Pet Obesity is Preventable
Feb 26, 2021 08:30AM ● By Shawn Messonnier
Obesity is the number one nutritional disease in pets, and most of the time, it is caused by overfeeding. Diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes and adrenal disease may also be involved, and abdominal tumors can mimic obesity as well; testing to rule out these disorders is therefore a must. Also, obesity causes a lot of inflammation in the body which can lead to even more problems, so testing for inflammatory markers is critical.
Fat is not just a cosmetic problem, but also causes stress on joints (especially problematic in arthritic pets); acts as a hormone and causes inflammation; increases the cost of surgery and affects breathing under anesthesia; and puts pressure on chest and abdominal organs, among other problems. Therefore, it’s best to prevent an overweight condition or treat it before the pet develops morbid obesity.
Prevention is easy in theory, but hard in practice. Owners should work with their veterinarians to approximate the correct amount and type of diet to feed. Meal feeding two to four times daily is typically preferred to free-choice feeding, where the bowl is always full and the pet can eat whatever and whenever it desires. Exercise is critical to prevent and treat obesity and is also good for the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, emotional well-being and to increase bonding with the pet.
Dieting is critical in order to resolve obesity, and slow weight loss is preferred to crash dieting. Rarely does “feeding less” of the pet’s current diet allow us to obtain the desired weight. Holistic weight loss diets (preferred) and even non-holistic therapeutic diets (used short-term, ideally) are needed with regular weighing at the doctor’s office. Diet is controlled based upon the pet’s response and regular evaluations. When needed, natural thyroid and adrenal glandular support can be helpful for selected pets in order to help achieve desired weight loss.
Work with a veterinarian to prevent and treat this common nutritional problem, and avoid many of the problems our pets face due to obesity.
Shawn Messonnier DVM, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs, and Breast Choices for the Best Chances: Your Breasts, Your Life, and How YOU Can Win The Battle.
Fat is not just a cosmetic problem, but also causes stress on joints (especially problematic in arthritic pets); acts as a hormone and causes inflammation; increases the cost of surgery and affects breathing under anesthesia; and puts pressure on chest and abdominal organs, among other problems. Therefore, it’s best to prevent an overweight condition or treat it before the pet develops morbid obesity.
Dieting is critical in order to resolve obesity, and slow weight loss is preferred to crash dieting. Rarely does “feeding less” of the pet’s current diet allow us to obtain the desired weight. Holistic weight loss diets (preferred) and even non-holistic therapeutic diets (used short-term, ideally) are needed with regular weighing at the doctor’s office. Diet is controlled based upon the pet’s response and regular evaluations. When needed, natural thyroid and adrenal glandular support can be helpful for selected pets in order to help achieve desired weight loss.
Work with a veterinarian to prevent and treat this common nutritional problem, and avoid many of the problems our pets face due to obesity.
Shawn Messonnier DVM, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs, and Breast Choices for the Best Chances: Your Breasts, Your Life, and How YOU Can Win The Battle.
