Ideal Weight in Pets
These are the facts about ideal weight in pets:
Ideal weight dogs
- Lean weight dogs live an average of 15% longer. (1)
- Overweight dogs with osteoarthritis moved more quickly and exerted greater force on their legs (less lameness/pain) after they returned to ideal weight. (2)
- Ideal weight dogs had healthier blood sugar levels, blood pressures, & heart rates. (2)
1) Purina 14 yr Life Span study.
2) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) May 1, 2002.
Overweight cats are:
- 4 times more likely to develop diabetes (1)
- 3 times more likely to develop lameness (1)
- Likely to experience osteoarthritis and cartilage damage (1)
- Twice as likely to have skin diseases (1)
- At risk for urinary disease (2)
- Prone to liver disease & failure (2)
1) J Am Vet Med Assoc Association 1998. Body Scores and disease in cats.
2) J Sm Animal Practice, 1192. Practical management of obesity in dogs & cats.
So how do we achieve ideal weight for our pets?
I recently attended (10-14-09) two different sessions by very knowledgeable veterinary specialists (one of them Dr Tony Buffington DVM DACVN has a fantastic nutritional site-Nutritional Support Service) who both stated they had not seen much success with calorie cutting alone to see progress with weight loss. With all due respect, our experience here at WFPC & 4 Paws Swim & Fitness has been quite the opposite!
We are seeing GREAT results at our clinic & fitness facility with many pets with calorie counting as a primary tool. Our clients often hear us quote the study that was done by Dr Gail Smith et al that showed Ideal Weight pets live 15% longer and then want to know how to get that accomplished!
We believe it has worked for our clients because they have listened and followed the calorie counts we have been providing at every wellness exam and as a part of our rehab referral service. Perhaps more importantly we have communicated and they have listened and carried out the “tough love” that it takes to get the pounds off and keep them off by counting, measuring, calculating (and resisting!)!
Important Note: Before Calorie calculations are applied to your pet a consultation needs to occur directly with your veterinarian which should include a thorough history, blood tests and the selection of an appropriate food.
Here’s the calorie chart that we started handing out to all overweight pets when we moved into our new facility 3.5 years ago.
It clearly shows two things:
1) There is a huge variation in calorie content of pet foods (from 242 Calories per cup to close to 500-a 2x difference!)
2) Many treats are much higher in Calories than one would think
Dr Kathryn Michels DVM DACVN (who spoke to area veterinarians in Oct 2008) felt that too many high calorie treats was often the major cause of pets being overweight.
I don’t mean to dismiss exercise as unimportant (after all I am the fitness & rehab director and owner of 4 Paws Swim & Fitness and am very proud of all the super fit dogs that use our fitness facility!) but I am also very aware that indoor exercise is a very small component for a lucky few and not practical for the pet masses! ( I personally am an outdoor competitive athlete and I rarely train indoors!) Further, recent studies have shown in people that calorie counting is probably more important!
Challenges, frustrations and support can all be shared/obtained during one on one by referral to our ideal weight programs or fitness programs at 4 Paws Swim & Fitness and/or by participating in our yearly Ideal Weight Contest “Reducing for Rescues” (virtual participation encouraged on our new facebook fan page) with proceeds benefiting local rescues. Virtual participation especially appropriate for cats!
We can help make it happen. We are passionate about Ideal Weight for all pets (our client’s pets and any pets of friends, neighbors and co-workers pets too!
I personally feel it is the best health insurance you can provide for your pet!
Great website pet obesity prevention
Great blog from Dr Donna Spector
Great video clip from Today Show
Good luck!
The Ideal Weight Team at WFPC & 4 Paws Swim & Fitness
