Obesity is one of the most common problems in companion animals and it is estimated that 25%-34% of pets are overweight or obese. Pets are considered overweight if they are 10-20% over their ideal weight and obese if they are 20% or more over their ideal weight. For our pets, becoming obese isn’t that difficult. A small dog or cat that ideally should weigh 10 pounds is considered obese after gaining only 2 pounds! To put it into perspective, 5 extra pounds on a beagle is equal to 25 extra pounds on the average woman and 4 extra pounds on a Siamese cat is equal to 45 extra pounds on the average woman.
Several different things are responsible for the growing problem of obesity in pets. Pets gain weight when their calorie intake exceeds the number of calories used on an ongoing basis. This can happen when a pet is fed too much food, fed a food that is too calorie dense, eats too many treats in addition to their normal diet, or simply because a pet’s metabolism slows down as he or she ages. Obesity can also result from medical problems such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), so diagnostic blood work may be necessary to determine if your pet has any underlying medical conditions before your veterinarian recommends starting a weight loss program.
Achieving a healthy weight for your pet can be very beneficial to both you and your pet. Overweight and obese pets are at a much higher risk for developing diseases such as fatty liver disease, diabetes, joint and disc disease, cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, and according to some studies, cancer. Large breed dogs that are overweight are also at a much higher risk for rupturing their cranial cruciate ligament (a knee ligament) – a very painful condition that requires surgery to correct. In addition, obese pets experience fatigue and exercise and heat intolerance, leading to a decreased quality of life. The time and effort spent to get your pet to or to maintain a healthy weight very much outweighs the costs to treat the injuries or diseases they are at a higher risk of developing.