Battle of the bulge

Obesity in cats and dogs can be caused by several factors, which include:

     A lack of exercise

     Inadequate diet (commercial pet food with huge amounts of carbohydrates)

     Boredom

     Overindulgent owners

     Genetics (particular breeds are more prone to obesity)

     Gender (females are more prone to obesity than males)

     Reproductive status (neutering increases likelihood of obesity)

(Allegretti et al 2003)

In addition to this list, an overwhelming number of cat and dog nutrition experts blame obesity on commercial pet foods which are loaded with poor quality, heavily processed carbohydrates and saturated fats.  It is also interesting to note that cats and dogs on a processed food diet tend to have excessive cravings to eat more, this may be due to them having nutritional deficiencies. (Pitcairn et al 2005)

There are several suggestions how we can take a dog or cat from obesity back to a normal, healthy weight:

     The most important changes must be to:

     - Eliminate processed foods, which includes commercial pet food (Messonier 2001)

     - Reduce carbohydrates (grain, rice, pasta, corn based fillers)

     - Reduce fats,

     - Increase high quality lean proteins (Goldstein et al 2005)

     - Introduce lots of raw meaty bones either whole or minced (Billinghurst 1993)

     - Add vitamin B6 (6.5kg cat dosage = 25mg daily) which assists in the metabolism of fats

     - Add 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the drinking water.  This will also assist to metabolize fats. (Goldstein et al 2005)

     - Increase the activity levels of the animal, more walks and playtime

     - Treats should be pieces of fruit, unsalted popcorn or a raw bone rather than processed dog treats.

     - Include some low fat high quality protein into the diet such as cottage cheese and eggs (Pitcairn et al 2005)

     - Weight loss, especially in cats should be gradual to avoid 'Hepatic Lipidosis.' (Hodgkins 2007)

As most obese cats and dogs will need a change of diet, this also presents the problem, (especially with cats) how do we get our pet to accept and eat food they are unaccustomed to? 

There are many suggestions as to how to change the diet,

1. Gradually,

2. An immediate change which may require a 24 hour fasting period

3. An immediate change with the use of appetite stimulators such as 'cyproheptadine' (which is a anti-histamine drug that increase appetite within 20 minutes of administration.  Cats can be given a 2mg dose. (Hodgkins 2007). Whichever the chosen method, patience and persistence is required, especially with cats!

Personally, I like the gradual approach, introducing the raw ingredients slowly.

Commercial pet food companies, whilst not accepting any blame for the obesity of many cats and dogs have attempted to assist pet owners in their dilemma by producing specially made food, suitable for overweight pets.  Such foods are usually lower in fat and understandably, higher in fibre.  However they are still high in low cost, mass produced corn and grain produce, poor quality protein and are far removed from the raw diet made of real, living, highly nutritious foods.  Pet food manufacturers unfortunately ignore the need in the obese pet for good quality protein and instead include in their produce, protein sourced from vegetable matter.

 

Dry food in particular claims its ingredients are ‘species appropriate.’  However, in practice, they are providing quite the opposite.  Commercial pet food companies are having to continuously add artificial ingredients in an attempt to compensate for what only natural raw food can give.  Even though their attempts are futile, they still continue to make billions of dollars through very clever but misleading marketing and advertising campaigns. (Hodgkins 2007) 

The continued feeding of commercial pet food with its high levels of processed grain, in the long term, can only create health problems; not end them.  As blood sugar levels rise and fall due to the excessive loading of carbohydrates, our pets hunger and urge to eat increases even more.  This leads to owners feeling guilty from seeing their pet hungry and unsatisfied, and the cycle continues until degenerative diseases take a hold. Their pet, that they are killing slowly with kind ignorance becomes sick and dependent on pharmaceutical drugs.  Without intervention, education and a change in diet, the much-loved pet is a victim of the random aging process and will no doubt live a shorter and less enjoyable life. 

Whilst Veterinarians are still being influenced by powerful pet food companies both in Veterinary school and in their clinics, there will continue to be an abundance of degenerative diseases which includes obesity, plaguing our domestic, dependent cats and dogs.

Obesity, once established in a dog or cat can lead to other problems such as osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and insulin resistance. (Allegretti et al 2003).  In addition, obesity, being the result of a poor diet of processed foods, can also cause lower urinary tract infections. (Coscia 2009). Author of 'Natural Health Bible for Cats and Dogs," takes obesity even further, associating this debilitating condition with hyperthyroidism, increased complications whilst taking pharmaceutical drugs and hypertension. (Messonnier 2001)

As most holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists would agree, commercial pet food is most certainly contributing to the large number of obese cats and dogs at the mercy of misled and misinformed pet owners. 

Up until approximately 5 years ago I was one of these pet owners who trusted in the pet food companies and in the processed, packaged food sold in veterinary clinics.  I thought I was providing my cats and dog with the best diet recommended to me by their vet.  Little did I know the food was slowly debilitating kidneys, joints, weakening their immune systems and aging them far quicker than any natural raw diet.

In order to treat obesity, it is important to know that cats are quite different to dogs when it comes to utilizing fat energy stores in the process of weight loss.  As cats do not mobilize fat reserves for energy very efficiently, an extreme diet is dangerous.  Fasting a cat for even a few days leads to Hepatic Lipidosis (fatty liver disease), in which the liver malfunctions due to the overload of mobilized fats in the blood.  However, dogs can tolerate a strict diet, as they can utilize fat reserves for energy efficiently without causing harm to the liver. (Course notes)

Obesity should be treated seriously as it severely decreases longevity and is the cause of many degenerative diseases.  A study carried out in 1997 revealed that obese cats were:

     4 1/2 times more likely to have diabetes

     3 times more likely to suffer from lameness

     7 times more prone to arthritis and muscle injuries

     3 times more likely of developing non allergic skin problems

     Twice as likely to die before the age of twelve

Interestingly, "in the wild, few, if any, animals are obese." (Messonnier 2001)