Fat cats, pudgy pugs
Pets aren't immune from the obesity issues plaguing their owners

Jim Gibson
Times Colonist

Friday, May 12, 2006

Those "love handles" on the family dog are as much a dire warning of obesity as they are in humans, according to veterinarians. The same applies to the tell-tale beer gut and a cat's pendulum stomach.

Pet owners should be able to see a distinct waist in their cats and dogs, says Anthony Carr, small-animal specialist at the University of Saskatchewan's Western Veterinary College. They also should be able to feel particularly a dog's ribs without any probing.

There's a good reason owners should want to feel those ribs.

"Obesity predisposes dogs and cats to a whole host of conditions," says Nick Shaw of Victoria's Shaw Pet Hospitals. Among them are muscular-skeletal problems and diabetes, plus obesity can exacerbate heart and renal disease.

"I always say to my clients 'Thinner pets live longer,'" says Patrick Benloulou of the Cadboro Bay Veterinary Clinic. "Do they listen? I don't know."

It would appear that many Canadian pet owners are not listening.

Carr estimates that upwards of 40 per cent of Canadian pets are obese, a figure which roughly approximates the proportion of overweight humans.

The root causes for both are the same-- too much food and too little exercise, says Carr. Pets reflect their owners lifestyle, says Benloulou, citing the jogger who takes his dog along for the run. Carr agrees: "if we sit around playing PlayStation all day, the dog isn't getting exercise."

But owners, according to Carr, are far more likely to succeed with their pet's diet than any diets of their own.

"They can't shop and they can't open the fridge," says Carr, underlining the advantage pets have over humans in sticking to diets.

Currently Carr is researching the connection between weight loss in obese dogs and lower blood pressure. He cites another study in which genetically similar puppies were monitored over the years for hip dysplasia. Those dogs fed less as puppies proved the healthier.

As dogs age they put on weight and tend to become arthritic, according to Carr. This puts their owners in a bind. Obesity is harder on the joints yet dogs need more exercise -- and subsequently stress joints -- to lose weight. This is further complicated as obese pets tend to have less energy, says Shaw.

Whenever Saanich veterinarian Terry Huberts sees an overweight dog with a limp, he has the owner cut back its food. Usually, he says, the limp disappears.

Huberts suspects pet obesity has increased since he began practising here in 1972. Backyards are not as big as they once were, which now relegates many dogs to leash exercise.

Also, neutering is far more widespread --about 95 per cent -- than it was when Huberts began. He tells owners to cut back their neutered pet's food by 20 per cent, a recommendation, he acknowledges, many other veterinarians don't believe is necessary.

The obese family pet is a reflection of its new status. It no longer has a physical role as the farm dog once did for the rural family, says Carr. They have gone from just being an animal around the house to becoming a cherished member of the family.

As a result people are spoiling their pets, feeding them too much and too often.

"We all know love goes through the stomach," says Carr.

Pet-food manufacturers understand this. They produce a variety of different treats and regular foods, all formulated to entice pets to eat as much as possible, according to Carr.

Pet food labels often leave purchasers to guess at caloric and protein ratios. Generally cheaper foods tend to have a higher caloric content.

People now have more money to pamper their pets.

"I think when I started practising, everything was calculated. (People) were more aware of the costs," says Huberts.

More households now have two wage earners. A working pet owner likely means the pet is left home to lounge alone.

Often food is left out. That's not so bad for cats who tend to graze rather than gorge as dogs do.

Veterinarians recognize the problem of pet obesity.

"Every veterinary practice in any urban centre is involved in weight management," says Shaw.

Their biggest problem is convincing owners their pets are overweight.

"Our weight standards have changed. What's fit looks skinny to (owners)," says Carr.

Many don't want to hear that their pet is fat. At best, they'll concede it's just "pleasingly plump." Some take offence as Benloulou learned early in his career when pointing out the obvious to a similarly obese woman.

He's careful now just who he tells their pet is obese.

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR POOCH IS TOO PUDGY

- Friends say "Wow? What a fat cat/dog!"

- Check for "love handles" by looking down on pet's lower back. Look for a distinct waist rather than an uninterrupted or bulging line through the hips. An hourglass rather than barrel shape

- Ribs should be easily felt

- No swinging stomachs on the cat or bloated-looking bellies on the dog

- Don't be offended if vet says your pet is overweight. Instead, correct the problem

PAWTICIPACTION FOR YOUR PET

- Have a set feeding and exercise regimen

- Keep treats to a minimum

- Don't reward mooching for food

- Don't leave food always accessible

- Opt for higher protein and lower calories, or high fibre and low fat in pet food

- Take frequent walks with your dog. You both will benefit

- Regularly engage in active play with your cat

CREDIT: Darren Stone, Times Colonist
Veterinarian Patrick Benloulou of the Cadboro Bay Veterinary Clinic says thin pets live longer, and bijon frise-cross dogs Inja, 13, left, and Binti, nine, appear to support that argument. Veterinarians estimate 40 per cent of Canadian pets are obese.