South Florida

My Pet Weighs How Much?

 
If a member of your family is a “round hound” or a “curvy kitty,” you are not alone. A study released in April 2015 by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention revealed that 58 percent of U.S. cats, and 53 percent of U.S. dogs were overweight in 2014.  If, however, you are genuinely surprised by your veterinarian’s suggesrion that Fluffy is, well ... not just “fluffy," you are definitely not alone. 

 

The results of the APOP survey are a pretty accurate reflection of what I see in my practice on a daily basis. Roughly half my patients are overweight, so the results of this latest survey did not surprise me. But the aspect of the survey that made my jaw drop was what APOP founder Dr. Ernie Ward coined “the fat pet gap.” Simply put, 90 percent of owners of overweight cats, and 95 percent of owners of overweight dogs were unaware of the fact that their pets were overweight.

Let those numbers sink in for a minute. Ninety to ninety-five percent of pet owners surveyed incorrectly identified their pet’s size as “normal.” How does this happen? Let’s examine some of the most commonly heard objections to “the weight talk.

Oh please! You should see my mother’s cat! She’s HUGE!”

When more than half the pets we see are overweight, it causes a gradual change in our paradigm. Compared to the paunchy pets we see at the dog park, our own pets look downright svelte. While this may be true, it doesn’t necessarily mean our pets are as healthy as they should be. The opposite is true as well. It is not unusual for owners of lean, trim, muscular pets to ask me to reassure them that their pet is okay. This is usually because well-meaning loved ones - and sometimes even strangers! - are forever telling them their pet is too skinny! To be certain, a number of my patients are indeed underweight. But I can count their numbers just by using my fingers.

A quick and dirty way to assess your pet’s body condition is to look straight down at him while he is in a standing position. You should notice a slight curvature at the waist - inward, not outward! This is ideal. If there is no discernable curve, or if the curve looks more like a bulge, your pet needs to lose a few pounds. Another trick is to try to feel your pet’s ribs. If you can find them easily, he’s likely in pretty good shape. If you have to dig through squishy layers, or if you cannot feel them at all, it’s time to make some changes.

“But he runs around in the yard all day!”

Are you sure about that? The fact that your pet has access to a big yard or a big house is no guarantee that he uses it to burn up calories. On the contrary, their bodies tell them to do just the opposite. We may refer to them as our fur-kids or fur-babies, but the truth of the matter is that our pets are animals. An animal’s nature is to conserve energy, just in case the next antelope kill is a week or two away. Their bodies never quite got the memo that feedings occur on a regular basis. Since dogs in particular are social animals, running around a yard by themselves is not fun for them. Every dog is different, and some yards are really cool. But I’d be willing to bet a paycheck that your dog’s favorite outdoor activity is napping under a shade tree.

“These animals were bred to work.”

This was the response my wife received after informing a client that his 120lb Rottweiler did not require nine cups of food per day. He went on to give her an abbreviated history of the breed, explaining that they were designed to hunt bear, guard cattle by night, and move the herds by day. “Interesting,” she responded. “See, I’m Italian. My people built an empire and conquered the known world. We fought to the death and raced chariots just for fun! But I’m pretty sure if I ate like a Roman foot soldier, I’d look like a Pirelli tire, because I’ve personally never built an empire. And I’m pretty sure Trixie has never taken down a bear. There’s no need to feed her like a working dog unless she’s actually working.”

Much of the food that is regularly consumed by both humans and pets would be unrecognizable to our forebears. It’s very exciting to see marketing dollars being spent on cleaner, more wholesome foods. But the so-called “ancestral” approach to wellness involves more than just eating better foods. The ancient ancestors of both animals and humans were constantly burning calories as they hunted, gathered, travelled, and battled the elements. By all means, choose healthier foods, and avoid the processed garbage. But remember to look at the big picture when choosing a diet for your pet. This includes being realistic about how many calories he’s actually burning, and what kind of fuel he truly needs. Which brings me to the next most commonly expressed objection.

“But I’m feeding him one of the best foods on the market”

While there are still a lot of low-grade pet foods on the market, there is an increasing demand for high-protein, grain-free, gluten-free, high quality products as well. The pet food industry has heard us loud and clear, and is providing us with more choices than we’ve ever had before. However when it comes to nutrition,especially protein, there isn’t really a one-size-fits-all formula. A diet that consists of 46 percent protein is a great choice for a Belgian Malinois working as a K9 police officer. A fifteen-year-old lap dog, however is likely to store all that excess fuel as fat. They may even find such a diet too difficult to digest. Your regular veterinarian can help you decide which of these higher quality foods is a good fit for your pet. Regardless of your pet’s energy output, it’s important to remember that a nutritionally dense diet does not have to be fed in large quantities. Even if your pet is extremely active, he probably requires smaller portions of these types of diets than you think. Speaking of portions, let’s move on to the next objection.

“I’m not overfeeding him - I’m following the instructions on the bag”

I am routinely horrified by by the feeding instructions recommended by pet food manufacturers. While some of the better companies are making it a point to buck this trend, most feeding instructions recommend feeding anywhere between 20 percent and 50 percent more food than your pet requires. To be fair, these instructions must apply to animals that differ vastly in size, age, and activity level. They are using broad strokes to form an educated guess that works for some pets, but not others. They tend to err on the side of recommending large portions - and why wouldn’t they? 

Let’s face it, there is little economic incentive for a pet food company tell consumers to please use less of their product! Overfeeding works for them. It’s up to us as veterinary professionals, and you as pet parents to determine how much food your pet really needs. Veterinary nurses and assistants do a great job of providing this service, and most of the clinics where I’ve worked did not charge for such consultations. If you are feeding according the instructions on the bag, and you suspect your pet is overweight, you can start his weight loss plan by cutting that recommended portion by at least 20 percent.

He only gets a few treats a day. And maybe a little table food ... but that’s it”

For most of us, the thought of a 45-calorie cookie sounds pretty darn good! When placed into the context of a 2,200 calorie per day diet, that’s a pretty liberal snack budget! But what happens when that same cookie (or in this case, a commercial dog treat), is fed to a small dog who only requires about 200 calories per day? What happens when that same treat is given to that same dog several times per day, every day? Most pet parents have no idea how quickly these calories add up. The same holds true for that little piece of cheese, or that single potato chip we occasionally share with our furry friends. If you think those little indulgences can’t possibly have big consequences, keep watching this space. I’ll be taking a hard look at some of your pet’s favorite goodies. Spoiler alert: you may not like what you see.

“I love my pet just the way he is. It’s called Fat Acceptance"

Listen, folks. I’m not trying to make you feel like a terrible pet owner, and I’m not out to “body shame” your pet. I’m looking out for his health. It’s called “doing my job.” The spirit of the Fat Acceptance movement isn’t to pretend that obesity is good for our health. It’s to encourage people to err on the side of empathy, quit being judgemental a-holes, and while we’re on the subject, can we please stop picking on Carrie Fisher? She’s beautiful, powerful, and awesome and I don’t care how many years it’s been, I still have a big time crush on her.

What was I talking about again? Oh, right ... your pet.

Truth be told, my little Gendel can’t exercise the way she used to. I’d like to see her lose about a pound and a half. That’s a tall order for an eight pound dog. I still love her to pieces, but it’s because I love her that I’m going to make sure the extra weight comes off. Since the first of the year, she’s been eating less and swimming laps. That extra pound and a half will shorten her life. And I’m not okay with that.

So by all means, keep on loving your pet. And please don’t be hurt if your vet suggests a weight loss plan. We’re not trying to hold your pet hostage to some unfair, sexist, unreasonable, BS beauty standard. We just want to keep him in your life for as long as possible. So take a long, hard look at your furry friend, and ask yourself if he really is “just fluffy”. Be honest, and beware of the fat gap. Ask your veterinarian for help if you need to make some changes. That’s part of our job, and we’re happy to do it.

Just leave Princess Leia alone.

Dr. Kupkee is the lead practitioner at Sabal Chase Animal Clinic

Do you have a question for Dr. Kupkee? Send him an email by clicking here.

Click here for special deals and discounts exclusively for NBC 6 viewers.

Contact Us