Pet Talk-Oct. 19, 2006

As pets cry "Feed me!" consider weight gain

By: Dr. Daniel Eubanks
   Personal weight control is a topic that confronts us ad nauseum on TV, in magazines, on billboards — virtually every possible medium.
   Advertisers now are targeting us about our overweight pets.
   And there is a market there. I would bet that easily 50 percent of my patients are overweight. Owners of these pets either already are frustrated by the problem or shocked to learn "Pudgy" is a bit stout.
   First, let me qualify as being competent to comment on this subject. Those of you who know me may have observed I struggle with weight control myself. Every two years — up, down, up, down. I have size dividers on my closet bar like they use in department stores to segregate my four pant sizes. One of my own cats is just plain fat!
   None of this makes me any less knowledgeable about the subject. It simply means I struggle with weight control just like many of you and your pets. It means I empathize with you. I’ve been there, done that and can personally understand your frustration.
   That being said, let me discuss weight problems as I see them is our pets. I’m exclusively referring to mammalian pets as I’ve never seen a portly parakeet or a "full-figured" boa constrictor.
   All of God’s creatures come equipped with two basic instincts — to feed and to propagate. Higher mammals seem to be able to squeeze in a few other motivators, but our dogs and cats fit the bill perfectly. Most of them seem to be preoccupied by food at least 50 percent of the time.
   A person’s motivation to achieve and maintain optimal body weight is primarily for appearance and/or health reasons. Wardrobe can be an issue when four sizes of pants occupy your closet bar. Health reasons in people focus on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.
   Our dogs and cats aren’t at all concerned with appearance, and the ill effects of excessive weight are different. The most significant consequences I see from weight gain are orthopedic in nature. This is especially true in breeds already predisposed to joint diseases such as hip dysplasia in large dogs.
   This is not to say weight causes breed-specific inherited orthopedic diseases, but it certainly exacerbates the condition and increases the dog’s clinical problem.
   Note I haven’t even mentioned the term obese. Even slightly or moderately overweight dogs with pre-existing joint problems can be significantly affected.
   Animals with previously normal bones and joints can be adversely affected, developing arthritis from an almost deformed bow-legged and flat-footed stance. All of these pets are compromised by sluggishness and immobility.
   True obesity frequently invites sequela due to lack of grooming. Fat animals don’t groom themselves properly, especially down their mid-dorsum and the perianal and perivulvar areas. The reason for this is twofold — they can no longer curl around to reach the area, and it requires too much effort to do so anyway.
   Cats’ hair coats will appear ill-kempt, greasy, even "moussed or spiked," especially down their back. They will develop hair matting, which can coalesce to form a single armadillo-like armor plaque on their back.
   Excrement soiling of their private areas tends to develop dermatitis, which can attract flies and subsequently become maggot infested.
   Ventilation (or respiration) is impaired by excessive weight. The pug breed and other brachycephalic breeds (smooshed-in face) are the extreme examples. These dogs have upper airway obstruction from birth and, therefore, experience difficulty dissipating body heat by panting on a good day. Extra fat insulates the body, thus increasing the need to pant or ventilate. These dogs are predisposed to heat stroke or, at the least, are easily fatigued.
   Other than diet, what factors affect body weight status? Breed can be a factor. I’ve never seen a skinny pug or an obese greyhound.
   Lifestyle and exercise certainly have an effect. Couch potato or field trial dog?
   Hormones? Hypothyroidism is really the only hormonal "excuse" for obesity. This occurs only in dogs and can be easily ruled out by a simple blood test.
   And then there’s neutering, which often bears the blame for weight gain. Nonsense! Ninety-five percent of my patients are neutered, and only 50 percent are overweight. Flip a coin and do the math.
   Next month’s article will resume this discussion with specific suggestions on how to control your pet’s weight.