Pet Obesity is a sensitive topic and one that can be an awkward subject to discuss with pet owners. However more awareness needs to be raised around pet obesity as it’s become one of the biggest health threats to our pets today! The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) 2024 survey results reported that 41% of dogs and 32% of cats are either overweight or obese.
Obesity not only makes your pet very uncomfortable, but also decreases their lifespan. This is due to the significant burden placed on the various body systems. Obesity contributes to conditions such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, heat stress, diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, hypothyroidism and liver disease.
When weight loss is approached sensibly and gradually, pets can regain vitality and experience improved health. Here are some key reasons why pets are obese and our suggestions for helping your beloved pets loose weight safely.
Reasons for Pet Obesity
- Overfeeding: Many pet owners overestimate the amount of food their pets need. Calorie-dense treats and human food can also contribute significantly to excess calorie intake.
- Lack of Exercise: Pets, especially dogs, require regular physical activity. Urban living and busy lifestyles often result in pets not getting enough exercise.
- High-Calorie Foods: Some commercial pet foods are high in calories, carbohydrates and low in nutritional value, contributing to weight gain. These may not provide a balanced diet if not carefully measured.
- Lack of Awareness: 90% of Australian pet owners are unaware of the appropriate weight range for their pets or the health risks associated with obesity.
- Medical Conditions and Genetic Factors: Some pets may have medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, that contribute to weight gain. Certain breeds are genetically predisposed to gain weight more easily.
- Aging: Older pets may become less active, leading to weight gain if their diet is not adjusted accordingly.
Identifying Obesity in Pets
- Body Condition Score (BCS): A visual and palpable method to assess a pet’s weight. An ideal bodyweight consists of ribs easily palpable with minimal fat. The waist is easily distinguished from above with an evident abdominal tuck.
Steps for Addressing Pet Obesity
- Veterinary Assessment: Before embarking on any weight loss plan, it is essential to consult a veterinarian. This ensures your pet’s weight issues are not due to an underlying medical condition, which could make weight loss dangerous without professional supervision.
- Proper Diet Management:
- Set a Goal Weight by identifying your pet’s current weight. Calculate 15% of the current weight and subtract the 15% from the current weight to establish the goal weight. If your pet is still overweight once the goal is reached, the next new target weight goal is the current weight less 15%. This process continues until your pet reaches their ideal BCS.
- Reduce weight slowly – aim to reduce weight by approx. 1%/week. Achieving a weight loss of up to 15% can be accomplished over a period of twelve to fifteen weeks.
- Balanced Diet: Avoid commercial dry food weightloss diets as they are too high in fibre, carbohydrates and don’t contain enough high-quality protein. Upgrade to the highest quality wet diet you can manage. If you are struggling to get your pet off kibble opt for a preservative-free, high-quality protein dry food. Or even better, prepare your own food by following our cat diet or dog diet recommendations. A fresh food diet is highly recommended for optimum health. Ensure the diet is appropriate for their age, breed, and activity level. If your pet has a diagnosed medical condition, Ask our Naturopath for tailored diet advice. If you’re changing diet, ensure you make changes gradually to avoid stomach upset. Add a little of the new food to their usual diet, gradually increasing the new and decreasing the old.
- Portion Control: Measure food portions to avoid overfeeding. Your pet should be eating approx. 2-3% of their goal weight. Strictly follow guidelines provided by the manufacturer of your chosen pet food. If your pet is used to grazing all day then spread meals throughout the day e.g. 1 meal in the morning, 1 at lunch and 1 meal at night. The total amount of food intake per day includes treats! No leftovers or free feeding/grazing.
- Healthy Treats: Limit treats and opt for healthier, low-calorie options such as our dehydrated Chicken Breast, Emu Patties or Roo Treats. Pieces of homemade unsalted popcorn (no butter), carrot or apple also make good snack substitutes. For cats, try bonito flakes (available from suppliers of Japanese foods or Asian grocery stores).
- Add supplements to the diet to ensure your pet is getting all the nutrients they require and may also assist with weight loss. We recommend the multivitamin supplements Greenpet Essentials and Augustine’s SuperBoost. L-Carnitine and Omega-3 fatty acids supplements such as Flaxseed Oil or Krill Oil may help with fat metabolism. Researchers from Seoul National University recently identified two particular strains of probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus) that promote weight loss in obese dogs. Both these strains are contained in the Natural Pet Supplements Gut Restore.
- Regular Exercise:
- Daily exercise is crucial for achieving and maintaining healthy weight control in pets. For very overweight animals, exercise should be introduced slowly and carefully, with a gradual increase over time.
- Daily Walks: Ensure dogs get daily walks and playtime. Try walking your cat using a harness outside. Cats can benefit from interactive toys and activities that stimulate physical movement. Make sure your cat has things to climb on indoors.
- Playtime: Engage in regular play sessions with your pets to keep them active and stimulated.
- Weight Monitoring: Keep track of your pet’s weight and make adjustments to their diet and exercise routine as needed.
Helping our pets reach and stay at a healthy weight is all about awareness, knowledge and balance. With a little effort and some help from animal health professionals, you can keep your furry friends healthy and living a long and happy life.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. Greenpet requires a diagnosis from your veterinarian before making recommendations for specific health con
