Obesity

The hard truth about obesity in our pets is that there are not many medical conditions that independently cause too much weight gain.

As owners, we are responsible so many more times than not.  It is important that the INPUT of energy (i.e. food, treats) is equal to the OUTPUT of energy (i.e. exercise).  When that balance is not maintained, your pet is at increased risk for so many diseases including diabetes, joint disease, liver disease and inflammation of the pancreas, to name a few.

Just like people, dogs and cats can have different resting metabolic rates.  For example, how many of us have a friend or family member, trying to lose weight but can’t lose one pound when all they have is a salad and water.  And another person, living at an ideal weight, can have the cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake and not gain a pound!

It is for your pet’s best interest to be conscious of how many calories your pet is ingesting on a daily basis and how that relates to your pet’s personal metabolic rate.  At Piney Creek Square Integrative Veterinary Medicine, we can help you discern where your cat or dog falls on the scale of body condition scoring and calculate the amount of calories your pet should receive daily.

Please use the websites below to help you with these calculations as well.

• Obesity
• Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
• Increasing Your Indoor Cat’s Activity
• Exercise for Dogs