There is an old adage that says, “If your pet is overweight, you
are not getting enough exercise.”
That said, it should come as no surprise that a nation where 68
percent of adults over the age of 20 are either overweight or obese
would produce a population where over 50 percent of our pets are
the same. The fourth annual Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
(APOP) Pet Obesity Study found that approximately 53 percent of
America’s cats and 55 percent of our dogs are either overweight or
obese.
APOP founder Dr. Ernie Ward says, “This year’s data suggests
that our pets are getting fatter. While the general trend of
overweight pets has remained fairly steady at around 50 percent,
the number of obese pets is growing.
“This is troubling because it means more pets will be affected
by weight-related diseases such as arthritis, joint problems,
diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease costing pet owners
millions of dollars in avoidable medical costs.”
APOP began conducting nationwide veterinary surveys in 2007 and
has seen a steady increase in the percentage of pets classified as
obese since. In 2007, roughly 19 percent of cats were found to be
obese, while in 2010 that number increased to 22 percent.
Unfortunately, for dogs, obesity rates have doubled from 10 percent
in 2007 to 20 percent today.
So, who’s to blame here? Are our feline and canine buddies
taking the car keys in the middle of the night and sneaking down to
the local fast food joints?
Simply put, if your pet is overweight it is taking in more
calories than it needs. Set all other excuses aside — excessive
weight in an otherwise healthy pet is a direct result of how much
their owners are feeding them.
Let’s set the record straight on some common misconceptions
regarding pet obesity. Healthy dogs and cats do not necessarily
need to eat every day — regardless of the pet food industry’s image
of the “eager eater.”
The experts at PetMD.com suggest
not to entice your pet to eat if it isn’t interested. If you
provide good quality food and a liberal amount of water, your pet
will eat when it wants, which is significantly better for your pet
then eating when you want.
Another common myth maintains that spraying and neutering causes
obesity in pets. Veterinary experts say this is absolutely
false.
The surgical procedures may slightly slow the pet’s metabolism —
as will normal aging — and your pet simply needs less food. The
surgery doesn’t cause the weight gain, eating too much does.
Whether your cat or dog is a nibbler who eats all day long, a
beggar who cons you out of table scraps, a good pet who gets treats
for favorable behavior or the gourmet pet who only eats prime rib,
they can only get food from you.
If you think your pet is overweight or obese, experts suggest
you have your Veterinarian evaluate your dog or cat’s thyroid gland
for proper functioning. Hypothyroidism is a very common cause of
excess weight in pets and if this condition exists, it needs to be
corrected.
And while you’re at the Vet, get her or his recommendations as
to the appropriate way to go about getting your furry friend into a
healthy weight category. It could save you a ton of money and —
quite possibly — save your pet’s life.
That’s the least we owe our cats and dogs for their
unconditional love. After all, they trust us to take good care of
them.
Cord Prettyman is a certified Master Personal Trainer and the
owner of Absolute Workout Fitness and Post-Re-hab Studio in
Woodland Park. He can be reached at 687-7437 or cordprettyman@msn.com.