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Pet obesity – a national epidemic

Pet obesity came to people’s attention about a decade ago, and statistics undeniably show that obesity is on the rise. It has reached epidemic status in the UK!

As veterinarians we are urging pet owners to take excessive weight gain and obesity in pets seriously. We believe obesity is a serious welfare issue in pets because it shortens their life and makes them more likely to develop disease, particularly weight-related disorders. It can cause suffering and can be extremely disabling, affecting your pet’s ability to do their normal activities, like exercise.

Health problems caused by pet obesity

Pet obesity can cause serious health problems, and make existing problems worse, which can reduce the length and quality of your pet’s life. It puts them at greater risk of conditions such as:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Respiratory issues (breathing problems)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Cancers
• Osteoarthritis and a faster degeneration of affected joints
• Urinary bladder stones

On the other hand, obesity may be an indicator of disease, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or Cushing’s disease (overactive adrenal glands).

Is your pet at risk of obesity?

Several factors can make obesity more likely in your pet. For example, in dogs:

• Breed – certain breeds have a higher risk.
• Age – the risk increases with age.
• Neuter status – neutered animals are more likely to gain weight if their diet is not managed carefully.
• Sex – apart from older dogs, obesity is reported to be more common in females.
• Obese owner – may lead to having an obese dog as it may be exercised less, or less able to recognise obesity.

Other animals have similar risk factors for obesity.

Does your pet need to lose weight?

Obesity is when your pet has too much body fat and it has a negative impact on their health, welfare and quality of life. Extra body weight and extra body fat tend to go hand in hand, so most overweight dogs will have excess body fat.

Body weight is easy to measure when assessing if your pet is overweight or obese – easier than trying to measure body fat. Using body weight as a guide, pets are considered to be overweight when they weigh 10-20% above their ideal body weight. They are considered obese when they weigh 20% or more above their ideal body weight.

It can be difficult to recognise if your pet is overweight, particularly if it happens slowly or if they have always been overweight. As a pet owner it’s important to understand that weight gained slowly is just as deadly as weight gained rapidly! By recognising weight gain early, your chances of preventing weight-related diseases and severe obesity are greatly improved.

Of course, the best way to check is to take them to the vet and get them properly weighed. However, there are some home methods you can try first, to judge if a trip to the vet is necessary.

Here are some signs to look out for in both cats and dogs:

• Ribs – Overweight pets have a layer of fat covering their ribs, which makes them difficult to see or even feel.
• Spine – A ‘fat pad’ will cover their back.
• Tummy – Your pet’s tummy will bulge out and sag downwards, which may wobble or sway when they move
• Face, legs and neck – Obese cats and dogs can get fat pads in these areas.

If your pet doesn’t pass these checks, or if you’re in any doubt, consult your vet. They’ll be able to give your dog a health check and will recommend a weight reduction programme if they think it’s necessary.

In contrast, underweight cats and dogs will have highly visible ribs, hipbones, and backbone. There will be a complete absence of fat around these areas, with an exaggerated waistline and non-existent tummy.

Tips for weight loss and preventing pet obesity

Once you have identified that your dog is overweight or obese, it is important to act to help them to lose weight.

The best approach to weight loss is one that promotes fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass. When pets properly lose fat and gain muscle, pet owners often report an increase in activity levels, enthusiasm and playfulness.

Here are our tips on how you can help your pet in the quest to attain a healthy weight in five easy steps:

1. Food and portion control
Use a specific nutritional product designed for healthy and safe weight loss i.e. one that has lower overall calorie density yet maintains an appropriate nutrient balance. And make sure that you are feeding them the right amount…

Every complete pet food in the UK must have feeding guidelines, but these are based on an assumed activity level, typically above the level of exercise the average cat or dog gets. Plus pets need different amounts of food during their life stage and different breed sizes have different needs, so you need to adjust the recommended feeding amount for your specific pet. When changing their food, portion or feeding pattern, closely monitoring any weight changes over the first few weeks and adjust feeding accordingly.

2.Exercise
There are so many benefits of regular exercise for your pets. Not only will exercise help your pet shed extra pounds, but it will also strengthen respiratory and circulation systems, and aid digestion. The key is to get your pet moving each day, ideally for a minimum of 30 mins (if your pet is able). For some pets e.g. brachycephalic (short nosed) breeds or older pets you will need to tailored exercise to what they are capable of and build up to longer walks slowly. Using an activity tracker can help you to know exactly how much you are both doing!

Cats don’t tend to go on long walks the same way dogs will, making increasing exercise a bit trickier. Try playing interactive games with your cat, with a feather or toy mouse for instance, and feed them on elevated surfaces and in different locations around your home. Keeping these play sessions regular can help to bond with your kitty, whilst keeping them entertained and trim. You could also consider remote-controlled toys and self-directed interactive toys that use technology to engage your pet’s play drive.

3.Treats
Snacks and treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily calorie intake. Many pet owners feed the proper amount of food but sabotage their efforts by adding one or two snacks throughout the day. As few as 30 extra calories per day means your pet could gain over three pounds in a year. Fresh or frozen green beans, broccoli, and cauliflower all make excellent snacks if approved by your vet. Whatever treats you give, be sure to count those additional calories.

When it comes down to it, most dogs would prefer extra attention to more treats. Spending more time with your pooch will give you both more satisfaction than a treat which is inhaled in an instant and quickly forgotten. But if you do want to reward good behaviour with a treat then break it into smaller pieces and offer them whenever your pet earns it. After all dogs don’t do division!

4. Regular weigh-ins
Monthly weigh-ins are an important component of successful weight loss, and it keeps everyone accountable. It is important to verify weight loss, to ensure that weight loss is neither too rapid nor excessive, and to determine when enough weight has been lost.

5. Look for diseases and get them treated
Although most of the weight gain in cats and dogs is caused by over-feeding and not enough exercise, there are some medical conditions that can contribute to obesity in pets. Fortunately, most of these diseases and illnesses can be treated by a vet, so it’s important to keep an eye on your pet for any changes.

An unexplained increase or decrease in appetite or weight could be a sign of something more sinister. So, be sure to get them checked out by your vet to be on the safe side.

Whatever your weight loss approach, keep in mind the goal is to improve health and prolong life, not just skinny pets. Weight loss done correctly can improve quality of life and extend longevity in pets.

What happens when you reach your weight loss goal?

Weight loss isn’t a single battle; it’s a lifelong war. Once an ideal body weight and condition has been achieved, it is important to maintain that weight. Yo-yo weight loss and gain is no healthier for pets than for humans. The goal is to change your lifestyle so that an active, healthy lifestyle becomes normal.

Follow-up care with your vet is essential for sustained success. Your vet team can help you find an appropriate food and portion for weight maintenance. We recommend tracking your pet’s weight every one to three months to make sure they stay inside the healthy range.

Christmas Food Toxic to Pets

For us humans, Christmas is a time of over indulgence but some of our favourite Christmas foods can be dangerous to our pets.

Grapes/Raisins, Currants and Sultanas
The toxic mechanism of these fruits in animals is not known, but they can cause kidney failure in dogs and possibly cats.

Some dogs can eat large quantities without any effects and others will develop renal failure with as few as a handful.

The initial signs are usually vomiting and diarrhoea, which then progress to renal failure in 24-72 hours. Again, no specific antidote exists, thus the treatment is supportive, with IV fluids to attempt to protect the kidneys.

At this time of year, things like Christmas cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies, which are full or dried fruit are in abundance, so please store them out of pets reach!

Nuts
Peanuts have been reported to have adverse effects in some pets. Some reported symptoms included, vomiting/diarrhoea, twitching, spasm, agitation and convulsions. Macadamia nuts are also toxic to dogs and can cause weakness, tremors, vomiting, depression, lameness and stiffness.

Allium species
These foods include onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. They can be toxic raw or cooked. Initially vomiting and diarrhoea is seen. This is followed by a serious condition called haemolytic anaemia (destruction of red blood cells) from 1-5 days later. Many foods can contain these ingredients unknowingly, so avoiding giving any table scraps is recommended.

Chocolate
The toxic component of chocolate is called theobromine (a compound similar to caffeine). The amount of theobromine varies in different types of chocolates.

The content in white chocolate is fairly low, milk chocolate has a moderate amount and the content in dark/pure chocolate or cocoa powder is relatively high. Thus, the toxicity of chocolate depends on what type, how much is ingested and the size of your dog.

The most common clinical symptom of chocolate poisoning in dogs is vomiting and diarrhoea. This along with the fact that theobromine is a diuretic puts dogs at risk of dehydration. Other effects that can occur are hyperactivity, increased body temperature, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate. Tremors and convulsions can also be observed in extreme cases. There is no specific antidote for chocolate poisoning and the treatment is supportive and symptomatic.

If your dog has eaten any type of chocolate of any amount, seek veterinary attention as soon as possible as most of the risk can be reduced by immediately inducing vomiting to remove the toxin and administering an oral substance to reduce further absorption of any chocolate still in the gastrointestinal tract.

Bones
Eating chicken, turkey or goose carcases may cause larger pieces of bone to cause an obstruction, while smaller pieces may irritate the gut, or even penetrate the stomach or intestinal wall, which may require surgery.

When preparing your Christmas day meal, ensure that any meat is kept on the kitchen surface, or out of reach of your pet. When throwing away a carcass, take it to the outside bin, therefore avoiding any temptation for your dog to raid your kitchen bin during the night.

Alcohol
All alcohol can be harmful to pets, so please keep out of pets reach. Certain alcoholic drinks may be more appealing to dogs, such as cream or egg based drinks. Dogs may develop similar effects to those expected in humans, including becoming drowsy, wobbly on their feet and in more severe cases they can develop low body temperature, low blood sugar, seizures and coma.

If you think your pet has ingested any of the above, please contact us.

What are the symptoms of eye disease you should look out for?

We know that eye health is important but how often do you take your pet’s eye health into account?
Eye problems are often painful and, if left untreated, may result in sight loss. That’s why understanding the symptoms and getting a vet appointment early is essential.

Any changes in your pet’s eyes or if one eye suddenly looks different from the other could indicate a problem. Read about some specific symptoms of eye disease below.

Redness

A red eye is most commonly due to inflammation. Inflammation can occur anywhere in or around the eye. There may also be discharge, irritation and swelling present. Conjunctivitis is a common cause of a red eye in dogs and cats and can be secondary to a number of causes such as allergies, foreign bodies, tear film disorders or pathogens. Your vet will treat your pet accordingly depending on the underlying cause.

Redness may less commonly be due to engorged blood vessels (e.g. in glaucoma) or haemorrhage within the eye, either of which can be damaging to vision.

Irritation

Eyes are very sensitive due to their dense network of nerve endings. Irritation is common and is usually an indicator of a painful or itchy eye.

Pain – This can manifest as pawing or rubbing at the eye, squinting or increased blink rate, excessive tearing, sensitivity to light and vocalisation. Corneal ulceration (damage to the window-like structure at the front of the eyeball) is a common cause of acute pain and needs to be addressed promptly to avoid further deterioration. Other causes of acute eye pain may be trauma or foreign bodies. Some conditions, such as glaucoma, can cause dull/throbbing pain due to build up of pressure inside the eyeball. Your pet may not show the above symptoms and may just be more quiet and off food (similar to how you would feel with a dull headache or migraine!)

Itchiness – Pets will often paw and rub their eye if itchy. Itchy eyes may be due to allergies, infections or skin conditions and they may also show other symptoms such as redness or discharge.

Discharge

Discharge can range from watery to sticky/ thick and be a variety of colours (clear, yellow/green/brown or bloody). Normal healthy eyes should be clear and bright so if you notice any discharge you should consult your vet.

Once discharge dries it can become crusty and adhere to the eyelids which is uncomfortable for your pet and may become a site for bacterial multiplication.

Dull/ cloudy/ change in colour

Dull – A healthy pet has bright and shiny eyes. If your pet has dull looking eyes it could be a sign of by dry eye (AKA Kerato-Conjunctivitis Sicca or KCS), most commonly caused when the immune system attacks the tear gland tissue leading to gradual tear volume depletion and an unhealthy cornea. Tear gland loss can become total and permanent if left unchecked but can be saved in most cases if identified and treated early. Further information can be found here.

Cloudy – Cloudy looking eyes can be due to fluid or cellular infiltrate into the cornea or issues with the lens (e.g. cataracts)- any eye with a cloudy appearance should be checked immediately.

Change in colour – Speak to your vet if there is any change in colour of any part of the eye(s).

Tear staining

Tear stains are those reddish-brown marks that can appear on the fur around your pet’s eyes. These stains can be unsightly and noticeable, especially on pale fur. In most cases tear staining occurs when tears don’t drain properly and find their way onto the face. For these patients, tear staining is largely a cosmetic problem which can be solved with regular cleaning. Ocryl is a gentle eye cleansing solution designed specifically for pets which is also proven to combat stubborn tear stains! Further information can be found here.

Some patients with tears stains may have underlying eye problems which mean they overproduce tears due to ocular irritation. These tears can then spill over onto the face resulting in tear staining so it’s important that a vet checks your pet if they have tear stains to address anything treatable.

Asymmetry

Both eyes should look the same so a sudden or gradual change in appearance between eyes can indicate a problem. Look out for differences in shape, size, colour or pupil size. There will be the odd exception where a difference is normal to that individual- for instance some breeds of dog, such as Collies, may naturally have different coloured irises (called ‘Wall Eye’).

If both eyes are asymmetrical in appearance have a vet check them out to be on the safe side.

Loss of or declining vision

Loss of vision can be sudden or gradual depending on the cause and, despite how close we are to our pets, it can sometimes go unnoticed as their other senses (such as smell and hearing) are much more heightened than ours. A blind pet often learns to compensate by using these other senses and many will continue to lead a happy life.

A common symptom of vision loss might be your pet bumping into things, often initially in dim light where vision loss is gradual. Pets learn to navigate their familiar environments instinctively so setting them a little obstacle course and calling them towards you can help you identify if their vision is poor. Another symptom of vision loss to watch out for is your pet becoming more clingy with you as they use you for comfort and guidance.

Remember – it is important to be vigilant regarding our pet’s eye health as the earlier a problem is identified the more likely it can be successfully treated. Check your pets’ eyes daily so you know what is normal for him/her and to get them used to having their eyes examined.

Eye problems can also be a symptom of underlying medical conditions, so the quicker you can see your vet, the better.

Autumn is the season for muddy woodland walks, kicking through piles of crunchy golden leaves and wrapping yourself up, ready to battle the wet and windy weather. Although autumnal walks with your dog can be beautiful, it’s important to be aware of the seasonal dangers that could be harmful to them.

Acorns

Acorns contain a type of toxin called tannic acid that can make your dog sick or give them a stomach upset. In larger amounts, or if eaten regularly, tannins can also cause kidney and liver failure. Green acorns contain the highest amounts of tannins and are more poisonous than brown ones. As well as being poisonous, acorns can also block your dog’s stomach, causing further complications.

Conkers

These hard shiny seeds contain a toxin called aesculin, which can make your dog sick or give them an upset stomach. Conkers have a bitter taste that might put some dogs off eating a lot of them. When eaten in larger amounts, aesculin can cause more serious effects, and in rare cases can even be deadly.

Clinical signs are usually seen between one and six hours after ingestion, although they can be delayed for up to two days.

Symptoms of conker poisoning include:

• Vomiting, which may contain blood
• Diarrhoea
• Drooling
• Abdominal pain
• Increased thirst and reduced appetite.
• Signs of restlessness, wobbliness and muscle tremors may also be seen.

Poisoning is not the only risk – Conkers are large and hard and may cause your dog to choke on them, or could cause a blockage in your dog’s intestines.

Fallen fruits

As the temperature begins to cool in autumn, many trees start to drop their fruits. Some seeds, pips and fruit stones (apples, cherries, plums etc.) contain toxins that can make your dog ill.

These fruits can also make your dog unwell if they’re eaten when mouldy or after they’ve begun to ferment.