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