Herald ■ Lantern - Dispatch 28 August '85 7 51

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Pet Patrol MARK W. LOGAN, V.M.D

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Just as some of us are overweight and would like to slim down, many of our cats and dogs are eating too much also. Some are slightly overweight, others are outright obese. On an individual basis, it seems a higher percentage of dogs are overweight than cats. This is not to say, however, that cat owners should be any less vigilant than dog owners in monitoring their cat's weight and daily food intake. OBESITY IS not an acutely serious disease, but as the years go by. your pet will begin to show signs of chronic stress due to its overweight status. Your veterinarian sees pets every day which are carrying 25-50 percent more weight than they should. Extra weight can tax circulatory system, liver, kidneys and musculoskeletal system of your pet. Diabetes mellilus is sometimes seen in the later years of a chronically overweight animal. Obesity can easily shorten your pet's lifespan also. As with humans, excessive fat can make anesthesia and surgery, whether routine or elective, more difficult for the surgeon. More difficult surgery can mean greater risks for your pet when surgery is necessary. HOW DOES your pet get fat? Major ways are use of too many treats, feeding table food which is unbalanced nutritionally, and/or feeding too high a volume of food each day. Cats and dogs get fat over an extended time, so proper daily rations must be fed to maintain the animal at a healthy weight but not gain weight over a longer period of time. There is no way to determine how much food should be given to individual pets. One rule to follow though, is NOT to read the feeding charts on packages of food. MOST ANIMALS won't eat all of the rather high suggested rations and other animals will continually gain weight if they eat that much food. Small dogs do NOT need to eat as much as their owners think they should. Check your pet's weight by using your bathroom scale or one at your veterinarian's office. Home scale users: subtract your weight from the total weight while holding your

pet and stepping on the scale. Try to recheck the weight every 3-6 months. Adjust dietary intake slowly to compensate for weight loss or gain. IF YOUR pet looks fat to you start his diet immediately by cutting his food intake, sometimes up to a 50 percent cut may be needed. In order for an animal to lose weight, it must eat less per day than it needs, this will trigger fat "burn-off" for daily metabolic needs. "He only eats once a day," Muffy's mother exclaims. It seems that Muffy is getting too big a meal once a day. In addition Muffy probably gets too many high calorie dog treats and biscuits, the dog equivalent of junk food. EVEN CATS are starting to get their own varieties of treats. Use kibbled dry food as a treat for your dog or cat. If your pet does not want to eat a few morsels, he didn't need the snack or reward anyway. Dogs also do not need rewards every time they go outside "on business," once they have mastered the behavior. Dog biscuits and snack products which are undeserved only add to the daily caloric intake and the pet's fat pads. EXERCISE IS a plus for hunting and working dogs, but lack of it is not a worthy excuse of pudgy lap dogs. Smaller dogs put on fat very easily and no amount of walking or forced exercise will substitute for drastically decreasing the food supply. Older dogs are even less active and require strict dietary rationing. Neutering is a common excuse for "Frisky" or "Smokey" to come into a veterinary office with a few extra pounds. "She was fine until you spayed her," veterinarians hear often in the exam room. Neutering and spaying your pets does indeed change the hormone levels and metabolic rates. YOUR ANIMAL can easily gain weight in a few months to a few years after surgery. Following the spay8neuter surgery, automatically cut your animal's food ration somewhat and a trimmer beltline might be more manageable. As you finish reading this article, it is hoped you will think about how much food you give to your pet every

day and how satisfied you are with your dog or cat's appearance. If your animal looks like a seasoned athlete, stick with your present feeding regime. IF YOUR pet's appearance is more along the lines of a four-legged member of the melon family, it is time to change your animal's feeding habits. The hardest part of dieting an animal is your own willpower. It is you, the owner, who is ultimately responsible for feeding. The animal won't raid the refrigerator on its own. (True, there are a few pets

out there which can open the refrigerator on their own for a midnight snack. ) EVERY TIME that cat or dog gets its meals, be conscious of how much is being given. Discuss how much to feed your pet with other family members if they are responsible for daily feeding. Also, be sure to talk with them about excessive snacks and morsels of tasty human food being fed to the pet when it is not necessary. TV snacks should not be an integral part of your dog's diet. A little bit of daily dietary thought will usually add years to your pets' life, and provide better health during those years.

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