Topics of the Month : January is National Train Your Dog Month : Healthy Weight

      January is Healthy Weight Month

 

Reducing your dog’s weight by as few as five pounds can significantly reduce his/her risk of serious medical conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer (especially intra-abdominal cancers). In general,

obesity shortens life expectancy.  We are continually learning how serious and threatening a few extra pounds can be for both humans and our furry companions.

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Why Cats are Susceptible to Obesity

 

 

Twenty five percent of cats seen by veterinarians in the USA and Canada are overweight or obese.  Just like people, when cats consume more calories than they really need the calories are stored as excessive body fat. Cats reach their adult weight by 1 year which can be used as a guideline to determine ideal weight.

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Obese cats are prone to:

  • diabetes
  • skin problems
  • lameness
  • feline lower urinary tract disease
  • anesthetic complications
  • impaired immune function
  • and many more

 

Cats are more likely to be obese because:

  • they are usually confined indoors with minimal exercise
  • currently most cat foods include high salt content and fat ingredients which make the foods highly palatable and calorie dense
  • they are left alone many hours a day so they eat out of boredom
  • Cat’s intestinal tract and stomach are proportionately shorter and smaller than dogs.  This means they were designed to have frequent small meals, high in protein.

 

A few ways to keep your cat at an ideal weight or help them lose weight:

  • do not free feed them
  • feed a measured amount of food based on caloric content of the food
  • Calculate amount of food based on their ideal weight not the weight they are at.  If they are overweight or obese , be sure to include daily treats in these calculations
  • feed them small frequent meals because of their small stomach
  • use canned food to increase protein and decrease carbohydrates
  • have 1 person in the household in charge of feeding and treats

 

A few different methods of exercise:

  • hide the food in different places all over the house
  • feed the food in treat balls or other toys that dispense food treats when played with so they have to work for their food.
  • feed with puzzle feeder boxes (big Rubbermaid containers with slots cut out of the tops)
  • play with “cat dancers” and laser pointers

 

Helpful Hints and Fun Motivation

 

Food Hints

To enhance the taste of diet food try warming the food, adding ketchup, oregano, garlic powder or salt, omega-3 fatty acid supplement or salmon juice over the food.

 

Feed small meals frequently – especially give a last feeding for those dogs that like to wake you up in the wee hours begging for more goodies – divide the total volume or calories into four to six smaller meals – whatever you do, don’t feed extra food

 

Alternate Treats: Give vegetables such as baby carrots, broccoli, celery, ice cubes green beans and asparagus. Dogs love crunchy treats so make it a healthy – and low-calorie – choice.  Treats should always be less than 10% of your dogs daily intake. null

 

Motivation

 

Move food bowls to different areas of the house alternating on a daily basis so your pet has to look for his/her food.  This keeps them guessing and increases their activity.

 

Use toys, balls, laser pointers, squeaky toys, or anything your dog is interested in enough to chase.  Try to engage your dog for at least ten to fifteen minutes twice a day.  If your dog seems to get bored with a toy after a few days start alternating with another toy he/she finds interesting.

 

What about the dog that wakes you at four in the morning to be fed or the dog that stares at you during dinner or television time until you give in and feed them? Our dogs have trained us well and know exactly which buttons to press when it comes to getting their way. Here are some tips for handling the pleading pup:

 

  Do not use a self-feeder. While this seems obvious, auto-feeders are nothing more than unlimited candy machines to an overweight dog. If you must, use an automated feeder that dispenses a set amount of food several times per day.

 

  Pet your dog or play with it when it begs for food. Many dogs substitute food for affection so flip the equation and you may find that playtime displaces chowtime.

 

  Introduce a new toy as a substitute for a treat.

 

  Walk your dog or take it outside when it begs. The distraction and interaction may be just enough to make it forget its desire for food.

 

  If you dog enjoys grooming, give him/her a good brushing when they beg for treats.

 

 When the bowl is empty and your dog is pleading, add a few kibbles to the bowl. By a few, try ten or fifteen – not a handful.

 

 Offer fresh water instead of food. Many dogs love fresh water so when they are eyeing the empty food bowl, fill up the water bowl instead.

 

Walking your dog for weight loss

 

 

When you combine exercise with proper diet and lifestyle, you extend the years you’ll have to hug, love and snuggle with your four-legged friend. Walk with your dog every day, and you’ll enhance the bond you share—and know you’re doing both yourself and your pet a world of

good. Of course, make sure your veterinarian examines your dog before undertaking

a weight loss exercise program with your portly friend.

 

nullGet the right equipment.

 

Forget the leash and collar. Collars can compress the trachea (windpipe) when pulled, causing difficulty breathing or even injury. Especially dangerous are choke collars or constricting collars of any design. A head halter or walking harness is your safest choice. Look for wide, soft, padded straps and breathable materials.  We recommend Gentle Leader leashes or Easy Walk Harness.

For winter walks, protective booties may be required if you live in a cold climate.

If it’s warm (above 80 to 85 F for most dogs) or if you’ll be walking longer than 30 minutes, carry water. There are many styles of portable water bottles available for dogs on the move.

Set the right pace

 

Few dogs will naturally walk at a pace that generates the elevated heart rates needed for sustained aerobic activity. Walking for weight loss is very different than walking for pleasure. Make your objective to move briskly on the “out” leg of your walk, and then let your dog smell the roses on the “back” leg. If you start slowly, allowing your pet to sniff everything he sees, you may have a challenge getting him to speed up when you’re ready.

 

Draw your dog close on his leash, generally within two to four feet on the side away from the street, and set off at a pace you feel comfortable sustaining. It should feel brisk and you should break a light sweat. The key is to keep it up!  Don’t look down when your pooch inevitably wants to stop and smell something or mark a hydrant. Continue looking straight ahead, tighten the leash (don’t jerk), and give a command such as “No stop,” “Come,” or “Here.” It’s important for your dog to understand that you have places to go and that this is different from your usual lollygagging affair. Head halters are a great way to train dogs to heel during a brisk walk and pay attention.

 

If your pet sits or refuses to walk, you may have to return home, crate him or put him in a quiet space without your attention, and try again another time. I have yet to encounter a dog that didn’t take readily to brisk walking.

 

Set time goals

 For most overweight or obese dogs with normal heart and lung function, normal blood pressure, and no other preexisting medical conditions, I recommend starting with 30-minute walks five times a week. Here’s a sample schedule:

 

 

Week 1                        30 minutes total 10 minutes brisk followed by 20 minutes casual pace

Week 2             30 minutes total 15 minutes brisk followed by 15 minutes casual pace

Week 3                        30 minutes total 20 minutes brisk followed by 10 minutes casual pace

Week 4            35-40 minutes total 30 minutes brisk followed by 5-10 minutes casual pace

Week 5+          35-60 minutes total Two 20- to 30-minute walks per day: 15-25 minutes brisk                            followed by 5 minutes casual pace.

 

**If you can, walk 30 minutes a day seven days a week.**

 

Check weight monthly

 Have your dog weighed by your veterinarian monthly until he or she reaches the right weight. Also, have the clinic staff inspect the dog’s pads for any injuries or problems and check that the nails are short and healthy. After your pooch hits the desired weight, reweigh every three months.

 

 

 

SOURCE: Dr. Ernest E. Ward Jr., owner of Seaside Animal Clinic in Calabash, N.C.