How is it that most pets in the US are overweight? Have our tendencies towards obesity been transferred to our pets? Um…let me think…YES!
Exactly how hard is it to say, "FLUFFY! STEP AWAY FROM THE FOOD BOWL!”??
This inability on the part of my fellow Americans is an alien concept to me. Of course, it is hard to lose weight—dieting is annoying and exercise can be time-consuming. But taking away a Yorkie's food when his abdomen looks like a basketball-sized alien invader? How hard is that?
Perhaps it’s because I’m a vet, and I understand the physiological consequences of obesity. Or perhaps it’s because I have a deep-seated fear of fat well ingrained by my Western upbringing and continually reinforced by that Vogue magazine I receive every month. Who knows?
No, I’m not recommending that every bulldog acquire a Kate Moss diet—after all, champagne and cocaine are not very nutritious (was that rude?). But I usually do offer a few pointers to my patients` caretakers:
1. Ask your vet if Fido is fat. Don’t be swayed by the use of a euphemism: chunky, plump, chubby, fleshy, round, and Rubenesque all mean FAT. Vets don’t want to insult you so they might be gentle: be honest with yourself and will yourself to see through this obfuscation.
2. DON'T get directions on serving size from the back of Fido's bag of dog food. There’s a saying involving foxes and henhouses that applies here: The dog food companies want you to feed more food. I know that’s just shocking but it’s true.
3. For the love of God, buy yourself a measuring cup! Feeding consistent amounts requires special tools. As Martha says, for every job there’s a perfect tool. This is it.
4. If Fido is fat, start feeding him consistently less (remove 1/4 of his food daily). If he is still fat after about a month or two, remove another 1/4 of his food. If he gets too skinny, titrate up. (Titrate is a great word I recommend that everyone learn. Used here, it means: to fiddle with the kibble until Fido’s got a good figure.
Enjoy the process! Soon I’ll tell you how to tell if your dog is fat and why this is bad.
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You can also do what I've done. Reduce the kibble and fill up the bowl with veggies. (We cut up celery, cucumber and add green beans.) Cody's lost 3 lbs.
Janet August 10th, 2006 01:11:00 PM
Fat cat? May I introduce Hermes? He's a formerly feral shelter cat that we discovered had a knack for nurturing shy, and special needs kittens. Of course he also developed a taste for kitten food and always gets a bite or two (or three) of the extra meals given to all the shelter kittens. We try to get him to move about and exercise but he's very resistant. The best solution of all is to find him a home where his person can put him on a diet and pamper him in non-nutritional ways! We'll have to find another "kitten whisperer."
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisacat/sets/72157594...
Lisacat August 10th, 2006 03:51:00 PM
Also don't forget exercise! IMHO most pets (and their humans) in this country are overweight and often quite unfit, lacking muscle tone and energy, too. Even a 15 minute daily walk for a dog, or ancouraging a cat to play, is something.
Lisa, does he like catnip? I keep little fuzzy toys in a tub of catnip, my cat Elvis has a blast with those! Good lord, he is a butterball....I hope you find a good new home for him. He's quite cute. Maybe he has some sort of, whaddya call it, endocrine problem?
I have lots of photos of my current three here. :)
http://community.webshots.com/user/carinamacd
Carina August 10th, 2006 10:37:00 PM
Yes, Carina, he probably does have that er, "endocrine problem!" I think he's "big-boned" too! LOL! Good idea to try the catnip. I try to tease and coax him into moving, but will add some 'nip to the routine this weekend. Your Elvis is a handsome boy...also a slightly "big-boned" guy isn't he? ;D
Lisacat August 11th, 2006 03:35:00 PM
I was so busy writing a tongue-in-cheek article I failed to mention the obvious:
Exercise Exercise Exercise
and...
Ask your vet to make sure your fat pet is not obese for a variety of other reasons, primarily arthritis or hypothyroidism, but others may well apply here if they lead to indolence, depression, or decreased mobility. Thanks for the wake-up call.
Dr. Patty Khuly August 13th, 2006 10:40:00 AM
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