How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

Each pet is individual and therefore has its own ideal weight range. You get big Labradors, small ones, tall ones, short ones etc so it isn’t enough just to measure their weight, what we are more concerned with is their FAT deposition. We use a system called Body Condition Scoring (BCS).

Excess fat can be found easily over a pet’s ribs or around their waist. All dog’s regardless of breed should have a waist and you should be able to easily feel their ribs.

Obese or overweight pets are much more at risk of the following problems:

1. •Heart Disease
   

2. •Osteoarthritis
   

3. •Diabetes
   

4. •Breathing Problems
   

In addition overweight pets have a reduced quality of life because they are less capable of interacting normally with other animals and their owners. They tire easily and struggle to run, jump and play.

Age

1. An animal has very different nutritional requirements as it ages. Puppies and kittens require much more nutrients as they are normally very active and growing. However it is still possible to overfeed at this time. As they reach maturity (normally around 1 year old) they will require less calories and so should go onto an adult diet. Finally, senior pets (over 7 years) generally require less calories and a different balance of nutrients so should move onto a senior diet.
   

Breed

1. Some breeds are predisposed to weight gain including the following:
   

2. •Labradors
   

3. •Retrievers
   

4. •Cocker Spaniels
   

5. •King Charles Spainels
   

6. •Mixed Breed Cats
   

Neutering

1. Neutered pets can have altered metabolic rate reducing their requirement for calories. After neutering it is important to monitor weight and adjust diet accordingly.

Titbits and Treats

1. The biggest cause of significant weight gain in pets is inappropriate treats. most human food is far too high in calories to give to pets.

For example:

One plain biscuit to a 10kg dog is the equivalent of a Hamburger for a human!

Giving a 4.5kg cat a cup of milk is the equivalent of 4.5 Hamburgers

Remember!

Dogs and Cats will not lose weight if fed tit-bits.

It is vitally important that everyone in the household understands this.

A biscuit a day can undo all the good work done with diet and exercise.

Remember -  This is the fat you can see and feel - if your pet has this amount of fat on the outside there will be far more fat around the heart, kidneys and other internal organs.

How can we help?

Weight loss should be gradual and controlled. Crash dieting can cause series problems (especially in cats). Careful monitoring of food intake, weight and exercise is essential.

Here at the practice we run Free Weight Loss Clinics. The nurses who run the clinics will assess your pet (including weight and waist measurements) and formulate a plan to get the weight down.

Exercise is an important part of any weight loss program and the nurses will recommend exercise that is appropriate for each individual case as many overweight pets can have joint problems.

Sometimes it may be necessary to start the pet on a weight loss diet such as Royal Canin Obesity. This is a specially formulated diet designed to provide a pet a satisfying meal with all the appropriate vitamins and minerals it needs but with limited calorie content. Once the weight has been reduced to the ideal level we can then get your pet onto a suitable long term calorie controlled diet.

01948 662424 Whitchurch

01270 652121 Wistaston     

24hrs