No one wants to refuse their four-legged friend’s pleading eyes, but overindulging your furry pal with treats can lead to devastating consequences. Our Milford Animal Hospital team advocates keeping your pet healthy and prolonging their life by maintaining their ideal weight, and we debunk some common myths about your pet’s weight.

Myth #1: My pet looks exactly the way they should.

Truth: Pets portrayed on television and in other media sources are often overweight, making the condition seem normal. In addition, more than half U.S. pets are overweight or obese, so your neighborhood dogs and cats are likely not at a healthy weight. A true ideal body condition score (BCS) involves:

  • Waistline — When observed from above, your pet should have an hourglass figure, and you should be able to appreciate their waistline.
  • Abdominal tuck — When observed from the side, your pet’s abdomen should slant upward behind their ribs. 
  • Ribs — You should be able to feel, but not visualize, your pet’s ribs. Their hip bones and spine should also not have a heavy fat covering. 

Myth #2:  A little extra weight won’t hurt my pet.

Truth: Being overweight increases your pet’s risk for many serious health issues, including:

  • Diabetes — Your pet’s extra weight inhibits their body’s ability to respond to insulin, predisposing them to diabetes.
  • Cancer — Extraneous fat cells can cause growth hormone levels to rise, increasing the pet’s risk for certain cancers.
  • High blood pressure — An overweight pet’s heart must work harder to pump blood throughout the body, which can lead to high blood pressure.
  • Kidney disease — Since overweight pets are at increased risk for hypertension (i.e. high blood pressure), they are also at increased kidney disease risk, because hypertension damages the kidney’s functional units.
  • Arthritis — Extra weight can place excessive pressure on a pet’s joints, leading to arthritis. In addition, fat cells produce a body-wide, low-grade inflammatory response that can exacerbate joint pain and inflammation.
  • Mobility issues — Carrying excess weight can make normal pet activities, such as running, jumping, and playing, difficult.
  • Respiratory difficulty — Many overweight pets have respiratory problems, because of the excess fat lining their chest and abdominal cavities.
  • Heatstroke — Overweight pets are at increased risk for heatstroke, because their fat layer insulates them and prevents body cooling.
  • Skin disease — Many overweight pets have skin folds that are an ideal bacteria and yeast breeding grounds.

Myth #3: My pet can self-regulate their eating.

Truth: Many pet owners allow their four-legged friend access to food 24/7 because they think they will eat only what they need, but most pets don’t regulate their eating. Feeding ad lib typically results in overeating and your pet can easily gain unnecessary weight. Our Milford Animal Hospital team’s suggestions include:

  • Calculating your pet’s caloric needs — Determine how many calories your pet needs daily by considering their breed, weight, age, activity level, and spay or neuter status. Online pet calorie calculators are available to help facilitate the process.
  • Reading your pet’s food bag — Check your pet’s food label to determine the number of calories in a measured portion.
  • Dividing your pet’s calories — Split your pet’s calories into two or three meals, so they don’t consume all their calories at one feeding.
  • Measuring your pet’s food — Use a kitchen scale or measuring cup to accurately measure your pet’s food portion. One or two extra kibble pieces can be significant extra calories for a cat or small dog.
  • Using a food puzzle toy to feed your pet — Food puzzle toys are a great way to feed your pet, because they not only make mealtimes more exciting but also prevent your pet from eating too fast. 
  • Limiting treats — Limit your pet’s treats to no more than 10% of their daily calories and offer healthy options, such as cut up veggies.

Myth #4: My pet doesn’t need exercise.

Truth: While some pets are more athletic than others, all pets need daily exercise. Active breeds, such as Labrador retrievers, border collies, and Australian shepherds, need vigorous exercise for at least one hour per day, while more sedate breeds, such as bulldogs and Pomeranians, may need to be walked briskly for only 30 to 40 minutes a day. Cats also need daily exercise for about 15 minutes twice per day. 

If your pet spends most of their day lounging in your bed, start with short, brisk walks, gradually increasing the duration and intensity level to improve their fitness. Ask our team if you need advice about developing an exercise program for your pet.

Myth #5: My pet will lose weight if I simply restrict their calories.

Truth: Suddenly restricting your pet’s calories can lead to serious health complications, such as hepatic lipidosis. If your pet is overweight, they need a veterinarian’s guidance to develop a safe weight loss strategy. Steps typically include:

  • Determining an ideal body weight — Our team will assess your pet’s BCS to determine their ideal body weight. 
  • Prescribing a weight loss diet — Weight loss diets help keep your pet satiated without feeding unnecessary calories. 
  • Devising an exercise program — We will determine the best exercise program to help your pet lose weight safely.
  • Monitoring your pet’s progress — We typically need to reevaluate your pet every two to four weeks to monitor their progress, so we can make any necessary changes.

If your pet is overweight, contact our Milford Animal Hospital team, so we can devise a safe weight loss strategy to get them back to their ideal weight and BCS.