Park Hill Vet: The Perils Of Pudge
A New Year’s Resolution For The Furries, As Well As The Humans
By Margot K. Vahrenwald, DVM, CVJ
For the GPHN
Welcome to the new year! I tend to think of January as the recovery month from the race through the holidays that starts on Oct. 31 and ends on Jan. 1.
It’s also the pudgiest time of year of year, with all the holiday foods and treats. And, I know we’re almost all a little bit naughty and indulgent with the fuzzy ones in the household. I mean, how can you resist those eyes?
But we know that a pet’s weight can have a significant negative impact on their long-term health. In fact, we know that obesity in pets can shorten life expectancy by up to 2.5 years.
For more than 10 years, Nationwide Insurance has reported that conditions and diseases associated with obesity have been driving an increasing number of claims for cats and dogs (more than 700,000 insured pets). These results are also mirrored by the annual data collected by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). See the sidebar at bottom for the top 10 health conditions for pets by Nationwide in 2021.
What can you do as a pet owner? Combine your health goals with pet health goals too. In a press release from the 2021 Nationwide data study results, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), noted “Keeping a pet lean and active can help humans lose a few pounds themselves and collectively avoid millions of dollars in obesity-related medical costs.”
Here are some simple steps that you can take to help with your pet’s weight loss:
1. Partner with your veterinary to assess your pet’s weight, set some weight loss goals and discuss calories and diet options.
2. Measure your pet’s food accurately with a real measuring cup, not the Big Gulp cup or eyeball method.
3. Consider adding a high-fiber filler such as canned green beans to dog’s meals and a few frozen green beans for the cat to play with and eat.
4. Treats: Make them TINY — as small as you can make them — and use treats for training or reward an activity rather than just for the begging.
5. Use food puzzles, food mats, slow-feed bowls to slow eating and add not only exercise but mental challenge and enrichment. There’s even a website for the felines: foodpuzzlesforcats.com.
6. Be active. Set up walks or ball games for the dog, and indoor play with “fishing” for the cat.
The perils of pudge are real, with more than 54 percent of cats and dogs considered overweight and obese. You, as a loving pet owner, can make a real positive impact that can extend your pet’s life, prevent and lessen pain, and help to ward off expensive veterinary bills for emergency care or chronic disease management.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit parkhillvet.com
Top 10 Health Conditions Impacted by Obesity
Dogs
1. Arthritis
2. Bladder/urinary tract disease
3. Soft tissue/trauma (bruise or contusion)
4. Torn ligaments in knee
5. Liver disease
6. Low thyroid hormone
7. Diseased disc in spine
8. Diabetes
9. Chronic kidney disease
10. Heart failure
Cats
1. Bladder/urinary tract disease
2. Chronic kidney disease
3. Diabetes
4. Liver disease
5. Asthma
6. Arthritis
7. High blood pressure
8. Soft tissue trauma (bruise or contusion)
9. Heart failure
10. Gallbladder disorder