By Dr. Lauren Bowling
Obesity is the number one disease diagnosed in cats and the number two disease diagnosed in dogs.
But what does that really mean?
Dogs or cats are obese if their body condition score (a scale veterinarians use to measure fat content) is either a 4
or 5 out of 5 or a 7 to 9 out of 9. (This may vary from veterinarian to veterinarian.) When dogs and cats are obese,
they are in imminent danger of developing several problems—arthritis, ligament tears, and metabolic diseases, to
name a few. The most common side effect of obesity in dogs is arthritis and degenerative joint disease, while in cats
it is diabetes mellitus.
Part of the problem is that today’s pet foods are VERY high in calories
compared to what most pets need. An average cat needs 250-300
alories a day, and many dry cat foods are upwards of 600 calories per cup.
It is very easy in a situation like this to end up with a little bit more body
mass on your pet than you intended! Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers
do not always make it easy to find out the calorie content of food, so a little
bit of research may be required on the owner’s part. Your veterinarian can
help you determine how much food your pet needs to be eating based on
his weight and the food they are eating.
Another issue with today’s pets is lifestyle. Many of them live in the lap of
luxury, not getting much exercise simply because owners do not have as
much time to exercise them as they would if they lived in the wild. Play time
for both dogs and cats is very important because not only does it cause
them to burn calories, but it also gives them a sense of purpose in life, as
opposed to just lazing away. The food dispensing balls for both dogs and
cats (Talk to Me Treatball for dogs, Slim Cat Ball for cats) make them work
for their food and engage in activity that will stimulate their minds.
An additional problem is that dogs and cats process food much differently—
and some dogs differ in processing food from other dogs! What usually
works for most dogs—a high fiber, low fat diet—will usually cause cats to
gain weight. Dogs are much more able to utilize carbohydrates in foods,
such as the high fiber diets, while cats cannot—leading to an even larger
weight gain in most cases.
So the conundrum of losing weight is not a quick and easy fix—it takes time, tinkering with diets and exercise until
you find a happy medium for your pet. Your veterinarian will be more than happy to help you design and monitor a
diet plan to help your pet get into better shape.
Related Articles: Human Foods That Can Harm Pets
Dr. Lauren Bowling owns and operates Bloomington Cat Hospital and Happy Tails Mobile Vet Services with her
husband, Dr. Elad Stotland. Both are graduates of Texas A&M University. They share their office with cats Deek and
Scout. They share their home with Seamus, a great dane; George, a chihuahua; and cats Charlie and Meg.
Obesity is the number one disease diagnosed in cats and the number two disease diagnosed in dogs.
But what does that really mean?
Dogs or cats are obese if their body condition score (a scale veterinarians use to measure fat content) is either a 4
or 5 out of 5 or a 7 to 9 out of 9. (This may vary from veterinarian to veterinarian.) When dogs and cats are obese,
they are in imminent danger of developing several problems—arthritis, ligament tears, and metabolic diseases, to
name a few. The most common side effect of obesity in dogs is arthritis and degenerative joint disease, while in cats
it is diabetes mellitus.
Part of the problem is that today’s pet foods are VERY high in calories
compared to what most pets need. An average cat needs 250-300
alories a day, and many dry cat foods are upwards of 600 calories per cup.
It is very easy in a situation like this to end up with a little bit more body
mass on your pet than you intended! Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers
do not always make it easy to find out the calorie content of food, so a little
bit of research may be required on the owner’s part. Your veterinarian can
help you determine how much food your pet needs to be eating based on
his weight and the food they are eating.
Another issue with today’s pets is lifestyle. Many of them live in the lap of
luxury, not getting much exercise simply because owners do not have as
much time to exercise them as they would if they lived in the wild. Play time
for both dogs and cats is very important because not only does it cause
them to burn calories, but it also gives them a sense of purpose in life, as
opposed to just lazing away. The food dispensing balls for both dogs and
cats (Talk to Me Treatball for dogs, Slim Cat Ball for cats) make them work
for their food and engage in activity that will stimulate their minds.
An additional problem is that dogs and cats process food much differently—
and some dogs differ in processing food from other dogs! What usually
works for most dogs—a high fiber, low fat diet—will usually cause cats to
gain weight. Dogs are much more able to utilize carbohydrates in foods,
such as the high fiber diets, while cats cannot—leading to an even larger
weight gain in most cases.
So the conundrum of losing weight is not a quick and easy fix—it takes time, tinkering with diets and exercise until
you find a happy medium for your pet. Your veterinarian will be more than happy to help you design and monitor a
diet plan to help your pet get into better shape.
Related Articles: Human Foods That Can Harm Pets
Dr. Lauren Bowling owns and operates Bloomington Cat Hospital and Happy Tails Mobile Vet Services with her
husband, Dr. Elad Stotland. Both are graduates of Texas A&M University. They share their office with cats Deek and
Scout. They share their home with Seamus, a great dane; George, a chihuahua; and cats Charlie and Meg.
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