| Obesity is a severe and debilitating illness. | | | | associated with obesity, obese pets should be |
| It is the most common nutritional disease in | | | | screened for these disorders prior to |
| pets and people; estimates suggest that up to | | | | treatment for obesityThe treatment of obesity |
| 45% of dogs and up to 13% of cats are obese | | | | involves restricting calories and increasing |
| (many doctors think these estimates are quite | | | | the metabolic rate via a controlled exercise |
| low judging by the number of obese pets they | | | | program. Using store bough "Lite" diets is |
| see every day in practice.) Current medical | | | | not usually adequate, as these diets are not |
| opinion states that a pet is obese if it | | | | designed for weight loss but rather weight |
| weighs 15% or more over its ideal weight. | | | | maintenance. Additionally, since many store |
| While pet owners often use the pet's actual | | | | bought diets may contain chemicals, |
| weight to gauge obesity, it is probably more | | | | by-products, and fillers, they would not be a |
| accurate to use a body composition score. | | | | part of a holistic pet program. Homemade |
| Body composition, measured by looking at the | | | | restricted calorie diets would be the first |
| pet from the top and sides and feeling the | | | | choice for dietary therapy for obese pets |
| areas over the ribs and spine more accurately | | | | (see my book The Natural Health Bible for |
| reflects obesity than a certain magical | | | | Dogs & Cats for an example of a homemade diet |
| number.Can pet owners prevent obesity? Keep | | | | for overweight pets;) processed |
| in mind that most obese pets are made, not | | | | "obesity-management" diets available through |
| born, that way. Many owners give their pets | | | | veterinarians would be the second best choice |
| treats and snacks and feed them whenever the | | | | as some of these diets may also contain |
| pet begs for food. In essence, these owners | | | | chemicals, by-products, and fillers. These |
| are setting their pets up for all of the | | | | "obesity-management" diets are used until the |
| medical problems that can occur with obesity. | | | | target weight is obtained, then replaced with |
| While many people who constantly reward | | | | a homemade maintenance diet if possible. |
| these begging behaviors believe that they are | | | | Foods which increase metabolism such as |
| being kind and loving owners, they are | | | | vegetables which are high in fiber are |
| actually killing their pets with | | | | included in weight loss diets. Fiber, |
| kindness.Problems that are associated with | | | | contained in vegetables, decreases fat and |
| obesity in pets and people are numerous and | | | | glucose absorption; fluctuating glucose |
| include orthopedic problems (including | | | | levels cause greater insulin release. Since |
| arthritis,) rupture ligaments, intervertebral | | | | insulin is needed for fat storage, decreased |
| disk disease, difficulty breathing, reduced | | | | or stable levels are preferred. Fiber also |
| capacity for exercise (and in severe cases | | | | binds to fat in the intestinal tract and |
| any movement at all,) heat intolerance, | | | | increases movement of the food in the |
| increased chance for complications due to | | | | intestines, which is of benefit to the obese |
| drug therapy (it is more difficult to | | | | pet.There are several natural therapies that |
| accurately dose medications in obese pets,) | | | | may be helpful as part of the treatment of |
| cardiac problems, hypertension, and cancer. | | | | obesity in some pets. Suggested therapies |
| When you keep in mind that the excess body | | | | include chromium, carnitine, herbs (cayenne, |
| fat occurs in the body cavities of the chest | | | | ginger, and mustard,) hydroxycitric acid |
| and abdomen (often being deposited there | | | | (HCA,) white bean extract, epigallocatechin |
| first) as well as under the skin (what we see | | | | gallate (EGCG,) and coenzyme Q-10. The |
| as "fat",) it is not surprising all of the | | | | natural treatments are widely used with |
| medical problems that can be associated with | | | | variable success but have not been thoroughly |
| obesity.Because diseases such as | | | | investigated and proven at this time. |
| hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus can be | | | | |