“I’M NOT OVERWEIGHT, I’M UNDERTALL”

As with people, pets are faced with an increase in weight gain and the problems that come with it. It is even more concerning now that we are going into winter and our pets will more then likely get less exercise then they did over the summer months. 

Also keep in mind that cats and dogs are different and that you need to be very careful when putting a cat on a diet. The following information pertains to DOGS ONLY.  Because of metabolic idiosyncrasies that are different from the dogs, putting a cat on a reduced diet should never be done without the close supervision of a veterinarian.  Cats are prone to developing a dangerous condition called Hepatic Lipidosis if their caloric intake is suddenly restricted.  If your cat is overweight, I would first consider a holistic vet as you would get a different perspective on nutrition for your cat.

So basically your pet is overweight because the calorie intake is higher then the rate in which he burns calories.   Make sure your pet is not consuming an unnecessary amount of food.  Read your packaging carefully.  I have had customers tell me that they weren’t sure how much to feed and after reading the suggested amount on the bag of food, we found they were feeding up to 3 times more then they should have been.  Watch how many treats you give.  Treats should be given sparingly and should not make up more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories. 

Don’t force your pet to eat every meal or everyday.  Keep in mind that dogs can skip meals and not have a problem with it.  We have just been conditioned through the media and the pet food industry that a dog that is excited about eating is a happy dog.  Be careful as to what you reduce in your pet’s diet.  Dogs need protein to build muscle.  So if you have an exercise program going or even have an older dog, make sure they are getting some good quality protein. 

As you know, Beau has weight issues.  Being in the store, he has access to a lot of treats and people love to give them to him and he loves to get them at any opportunity he can.  He has been known to be head down in the bulk treat section.  Here are some things we are trying:

• Morning walks
• Wearing a backpack with some extra weight in it.
• Getting on the treadmill. 
• Reducing dinner rations.

As with people, it is a good idea that your pet get a physical.  You will want to rule out thyroid problems with your dog.  If your dog has a thyroid problem, he will be overweight, dull hair, hair may be falling out, etc. 

As a follow-up to our overweight pets here are some health risks your pets may incur if your pet continues to be overweight:

·    Diabetes

·    Skeletal stress, including damage to joints, bones, and ligaments

·    Respiratory problems, increased blood pressure, and heart disease

·    Decreased stamina and heat intolerance

·    Decreased liver function

·    Digestive disorders

·    Decreased immune function

·    Skin and hair coat problems

·    Increased risk of cancer

·    Urinary tract infections

·    Decreased quality and length of life

Remember to encourage exercise and monitor the amount you feed your pet (this includes treats).  I know there are some people who choose to free feed, but for most dogs (even ones who are not overweight) I do not believe this is a good idea.  There are a few dogs out there that don’t graze all day even if you leave food out for them and there are times do to medical conditions that your vet will tell you to free feed.  In both these cases free feeding would be ok.   

By free feeding, you are allowing your pet to eat all day.  This adds calories as well as keeps their digestive systems working non-stop.  The best comparison that can be made is that free-feeding is like having a full buffet in your house, stocked with food 24 hours-a-day.  

This creates several problems:  1.Your pet will be relieving himself more in the backyard; 2. It doesn’t allow your pet’s digestive system to quit working and put energy to other parts of the body that it may be needed.  By feeding only one or two times a day, give the digestive system breaks give their digestive system a chance to rest and prepare for the next meal.  3. Pets that are free-fed tend to be sluggish, lethargic, and passionless about their food.

Dogs in the wild would never know when their next meal was coming, so they would eat as much as they could when food was available then go a day or two without food.  I know that most of my customer’s dogs out there are not “wild” but the genetics of these dogs are the same. 

Fasting your pet from time-to-time can be healthy for them.  Even though I know this, I find it hard to do, because I don’t want to think my dog is going hungry (Even though Beau could stand to miss a few meals).  If you decide to fast your dog one day a week, make sure they have plenty of liquids available to them. 

If you would like to read more about nutrition and fasting your pet, Kymythy R. Schultze, Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet, is a good book to read.

If you have any feedback or would like to share your stories about your pet, please e-mail me at kristina@beastieboutique.com

Kristina

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