Cats | Pet Lover Blog

Obesity is a severe and debilitating illness. It is the most common nutritional disease in pets and people; estimates suggest that up to 45% of dogs and up to 13% of cats are obese (many doctors think these estimates are quite low judging by the number of obese pets they see every day in practice.) Current medical opinion states that a pet is obese if it weighs 15% or more over its ideal weight. While pet owners often use the pet’s actual weight to gauge obesity, it is probably more accurate to use a body composition score. Body composition, measured by looking at the pet from the top and sides and feeling the areas over the ribs and spine more accurately reflects obesity than a certain magical number.

Can pet owners prevent obesity? Keep in mind that most obese pets are made, not born, that way. Many owners give their pets treats and snacks and feed them whenever the pet begs for food. In essence, these owners are setting their pets up for all of the medical problems that can occur with obesity. While many people who constantly reward these begging behaviors believe that they are being kind and loving owners, they are actually killing their pets with kindness.

Problems that are associated with obesity in pets and people are numerous and include orthopedic problems (including arthritis,) rupture ligaments, intervertebral disk disease, difficulty breathing, reduced capacity for exercise (and in severe cases any movement at all,) heat intolerance, increased chance for complications due to drug therapy (it is more difficult to accurately dose medications in obese pets,) cardiac problems, hypertension, and cancer. When you keep in mind that the excess body fat occurs in the body cavities of the chest and abdomen (often being deposited there first) as well as under the skin (what we see as “fat”,) it is not surprising all of the medical problems that can be associated with obesity.

Because diseases such as hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus can be associated with obesity, obese pets should be screened for these disorders prior to treatment for obesity

The treatment of obesity involves restricting calories and increasing the metabolic rate via a controlled exercise program. Using store bough “Lite” diets is not usually adequate, as these diets are not designed for weight loss but rather weight maintenance. Additionally, since many store bought diets may contain chemicals, by-products, and fillers, they would not be a part of a holistic pet program. Homemade restricted calorie diets would be the first choice for dietary therapy for obese pets (see my book The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats for an example of a homemade diet for overweight pets;) processed “obesity-management” diets available through veterinarians would be the second best choice as some of these diets may also contain chemicals, by-products, and fillers. These “obesity-management” diets are used until the target weight is obtained, then replaced with a homemade maintenance diet if possible. Foods which increase metabolism such as vegetables which are high in fiber are included in weight loss diets. Fiber, contained in vegetables, decreases fat and glucose absorption; fluctuating glucose levels cause greater insulin release. Since insulin is needed for fat storage, decreased or stable levels are preferred. Fiber also binds to fat in the intestinal tract and increases movement of the food in the intestines, which is of benefit to the obese pet.

There are several natural therapies that may be helpful as part of the treatment of obesity in some pets. Suggested therapies include chromium, carnitine, herbs (cayenne, ginger, and mustard,) hydroxycitric acid (HCA,) white bean extract, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG,) and coenzyme Q-10. The natural treatments are widely used with variable success but have not been thoroughly investigated and proven at this time. However, a new supplement that appears promising contains the clinically tested starch blocker Phase 2 pet

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Walking down the cat food isle in a pet store could leave you quiet confused as to what food is best for your cat. There are certain nutrients that a cat must have, knowing these nutrients and making sure the food you buy has them listed as ingredients can help make the choice easier.

Other factors to consider are your cat’s lifestyle, age and health. Cats need meat-based food to survive and remain healthy. The reason being that certain substances essential to cats cannot be manufactured synthetically and are only found in meat.

Different types of Food:
Dry
Semi-moist
Wet/Moist

Dry:
Contains little water, is hard and crunchy which helps keep your cats teeth tartar-free. This can be left out all day for your cat without going off. Choose a variety that is low in magnesium to prevent Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), where stones or crystals develop causing painful urination for your cat. Usually dry food contains all your cats nutrient requirements, but do not take it for granted, always check the label.

Semi-Moist:
Contains less water than canned food and often contains vegetable protein. This can be left out for your cat to snack on. Not all semi-moist foods contain the nutrients a cat needs and supplementation may be necessary so that your cat gets a complete diet.

Wet/Moist:
Has a high water content, comes in many flavors and is the food type preferred by most cats. Wet food goes off very quickly and any left over by your cat should be removed and not left out. Wet food easily looses its meaty smell, so if you notice your cat turning up his nose to a meal, this could be the reason. Buying the smaller canned food or food that comes in pouches is often the better choice as there will be less wastage. To help prevent tartar formation you can add a few dry biscuits to the food. Or leave a bowl of dry food out for your cat to eat during the day and feed wet food once a day.

Serve food at room temperature, if you have canned food in the fridge bring it to room temperature before offering to your cat. Always provide fresh drinking water to your cat. Cats do not need to drink cows milk and in fact if you offer it to them, they will likely have an upset tummy as they are unable to digest the milk sugar (lactose). Instead offer a brand of cat milk found at your local pet store.

If you decide to feed your cat a home-made diet it is essential that you consult with your veterinarian as cats require many essential nutrients. These nutrients and requirements vary based on many factors, such as age and weight along with whether or not your cat will be indoors or outdoors.

Guide to Cats. Get information on buying, owning and caring for your cat, learn more about Cat Feeders.

Paul Hegarty is the owner of learningfromdvds.com. Price compare Fitness DVDs, read reviews, download free E-books. Read this month’s e-book on “How To Spot A fraudulent Email”. Grab your free copy today.

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Cat health is something all cat owners should know something about. You can improve and maintain the health of your cat, and doing this takes little time and effort. Cat health problems do arise, and in turn cat health questions are very common among cat owners. The reward for getting answers to these questions and solving these problems is insuring your cat is happy and healthy, and provides you with years of enjoyment and unconditional love. Cat health awareness begins the moment you acquire your feline, just by getting to know their habits and personalities. The logic behind this is that somewhere down the road, when you notice your cat has a sudden change in behavior, eating habits and sleeping habits, there is a good chance your cat has some sort of health issue.

It is a good practice to schedule a yearly check up at the vet to make sure there are no health concerns. Cat health can be maintained at home by simply examining your cat while you pet, play with or cuddle on the couch with him or her. Check for lumps, ticks or any other type of abnormality. The more often you do it, the easier it will become to spot any kind of change. If you notice a lump, black specs in the ears, eye gunk or a rash, you should consult the local veteranarian. These regular examinations are very important, because the sooner you notice the problem, the easier it will be to treat.

Grooming also plays a big role in cat health. The more often you groom him or her, the better off they will be. By grooming, you shoud remove a lot of dead hair, and there are combs specially made to extract ticks and fleas from your cats fur. Pay attention to your cats claws as well, as they sometimes require a quick trim. It’s fairly easy to clip your cats nails, but make sure you know how to properly perform this treatment and not cutting them too short. There are plenty of books on cat health at your local book store, and every cat owner should have one to consult every now and then. Owning a pet is a responsibility, and a responsible owner takes the time to do their best to make sure that pet is healthy.

Dean Cecere is a successful author and regular contibutor of resourceful articles helping pet owners keep their pets happy and healthy.

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