“A little bit of chonky-ness won’t hurt them… besides, they look extra cute!” Tell me this is not a frequently heard statement… Ignorance is one reason, negligence is another. This is why pet obesity has reached/is reaching epidemic levels in many countries, including Singapore. What pet owners don’t know is that being overweight or obese could shave up to 2 years off their furkid’s lifespan!
I don’t know about you, but for me, I’m quite surprised with the numbers (I’ll share them below!), considering how it is one of the most preventable diseases.
How common is pet obesity?
Pet obesity has become a commonplace in many countries, reaching or are at epidemic level. Approximately 40%-60% of dogs and 30%-60% of cats are overweight or obese(1). In Singapore, according to The Animal Clinic, as of 2020, about 40%-50% of the dogs and 20%-30% of the cats it sees as patients are overweight or obese(1).
Causes
The main causes of pet obesity are HIGHLY PREVENTABLE and CONTROLLABLE – lack of exercise and overfeeding. When calorie intake is more than calorie output, the body has to store them somewhere and that’s when your pet balloons up and becomes fat! There are 101 ways you can try to manage their exercise and diet with the help from your veterinarian – some of the ways you can try will be shared below!
Other causes(2):
- Hypothyroidism
- Insulinoma (pancreatic cancer)
- Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)
- Neutering/Spaying
- Ageing
Agreeably, pet obesity caused by health conditions may not always be preventable but it can be MANAGEABLE. The cause of diseases like insulinoma, hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism is mainly due to genetics. They in turn increase the risk of obesity which can lead to further health conditions.
In addition, ageing and spaying/neutering decreases metabolism and that’s the reason why it increases the risk of weight gain. When pet owners continue feeding the same amount and type of food with their decreased activity level due to old age, it is no wonder why older pets tend to be overweight or obese!
Risks
Obesity in pets can cause a host of chronic health problems if not dealt with early. Obese or overweight dogs and cats can have an increased risk of:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Hypertension
- Respiratory disease
- Kidney disease
- Urinary bladder stones
- Tumour growth (benign/malignant)
- Anaesthetic complications (eg increased anaesthetic risk for routine dentals and sterilisation procedures)
Overweight or obese dogs and cats generally have a lower quality of life as they tend to have more difficulty moving and thus socialising. Pets don’t know the consequences of being overweight or obese. As a pet pawrent, it is up to you to make decisions for the quality of their lives, from puppy or kittenhood to seniorhood.
Treatment
How overweight or obese is your pet?
Start by determining where your pet is on the body condition score (BCS) chart. Pets don’t have an “ideal weight” for their specific breed or species. The most accurate way of gauging your pet’s “BMI” is to use the BCS. The ideal score is a 4 to 5 out of 9. Having a score of 8 or 9 means they are obese. Always seek a veterinarian’s opinion when in doubt!
Of course, with any sustainable weight loss program, there needs to be a proper plan. We wouldn’t want your pets to be losing 20% of their body weight in 1 week – it’s unhealthy and can cause other health problems! Speaking to a veterinary professional can help you lay out the options so that you can make more informed decisions. When we talk about losing weight, it’s about having a calorie deficit – diet and exercise. Maintaining their weight is about determining the caloric balance they need (scroll to the end of this blog!).
Diet
Firstly, ensure you are feeding the right type of food for the specific life stage of your pet! There’re growth, adult and senior life stage diets. Don’t feed your adult dog puppy food! Or your senior dog adult food. Many pet owners don’t realise that their senior dogs or cats are in fact in their senior life stage and should be on a senior diet. Simply feeding your senior pet a senior diet may help it lose weight and prevent obesity! Here’s a post on puppy and kitten care where I share a little about puppy/kitten diet.
Secondly, ensure you are feeding the right amount of food for their weight and body condition. The feeding amount for a 5kg dog and a 10kg dog differs. It also differs for a 5kg overweight dog and a 5kg normal-sized dog though they may weigh the same. Look at the back (or sides) of the food packaging (most will have, if they really don’t, think twice before getting that brand of food) – the feeding instructions would be there! Here’s an example of the back of a Hill’s diet for adult dogs:
Thirdly, try prescription diets. If you’ve done the first 2 points but still see no change, your veterinarian may prescribe specific diets to manage their weight, such as Hill’s Metabolic, Royal Canin Weight Management. Putting them on other prescription diets such as Hill’s W/D or RC diabetic for diabetes
Lastly, reduce treats or find low calorie treats. Treats should only make up 10% of their diet. Treats used for training should all the more be low in calories!
Here are some ideas for low-calorie treats(3):
- VOHC approved dental stick or kibbles
- Vegetables and fruits that are safe for pets – green beans, carrots, apple, pear, blueberries
- Dehydrated single ingredient treats – air-popped popcorn, salmon, beef, chicken
- Veterinary approved DIY recipes
Keeping track of the right calories they need to lose or maintain their weight can be a lot for your mind that is already cluttered. The Pet Nutrition Alliance has a super functional and easy to use calculator to measure the calories your pet should get (for treats and main diet) based on its BCS!
Exercise
It comes in many forms – running, walking, hiking, swimming, etc. All dogs and cats need some form of exercise. Determining the right form and amount of exercise depends on your pet’s breed, age, temperament and health condition.
Does your pet have a heart condition? Collapsing trachea? Joint issues? Recent surgery? With certain health conditions, you have to seek your veterinarian’s advice on what types of exercise are suitable for your pet. For example, swimming and hydrotherapy can help dogs and cats (if you cat enjoys water!) with joint issues. It has a low impact on the joints, helps build muscles and burn calories!
Depending on your pet’s breed and age, the type and amount of exercise they need ranges. Brachycephalic breeds like pugs and bulldogs just require a casual walk around the neighbourhood. Breeds used for hunting or herding need the most exercise such as labrador retrievers, collies and shepherds.
Let your cat work for treats for enrichment. Unlike dogs, cats are harder to encourage to exercise compared to dogs. So this can be helpful! Place some treats in a puzzle feeder. You can DIY your own using plastic bottles, egg cartons or toilet rolls. By slowing down their eating, they are burning calories and stimulating their mind. Installing cat climbing trees or walls can get them to move more indoors. Furthermore, with harness training and walking, you may even bring your cat outdoors for hikes or walks.
Weight Loss Journey and Long Term Management
Last but not least, remember, sustainable and healthy weight loss takes time. Every individual is different. It’s about being patient, tweaking the plan till it suits your pet. Never have abrupt changes to your pet’s diet or exercise routine, slow transitions will help your pet adapt better and are a lot more sustainable in the long run.
Once your pet reaches its ideal BCS, it’s about maintaining it and keeping the good habits. Once in a while (once a month), have a look at the BCS chart and your pet’s body condition, where does it sit on the chart?
Nonetheless, for pets who have a diagnosed health condition (Eg. Insulinoma, hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism), pet obesity prevention and management depends on early detection and diligent management of the health condition. Regular vet visits can help!
References:
1. “Understanding Obesity in Pets: When Chubbiness Spells Danger.” clubpets, 9 Decemeber 2020, https://www.clubpets.com.sg/understanding-obesity-in-pets-when-chubbiness-spells-danger/#:~:. Accessed 28 June 2022.
2. “Dr.” Petmd, Nathalie Stilwell, 9 December 2019, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_Obesity#:~:text=It%20is%20most%20commonly%20caused,arthritis%20and%2 For%20 other%20 conditions. Accessed 28 June 2022.
3. BAnVetBioSci, RVN, AVN, Jessica. “To treat or not to treat? – nutrition rvn.” nutrition rvn, 9 January 2021, https://nutritionrvn.com/2021/01/10/to-treat-or-not-to-treat/. Accessed 28 June 2022.