest part but the rewards are tremendous. You’ll have a happier, healthier pet who will be more active and live longer! Make sure to take before and after photos; send them to us and we’ll post them on our web site. Promise.