None of us likes to hear much about being overweight, and the same holds true about hearing that our pets are overweight. Similar to people, pets who carry around extra weight are more likely to have certain problems or diseases develop over time. Dogs and cats will have higher incidences of arthritis when they are overweight, just because their bodies aren't made for carrying around the extra pounds. The added wear and tear accelerates loss of cartilage and puts extra pressure on joints. When carrying those additional pounds, pets are less likely to exercise and have shorter endurance when they do. And it becomes a vicious cycle where it is quite difficult to lose the extra weight. Cats who are overweight are much more likely to develop Diabetes. This is a life threatening condition and requires special food and twice daily insulin injections to treat. These fat cats are also at a higher risk of developing Hepatic Lipidosis. This is a condition caused by a decrease in eating, like being sick for another reason and losing their appetite, being lost without access to food, or a sudden diet. The liver tries to mobilize fat stores to feed the hungry body, and becomes overwhelmed by fat, unable to perform it's other duties and the cat becomes gravely ill. This condition is treated by force feeding or placing a stomach tube, and not all cats will survive.
In dogs, being overweight predisposes them to certain types of tumors, called lipomas or liposarcomas. These can be invasive, and most require surgery to remove. Heart Disease is also a common problem brought on by extra pounds. The heart has to work harder and fight the increased pressure in the vessels, which leads to valvular problems and the heart muscle being overworked and enlarging. Pulmonary distress is a problem as well. Too much fat compresses the chest and takes up space that the lungs should be using. The trachea can also be under pressure, and they may cough and be short of breath becasue of this. Dogs can suffer from Diabetes as well as cats due to being overweight. The fat cells are less sensitive to the effects of insulin, and more and more insulin in required to lower blood glucose, until their body cannot do the job alone. These dogs are also difficult to treat, requiring insulin injections and often other therapies as well.
So when we bring up the subject of weight in the exam room, know that we are doing our job by looking out for your pet's health. We care about their quality of life and longevity, and know that extra weight will shorten the time you will spend together. Teaming up, we can work out a plan for weight loss and diet change to restore your pet's ideal weight and avoid some of these major medical issues.
Stay tuned for the next post where we will discuss body condition scoring, and you can determine where your pet ranks!
In dogs, being overweight predisposes them to certain types of tumors, called lipomas or liposarcomas. These can be invasive, and most require surgery to remove. Heart Disease is also a common problem brought on by extra pounds. The heart has to work harder and fight the increased pressure in the vessels, which leads to valvular problems and the heart muscle being overworked and enlarging. Pulmonary distress is a problem as well. Too much fat compresses the chest and takes up space that the lungs should be using. The trachea can also be under pressure, and they may cough and be short of breath becasue of this. Dogs can suffer from Diabetes as well as cats due to being overweight. The fat cells are less sensitive to the effects of insulin, and more and more insulin in required to lower blood glucose, until their body cannot do the job alone. These dogs are also difficult to treat, requiring insulin injections and often other therapies as well.
So when we bring up the subject of weight in the exam room, know that we are doing our job by looking out for your pet's health. We care about their quality of life and longevity, and know that extra weight will shorten the time you will spend together. Teaming up, we can work out a plan for weight loss and diet change to restore your pet's ideal weight and avoid some of these major medical issues.
Stay tuned for the next post where we will discuss body condition scoring, and you can determine where your pet ranks!
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