The 5 Biggest Questions You Must Ask About Pet Obesity: How to Check, What to Feed, and How to Exercise
by Dr. Ernie Ward
For the past 25 years, I’ve been looking at a lot of pets with obesity. Part of the reason is that I’m a veterinarian whose area of interest is obesity; the other part is that pet obesity is becoming more prevalent. This is an incredibly critical issue because pets with obesity are at increased risk for developing serious weight-related disorders such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney disease, cancer, and more. We must do better.
To help you better care for your furry loved one, I’d like to share the top five questions you need to ask your veterinarian to keep your pet healthy. They’re simple, won’t embarrass you, and just may save a life.
1) IS MY PET OVERWEIGHT?
This is the most important question you must ask your veterinarian – and one your vet may not be eager to answer. Unbelievably, many veterinarians are simply afraid to tell if your pet is overweight. This is primarily due to the fact your vet doesn’t want to inadvertently offend you. Weight issues are tricky and loaded with perceived judgment, strong emotions, and social stigmas. All of this leads to many vets remarking, “Maybe Scooter could drop a few pounds, but who shouldn’t?”
As a concerned pet owner, you need to understand your pet’s weight is one of the most influential factors of longevity, quality of life, and disease prevention. To answer this question, your vet will conduct a couple of measurements, determine a Body Condition Score (BCS - see above charts), and determine your pet's current weight status.
Ask the question. Demand a thorough assessment. Don’t be offended if the answer isn’t what you expected. This isn’t personal; it’s your pet’s future.
2) HOW MANY CALORIES SHOULD I FEED MY PET EACH DAY?
We’ve got to be specific when it comes to feeding our pets. Don’t fall into the trap of inquiring, “How much should I feed?” You’ll get a generic, inaccurate response. We need precise numbers of calories and nutrients your pet needs. That way, regardless of the type, brand, or formulation of food you feed, you can determine how much to feed. This is a subtle, but incredibly significant difference.
Your vet should then ask you a few lifestyle questions, perform a couple of calculations, and give you a narrow range of calories. Memorize this number. Find out how many cups or cans of your pet food this equals. Feed that amount. Don't forget to include any treats in your daily caloric counts. Those tiny “calorie grenades” can swiftly sabotage the best dietary plans.
3) HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHOULD MY PET LOSE IN A MONTH?
If your pet is like most dogs and cats, it’ll need to shed a few unhealthy pounds of excess fat. You need to ask how much weight your pet needs to shed and how long will it take to reach a healthy weight. I prefer to think in terms of pounds per month due to practicality and performance. Monthly weight checks are practical and reasonable for even the busiest pet owners. A weight loss plan’s performance is critical to track and monitoring monthly trends is an accurate indicator of success or stagnation.
In general terms, a dog can safely lose 1 to 3-percent of its body weight and cats 0.5 to 2-percent per month. Many dogs can lose 3 to 5-percent and most cats should aim for about a half-pound per month. Losing weight isn’t easy or fast for pets, especially cats. If you put your pet on a crash diet, they can develop serious medical conditions, including a life-threatening form of liver failure that can occur in less than 72 hours. Patience is essential for pet weight loss. Most of my canine patients will have a 3 to 6-month weight loss plan and cats 9 to 12-months. Your vet will formulate a step-weight loss plan that will gradually decrease the amount you’re feeding over a 1 to 3-month period. This will help curtail cravings, begging, and late-night pestering. I said “help,” not “eradicate.” There will be some unhappy pooches and purr babies when you institute a diet. Your vet should provide you with tips on preventing these behaviors and transitioning to a new weight-loss diet.
4) WHAT KINDS OF EXERCISE SHOULD MY PET DO?
Most vets and pet owners focus on how long a pet should exercise each day. Instead, ask your vet what types of activities are best based on your pet’s species, breed, age, gender, and current physical abilities. Walking, swimming, agility, chase, ball retrieving, and remote-controlled toys – the opportunities for physical activity with your pet are limitless. The general recommendation is that dogs need at least 30-minutes of physical activity a day and cats should strive for three 5-minute intense play periods. How you spend those minutes will determine if you do it or don’t. Make your outings enjoyable, entertaining, and interactive.
Cat owners, please don’t forget to ask this question. Whether you play with a feather duster or laser pointer, move the food bowl, or use a hip, high-tech toy, engage your cat’s inner predator and encourage it to pounce, leap, and prowl every day.
I’m a huge fan of the new generation of pet activity monitors. They’re a great tool to document how much your pet is walking or playing each day. Better yet, you can share these reports with your vet to spot any deficiencies or ways to maximize your training.
5) IS MY PET AT RISK FOR A MEDICAL PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESS WEIGHT?
This is a profoundly serious question that you need to understand for your pet’s future. Dogs and cats carrying extra fat are at greater risk for developing debilitating diabetes, crippling arthritis, deadly high blood pressure, kidney disease, and many forms of catastrophic cancer. You need to have a frank conversation with your vet to find out if your pet is potentially facing one of these conditions. If so, what can you do to cut those odds? Preventing disease is my focus and one of the reasons I’m so passionate about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and proper nutrition. The most crucial decision you make each day about your pet’s health is what you choose to feed it. Choose wisely; your pet’s life depends on it.
It’s never too late to reduce your pet’s chances of contracting one of these grim disorders. Early recognition and awareness are the best defense against many diseases. Ask the question.
There you have it, my five biggest questions you must ask about pet obesity. Of course, there are many more topics you need to discuss during your time with your veterinarian, but your pet’s weight should be covered at every exam. The few minutes you spend on diet and weight could well be the difference between two additional years of high-quality life or a shortened, suffering final stage of life. Take the time to write down these questions, ask your vet, and act on the answers. Together, you and your vet can chart a course for a better, longer, and happier life for your pet loved one. It’s worth it.