Is your pet overweight? If so, they could be at increased risk for numerous serious health problems. Our Town & Country Animal Hospital, PC team challenges you to test your knowledge about pet obesity and weight management by taking our pop quiz. The information you learn could help save your furry pal’s life.

Question: True or False — Pet obesity is prevalent.

Answer: True. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) 2022 report, 59% of dogs and 61% of cats are rated as overweight or obese by their veterinary professional. 

Question: True or False — Pet obesity is well recognized.

Answer: False. Pet obesity has been normalized and few people realize their pet is obese. In APOP’s report, 36% of dog owners and 28% of cat owners rated their pet as having a normal body condition score (BCS) when their veterinarian classified them as overweight or obese.

Question: True or False — Pet obesity is harmless.

Answer: False. Carrying excess weight increases your pet’s risk for numerous serious health issues, such as:

  • Diabetes — Overweight cats are three times more likely to develop diabetes than healthy weight cats, and dogs are also at increased risk.
  • Hypertension — Overweight pets are more likely to develop high blood pressure, which can lead to issues such as vascular problems, kidney disease, and retinal detachment.
  • Respiratory disease — Fat lines an overweight pet’s chest and abdominal cavity, restricting their ability to breathe and predisposing them to respiratory issues. 
  • Osteoarthritis (OA) — Overweight pets place excess strain on their joints, contributing to OA. In addition, excess adipose tissue (i.e., fat) produces inflammatory cells that further irritate arthritic joints.
  • Urinary tract disease — Overweight cats are more likely to develop urinary tract diseases, such as urinary calculi and feline idiopathic cystitis. 
  • Cancer — Evidence suggests that pets are at increased risk for developing certain cancers.
  • Skin disease — Overweight pets often have excessive skin folds, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow and cause a skin infection.

Overweight pets tend to be less energetic and playful than healthy-weight pets and tend to live about 2 years less. 

Question: True or False — Weighing my pet can tell me if they are overweight.

Answer: True. If you know your pet’s ideal weight, then weighing them can help you determine if they are overweight. However, a better way to assess your pet’s weight status is to evaluate their BCS. This is a quantitative assessment that uses a nine-point scoring system where one is emaciated and nine is obese. Five is considered an ideal BCS. BCS assessment includes:

  • Rib palpation — You should be able to easily feel but not see your pet’s ribs. If they have a thick fat layer over their ribs, your pet is overweight.
  • Silhouette assessment — When looking at your pet from above, they should have a discernible indentation behind their ribs that tapers toward their hips. If your pet has no waist or an outward bulge, they are overweight.
  • Abdomen assessment — When looking at your pet from the side, they should have an upward abdominal tuck. If your pet’s abdomen doesn’t slant upward or sags toward the ground, they are overweight.

Question: True or False — Cutting my pet’s food intake is a good way to help them lose weight.

Answer: False. Suddenly cutting your pet’s food intake can lead to serious health issues, such as malnutrition and hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening condition that causes fatty deposits to infiltrate the liver. The condition is especially common in overweight cats. If your pet is overweight, seek advice from our Town & Country Animal Hospital, PC team so we can devise a strategy to help them safely lose weight. Considerations include:

  • Health screening — Our team will screen your pet for conditions, such as Cushing’s disease and hypothyroidism, that may hinder their ability to lose weight.
  • Prescription diet — Prescription weight loss diets ensure your pet gets the nutrition they need and help them remain satiated while losing weight. 
  • Exercise program — Our team devises an exercise program to help your pet get moving and burn more calories.

Question: True or False — I can help my pet maintain a healthy weight.

Answer: True. Helping your pet maintain their ideal weight is the best way to keep them happy and healthy. Tips include:

  • Scheduling regular wellness visits — Schedule annual or bi-annual wellness visits so we can track your pet’s weight and detect health conditions that may affect their weight in the early stages when they are easier to manage.
  • Calculating energy requirements — Consider your pet’s age, weight, BCS, activity level, and spay or neuter status to accurately calculate how many calories they need a day.
  • Measuring portions — Once you determine how much food your pet needs per day, accurately measure their meal portions using a measuring cup or gram scale.
  • Restricting treats — Ensure treats account for no more than 10% of your pet’s daily caloric intake, and opt for healthy options such as snap peas, green beans, baby carrots, and blueberries.
  • Exercising your pet — Ensure your pet gets adequate daily exercise. Some dogs, such as Labrador retrievers and Australian shepherds, need extensive, vigorous exercise, while other dogs only need a brisk walk around the neighborhood a couple of times a day. Cats also need exercise and should be encouraged to move and be active for at least three to four five-minute intervals a day.

How did you do on our pop quiz? Taking the time to test your pet obesity knowledge proves you are a great pet parent! To schedule your pet’s annual wellness exam or for help in devising a safe weight loss plan, contact our Town & Country Animal Hospital, PC team.