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Is Your Pet Overweight?

6 April 2009 No Comment View all Articles by: margaret white dvm

By: Dr. Margaret Jordan White, DVM

dr_white_w_pooch_web 40% of American pets are reported to be overweight or obese. Obesity is the most common nutritional disease of dogs. So, the answer for many of our pets is yes!

How do you know if your cat or dog is overweight? A body condition score is often used to evaluate whether a pet is overweight. The scoring system most often used measures a body condition of 1 to 5 with a score of 3 being the ideal weight. A score of 1/5 is a very thin animal, 2/5 is underweight, 3/5 is ideal, 4/5 is overweight and 5/5 is obese. A pet with the ideal score of 3/5 is a pet whose ribs are easily felt but not seen thru the hair coat, who has an abdominal tuck when viewed from the side, and who has a waist when viewed from above. You and your vet can help determine the body condition score for your pet and whether your pet is the ideal weight.

Why should you care if your family pet is “chubby”, “big-boned”, “pudgy”, or “full-figured”? Overweight dogs and cats are at an increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, and decreased life expectancy. In fact, a recent study showed that Labrador retrievers lived an average of two years longer if fed to an ideal body weight. I think we all agree we want our pet companions to live as long as possible, and it is our responsibility to help them do so.

Just like in humans, most pets are overweight due to too little exercise and consuming too many calories. Too many treats are sometimes a factor, and treats should comprise less than 10% of a pet’s diet. Of course, some pets may be overweight due to diseases of the endocrine (hormone) system or genetic causes. So, it is important before starting a weight loss program for your pet to consult your veterinarian. Your vet can help rule out any medical causes for obesity in your pet. You and your vet can together develop an appropriate weight loss plan for your pet.

At Centreville Veterinary Hospital, we are introducing an innovative weight loss program called the Biggest Loser-Pet Edition. The canine and feline contestants will have three months to lose weight by combinations of prescription weight loss diets, exercise, and a medication for dogs called Slentrol (dirlotapide). We will be performing frequent weigh-ins, taking photos of the pets before and after weight loss, and giving away goodie bags for all the contestants. The dog and cat with the greatest percentage of weight loss will each be awarded fabulous prizes for both pet and owner.

Slentrol (dirlotapide) is a new FDA approved weight loss drug for dogs that works primarily by reducing appetite and also reduces lipid absorption in the intestines. 97.8% of dogs that were on Slentrol for four months lost weight during one study. Slentrol is available in a tasty liquid dogs can be given daily, along with a nutritionally complete adult dog diet. Some dogs may develop loose stools or vomiting while taking Slentrol, but most dogs do not experience any side effects.

Hill’s prescription diets such as R/D, W/D, and M/D also help cats and dogs achieve a healthy ideal weight. R/D diets for dogs and cats are clinically proven to promote weight loss. W/D and R/D diets are higher in fiber to help pets feel full, lower in calories to aid in weight loss, and higher in L-carnitine and lysine to increase lean muscle mass than adult pet food diets. M/D diet, which is only for cats, alters a cat’s metabolism to promote weight loss. In a clinical study, 75% of cats on M/D reached their ideal body weight in 20 weeks. M/D is higher in protein, arginine, taurine, antioxidants, and carnitine when compared to adult cat diets.

Exercise is also essential in any weight loss plan. Exercise helps increase muscle mass and burns calories too. You can exercise your indoor cat by playing with a laser pointer, encouraging them to chase toys, and even hiding their food around the house to make them hunt for it. Great exercises for dogs include walking, agility classes, playing fetch, going to the dog park, and swimming. Your dog will be a healthier, more socialized and likely even better behaved dog with more exercise.

If you think your pet needs to enter the Biggest Loser- Pet Edition competition, please call Centreville Veterinary Hospital to set up an appointment, or if you are already a client, then call and talk to our friendly receptionists about the program. Your pet relies on you to provide a healthy lifestyle. Together with your veterinarian and the Biggest Loser-Pet Edition competition, we can all promote healthy living.

Dr. Margaret Jordan White, DVM joined the team at Centreville Veterinary Hospital in June of 2007 after moving to the area from Maryland where she practiced for 10 years. She enjoys seeing cats and dogs as well as small mammals such as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and rodents. Dr. White graduated from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 after completing her bachelorette at the Catholic University of America. She is also the New Castle County representative to the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association.

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