Let’s admit it. We all sneak our pets a few extra treats from time to time. It’s just human nature to want to spoil our loved ones with food. However, obesity is heavily impacting our pets and their quality of life.

In a study performed in 2020, 56% of dogs seen by a veterinarian were overweight or obese. In 2021, a study showed that over 50% of cats were also considered obese! The statistics are overwhelmingly high, despite efforts made to educate owners on how to prevent weight-gain. In 2007, the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention founded National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. On the second Wednesday in October (October 9th, 2024), we ask that you spread awareness of the impact obesity has on our pet’s lives and what we can do to prevent it.

What Does It Mean To Be Obese?

You may have noticed your veterinarian tracks your pet’s “body condition score”, rather than a “body mass index”, or BMI. Since there are so many breeds of cats and dogs, we look at the condition of your pet’s body and determine what percentage of your pet’s current weight should be lost to reach their ideal body condition. It is unique for each individual pet. The body condition score, BCS, rates your pet on a scale of 1 to 9. Ideal body condition is ranked as a 4 to 5. Anything under 4 is too lean, while anything over 5 is considered overweight. Every 1-point increase or decrease from the ideal (4 to 5) is 10-15% of your pet’s weight. Cats and dogs are considered overweight if their body weight is 10-20% higher than ideal, and obese if higher than 20%. For example, if your pet has been scored a 7, they need to lose 20-30% of their current weight to achieve ideal body weight, while a pet scored 9 would need to lose 40-60%.

Tip: To check your pet’s BCS at home, rub your fingers across their ribcage. How hard do you have to press to feel their ribs? An ideal BCS of the ribs should feel similar to the back of your hand. You do not have to push down hard, but you can feel the bones in your hand without visibly seeing them. This is a general rule of thumb used when identifying BCS. Give it a try and see if your score agrees with what your pet was ranked at their most recent vet visit!

Common Causes of Pet Obesity

While relaxing on a couch all day and being hand fed treats seems like a life of luxury for most, this type of treatment leads to a lack of exercise and excess caloric intake. Let’s discuss some of the common causes:

  • Inaccurate Measurements: Make sure to use a measuring cup when feeding. Many times the “kibble cup” is a random cup from your cabinet. We recommend using a real measuring cup, so that you can feed a specific amount of food.
  • Genetics: There can be a genetic disposition for certain breeds, such as: golden retrievers, cocker spaniels, beagles, basset hounds, and labrador retrievers
  • Low Metabolism: Some diseases, such as Cushings or hypothyroidism can lead to a
    slower metabolism, resulting in weight gain.
  • Free-feeding, Treats, and Scraps: It is difficult to resist puppy dog eyes, we totally get it! But it is important to know that treats should not exceed 10% of your pet’s feeding allotment. Free-feeding instead of meal feeding often leads to overfeeding. Last but not least, be cautious in feeding human food scraps, as these calories do add up as well.
  • Spaying/Neutering: While it is very important and necessary to spay and neuter, many owners forget to factor in the hormonal changes that take place after the procedure. Due to the change in hormones, pets tend to form more fat cells and slow down their metabolism.

How Does Being Obese Affect My Pet?

There are many ways that obesity can impact your pet. Here is a list of the common ailments associated with obesity:

  • Arthritis: The inflammation of obese pet’s joints is almost always present. The extra weight puts unnecessary stress on their joints, and leads to decreased mobility. Common afflicted areas include the back/spine, shoulders, hips, and elbows.
  • Respiratory Compromise: Fat pads the chest and thoracic region, causing it to be difficult to breathe due to restriction. This makes it difficult for pets to fully inflate their lungs. Other issues include tracheal collapse and being prone to overheating.
  • Diabetes: When our pets have excess body fat, this leads to insulin resistance. Your pet’s tissues cannot absorb glucose without insulin to “unlock the door”. This causes high blood sugar from the unabsorbed glucose. This is why treatment requires daily insulin injections to allow the glucose to be absorbed.
  • Reduced Lifespan: Being obese predisposes your pet to other health issues that can reduce their lifespan. A study performed on labrador retrievers showed that the moderately overweight to obese dogs had a decreased life expectancy of 2 years.
  • Surgery/Anesthesia: When under anesthesia, excessive fat suppresses the respiratory system. This adds constriction when inflating the lungs, making it difficult for breathing.

How To Make a Difference

It’s never too late to make a change in your pet’s life. Whether their BCS is 7 or 9, diet and exercise will make a significant impact on improving their quality of life. It can be helpful to invest in a pet scale to perform routine weigh-ins, to get a better picture of how fast your pet loses the weight and if they are on track to meet their goals.

When it comes to diet, we recommend meal feeding to avoid overfeeding your pet. You also want to feed the recommended amount suggested by your veterinarian. Dog and cat food packaging can be inaccurate to the actual recommended feeding allotment, so always double check with your vet! Utilizing a measuring cup to feed the suggested amount is encouraged, and for some cases, a gram scale can be more effective in feeding a specific amount.

Exercise is the second half of the equation. We recommend daily exercise through walking and playing. For dogs, daily walks help to release extra energy and provide an opportunity to burn off some calories. Playing fetch, frisbee, and tug-of-war can also provide moderate activity levels. For cats, it can be trickier to get them to exercise willingly. Encourage them to play by using wand toys and laser pointers to increase their activity level. Interactive food puzzles and toys can also encourage both dogs and cats to play more as well!

If you are having difficulty getting your pet to lose weight, or unsure about what their ideal body condition score looks like for them, please reach out to your veterinarian for a consultation. They can help you create a plan and set realistic goals for your pet to meet on their weight-loss journey!