Posted on 02/21/2008 7:53:13 PM PST by blam
Like Owner, Like Dog: One Third Of US Dogs Are Obese, Cats Also Suffer
Dogs and cats that are overweight may be predisposed to develop diabetes mellitus. (Credit: Image courtesy of Virginia Tech)
ScienceDaily (Feb. 21, 2008) — Obesity in pets mirrors that of humans, as do the reasons -- decreased physical activity, age, and an increased caloric intake, even genetic predisposition. Like humans, there are also many health problems associated with being obese, such as diabetes mellitus.
It's no secret that obesity is a problem in humans. Reality television makes millions of dollars chronicling the efforts of Americans attempting to shed excess weight. And every day, new medical research highlights the serious implications obesity has for heart disease, diabetes and other maladies.
Now, more and more attention is being paid to the problem in our pets. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the prevalence of obesity in dogs is between 22 and 40 percent. The reasons and the remedies for the problem seem to mirror each other across species.
These include decreased physical activity, age, and an increased caloric intake, according to Dr. Craig Thatcher of Blacksburg, Va., a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, noted veterinary nutritionist, and charter diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
Genetics can also increase a pet’s risk of being overweight, Thatcher said. Labrador retrievers, beagles, and cocker spaniels are all breeds that are more like to carry some extra pounds. There are also endocrine diseases that are associated with obesity that must also be considered and ruled out, before the pet undergoes weight reduction, said Thatcher.
Like humans, there are also many health problems associated with being obese. Dogs and cats that are overweight may be predisposed to develop diabetes mellitus. They may also suffer from decreased heat tolerance and stamina, increased dermatological conditions, decreased immune function, and multiple musculoskeletal and orthopedic problems. If an owner suspects his or her pet is overweight, the first step is to contact their veterinarian.
“Veterinarians are the best resource to assist clients in designing a safe and effective weight reduction program,” said Thatcher.
Veterinarians will work with the client to design a weight reduction program that is specific to the individual pet’s needs. A balanced, restricted-calorie diet should be implemented with the owner carefully monitoring intake and not allowing for free-choice consumption by the pet. An exercise regiment should also be initiated. This should be a plan the owner is willing to comply with and one the animal can comfortably perform, explains Thatcher.
As the animal progresses through a weight loss program, owners must monitor their pet’s progress by weighing and by assessing body condition. This should initially be done every two weeks to ensure the animal is successfully losing weight.
“Avoiding obesity is an important part of the overall wellness of an animal,” said Thatcher. “Pets and their owners alike will enjoy a much higher quality of life when the pet maintains a healthy weight.” The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine established one of the nation’s first clinical nutrition training programs more than 20 years ago, thanks to Thatcher’s leadership. Today, the college’s programs in this area enjoy wide respect from throughout the profession.
Thatcher earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine and his master’s of science and doctor of philosophy in nutritional physiology from Iowa State University. Prior to joining the faculty of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983 as an assistant professor, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Pennsylvania. He was one of the first veterinarians to be board certified as a diplomate by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
Adapted from materials provided by Virginia Tech, via Newswise.
Even 150 years ago, almost the entire world, including America, fought varying degrees of malnutrition and poverty, and dealt with the associated health afflictions. A few hundred years before that, all but royalty lived their entire lives in an undernourished state, always under the specter of starvation. In every period in history save for the present, securing a source of food was challenge enough for people, and "pets" were almost universally kept just short of beasts of burden, or (at best) as companions on the condition of self-sufficiency.
Thanks to science, technology, individual ingenuity and smart work, most westerners - and the vast majority of Americans - instead deal with the ills borne of abundance, prosperity, and the greatest degree of absolute material wealth humanity has ever experienced. And there is so much room for improvement (on every front - political, technological) that it is frightening.
Today, such is the extent of our prosperity that even pets enjoy standards of living, nutrition, and comforts exceeding those not just of the overwhelming majority of our ancestors, but even of many people alive today in other parts of the world. Don't mistake my intent - this, the rise in our absolute measure of prosperity, should be a source of immense pride. The rest of the world (slowly in parts, stagnant in others for largely local political reasons) moves in our direction.
Just think about this again - the obesity epidemic (which rather than hitting just America, is broadly international in character, extending from the UK to China to South America) and its associated problems is almost something to celebrate. We (for the most part at least) have it so good, even our pets are fat!
Where we once fought the diseases of poverty, we now fight the diseases of wealth.
A fat pet mouse.
I’ve been making food for our kitties since last spring. When the chinese adulterated ingredients were discovered, and pet food recalls started, I learned more about feline nutrition and changed their diet. They’re both 8 years old, and at a healthy weight. Our calico dropped some excess weight, and she and her sister are in great shape (for indoor kitties). Callie used to throw up frequently when she ate kibble of any kind. Now they get a home-prepared chow made with raw chicken, turkey, rabbit or duck. No more stomach upsets, and their dinner vanishes almost as soon as the dish hits the floor. Very gratifying, and far fewer worries about adulterated ingredients. I just hope my ground meat supplier doesn’t go out of business for a looonng time!
Why? This is the way the left begins. A few well meaning human interest stories and then a demand for mandatory gov't run health insurance for pets. They did this with smoking, SUV's, cholesterol and health insurance.
ping
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