Is pet obesity abuse

The dangers of pet obesity: causes, treatment, and prevention

There are a variety of factors that make your pet prone to obesity, including feeding them people food. We love our pets. When their big, hopeful eyes lock with ours as we rummage through our pantry, its natural to give in and let them have a little bit of the food were going to eat. But feeding your pets people food in addition to their pet food increases the number of calories and fat that they consume. Too much food, along with other factors, can cause serious health problems.

Breed

American bulldogs, Dachshunds, Labrador retrievers, and basset hounds are among the breeds with an increased chance of being overweight. Some of it is genetics, but dachshunds and basset hounds, in particular, also have a unique body shape and size that adds to their risk.

For more helpful information, take a look at our vet-approved guide to potential health conditions that affect dogs.

Age

Humans risk for obesity rises with age, and the same goes for our pets. As pets age, they dont have as much energy for long walks and games of fetch. They prefer to take more naps during the day. However, its still important to encourage senior pets to exercise. Take your dog on a shorter walk more frequently, or have your cat chase a laser-pointer light up and down the hallway a few times a week. Exercise for pets of all ages is important to help maintain a healthy weight and keep their muscles toned. Senior pets also may require some lifestyle tweaks to make up for less exercise.

Spayed/neutered

Spaying and neutering your pet has many benefits, including decreasing the risk of unwanted animals in shelters. However, recent researchTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source has linked spaying and neutering to pet obesity later in life. Pet owners can combat this risk by adhering to a healthy diet.

Food type

Pets need a well-balanced high-quality diet. Foods with too many kilocalories per cup (kcals per cup), can up a pets obesity risk. An Association for American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) label signifies a well-balanced high-quality pet food. Make sure you check for this label when looking for food for your pet.

Food amount

Overeating is a common factor contributing to obesity, whether its feeding too much human food, kibble, or treats. Gradually reducing a pets food intake may help. However, consult with your local veterinarian first to see if you are feeding your pet too much. Sometimes, a pet eats too fast to digest the food, so they miss hunger cues. You can pace their consumption with slow-feed bowls.

Underlying health conditions

Specific issues, including hypothyroidism and osteoarthritis, can raise a pets obesity risk. If your pet has these risks, pay close attention to their diet, body condition, and weight. Pet parents can access body condition charts to assess their dog or cat.

AVMA addresses pet obesity, opioid abuse

The AVMA Board of Directors met June 19-20 at Association headquarters to consider an agenda that included pet obesity, the opioid abuse epidemic, and a pilot program designed to promote mutual understanding between U.S. and foreign veterinary clinics.

During the meeting, chaired by Dr. Michael Whitehair, the Board approved, among other things, a proposal from the AVMA Future Leaders class of 2017-18 for the AVMA to endorse the Global Pet Obesity Initiative position statement.

The Future Leaders Program is a yearlong intensive experience that brings together 10 veterinarians from diverse professional backgrounds to build leadership skills and create an innovative project of value to the AVMA membership.

The current Future Leaders class was assigned the topic of pet obesity. Over the past year, members developed a pet obesity toolkit for AVMA members while collaborating with organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Global Pet Obesity Initiative. The latter organization has created a position statement that the Future Leaders saw as aligning with the goals laid out by their project.

The statement, unveiled at AVMA Convention 2018 in Denver and signed by all 10 Future Leaders, calls for a uniform definition of pet obesity and a universal body condition scoring system and to define pet obesity as a disease.

The AVMA's endorsement of the pet obesity statement will strengthen the toolkit's impact on the profession, according to the Future Leaders' recommendation to the Board.

Opioid policy

The Board also adopted a new AVMA policy, "The Veterinary Profession's Role in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic."

With concern mounting over the opioid abuse epidemic and increasing state and federal efforts to curb it, the AVMA Board of Directors, in 2017, formed a working group to consider the veterinary profession's responsibilities and appropriate responses to legislative activities seeking to include veterinarians in state prescription drug monitoring programs.

Quickly the working group realized that because of the complexity of existing state prescription drug monitoring programs, the speed with which programs are being adopted across the country, the differences among states' legislative approaches, and the impacts of a variety of other regulations to which veterinarians are subject, it would be difficult to formulate a single comprehensive approach to prescription drug monitoring programs that would be applicable for all states.

Instead, the group chose to direct its efforts toward two achievable goals: developing a policy that would articulate the position of the AVMA and creating resources that would serve as background and support for implementing the policy.

"The working group believes the policy recognizes that, as health care providers who prescribe and dispense opioids and other controlled substances, veterinarians have a responsibility to contribute to solutions to this crisis. It succinctly identifies those places where the profession might focus its efforts, but it also recognizes that, as prescribers and dispensers, veterinarians contribute in limited ways to the problem," according to the background to the recommendation.

"Accordingly, solutions that impact veterinarians should not create more burden than benefit. The policy provides the AVMA, its members, state VMAs, legislators, regulators, and other stakeholders a clear starting point for discussion on how veterinarians can help address the crisis. It also identifies areas within existing state and federal regulations where veterinarians' activities and the nature of their practices are inconsistent with existing PDMP provisions."

Twinning project

The AVMA Board approved a plan under which the AVMA would help manage a pilot program to launch a clinic-to-clinic twinning project between select companion animal veterinary clinics in three countries that are members of the African Small Companion Animal Network and select companion animal veterinary clinics led by AVMA-member veterinarians in the United States.

The AFSCAN is a global initiative of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Foundation.

The goals of the twinning project are to promote sustained relationships and mutual learning that will help veterinary professionalsparticularly those working with companion animalsbetter understand one another's perspectives, challenges, and needs; enhance companion animal health and welfare; and improve the understanding of disease surveillance and control, according to the background to the recommendation.

Related JAVMA content:

Frustration mounts over opioid shortage (July 1, 2018)

Banfield finds 1 in 3 dogs and cats is overweight (Aug. 1, 2017)

Work continues to improve veterinary education worldwide (Sept. 1, 2016)

Study: Over half of pet dogs and cats were overweight in 2015 (June 15, 2016)

The fat factor (Aug. 1, 2013)

Strangers tell me: Your dog is really fat! How pets from cats to gerbils are being forced to diet

Eight-year-old chocolate labrador Blue is shaped like a barrel and has a slow, lumbering gait. Rolls of fat bulge from his collar; his belly hangs low, skimming the ground. Mournful eyes look out from a jowly face. Blue is on a diet, you see, and hes hating every minute of it. No more juicy rabbit ears or plump chicken feet. He sneaked some cake earlier in the week from the kitchen floor, but his owner, Mary, got it away before he could finish it.

I hate this bit, groans Mary*, as Blue thunks on to the scales at the Pet Health and Therapy Centre in Welling, south-east London. Its like Weight Watchers. Ideally, Blue should weigh no more than 36kg. The scales creak: 47.1kg. Hes gone up again, sighs Mary, who has requested anonymity because she is embarrassed. My son and daughter are really skinny, she says in a pleading tone. People think I starve my children but overfeed my animals.

Blue is arthritic and finds it painful to walk. If he doesnt lose weight, he is likely to die young

A 39-year-old dog walker from Mottingham, south-east London, Mary says that Blue is on a calorie-controlled diet and regularly walked. He goes on walks all the time! she says, pulling up her phone to show me photos of Blue hulking over her clients dogs. Sometimes, members of the public come up to Mary at work and tell her that shes got to let Blues owner know he needs to lose weight. I am the owner, she responds.

Reluctantly, Blue is led into a hydrotherapy tank for his weekly session. The water reduces the pressure on his joints, says 23-year-old veterinary physiotherapist Miranda Cosstick, and places less stress on the hips. When Blue began training in November 2021, he could only manage 10 seconds on the underwater treadmill. Now, he is up to 45 seconds, even if he has regained the weight he initially lost. The treadmill whirrs. Blue stares out glumly from the warm lapping water. Cosstick waves a dog treat in front of him, and he lunges forward and tries to get it out of her hand. You have to taunt him with it, says Cosstick, to get him to move.

But this is not animal abuse, whatever Blues plaintive eyes might suggest. Already, Blue is arthritic and finds it painful to walk. If he doesnt lose weight, he is likely to die young from obesity-related complications. And he is not alone. Fuller-figured pets are, increasingly, a mainstay of UK homes. Weve seen an increased prevalence of obesity in both dogs and cats for a long time, says Prof Alex German of the University of Liverpool. The PDSA animal charity reports that 78% of veterinary professionals have seen an increase in pet obesity in recent years, with obesity rated as one of the top five welfareproblems for UK pet owners.

Many owners dont realise the health consequences of their pets being overweight. Only 69% of those the PDSA surveyed agreed that overweight pets were more likely to suffer from serious diseases. Theyre more likely to suffer problems with mobility, arthritis, diabetes, respiratory problems and problems with their urinary systems, says German. Overweight dogs may die two-and-a-half years earlier than their non-obese peers.

But Kitty Thanki is not one of those members of the public in denial about the damaging effects of pet obesity. Im a doctor, says the 35-year-old, from Camden, north London, which is one of the ironies of having a fat dog. Her seven-year-old pomeranian, George, looks like an overstuffed draft excluder. He weighs 6.5kg; ideally, he should weigh no more than 4.5kg. He is greedy, says Thanki. He raids the bin. He eats the cats food. During lockdown, Georges weight went up to 7.1kg. My mum came to stay with me, says Thanki, and thats where it all escalated. She feeds him human food, even though I tell her not to. She says its only a little bit, but she doesnt realise the calorific impact of a slice of toast on a dog thats so small.

The internet is part of the problem. If all you see is overweight pets, you start to think thats normal

Georges story is not uncommon. The UKs pet obesity crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Five per cent of cat owners, and 9% of dog owners, reported that their pets had gained weight since the March 2020 lockdown, with 1.4 million pets being fed more human treats during this time. Being at home has made owners more likely to give pets a little bit of what theyre having, says PDSA vet Lynne James. Its easy to do, when theyre sat there, looking at you.

George has an Instagram account with 2,418 followers (@littlefatcockney), which Thanki initially set up to document his weight loss journey, to use the terminology of diet groups across the world. But the algorithm does not want George to become more streamlined. When he looks the most rotund, says Thanki, he gets the most likes. Thanki understands this impulse, even if shed much rather have no likes, and a healthy dog. Im probably just as guilty of looking at fat animals online and thinking, they are so cute,she says.

Thanki is referring to the pervasive internet trend for videos and photos of obese animals, often referred to as chonky, thicc, and absolute units. The most popular Instagram accounts have hundreds of thousands of followers, who like videos of obese cats getting trapped in cat flaps and struggling to climb on chairs. Some even sell merchandise, including dog backpacks, so owners can carry obese animals that are too unfit to walk. The internet is part of the problem, says James. Its normalising the appearance of these animals being overweight. If all you see is overweight pets, you start to think thats normal. Pets that are a healthy weight start to appear skinny in comparison.

The best way to check whether your animal is overweight is to take them to a vet, but owners can also assess them at home. Run your fingers loosely over their torso, says James, and see whether you can feel their ribs and spine. You should be able to feel them with minimal pressure. You should also see a waistline that tucks in when youre looking at them from the side. I text James photographs of my two pet cats, Kedi and Larry, for professional assessment. Id want to put my hands on them to feel sure, she says, but they look good. Id use them in a PDSA campaign as an example of healthy-looking cats. I flush with pride.

The most important thing, says German, is not to berate owners. Obesity is a highly stigmatised condition, he says. Theres a lot of fat-shaming out there. You could argue: well, cats and dogs dont know youre making fun of them. But youre potentially shaming the owners, and that leads to blame, and the problem with blame is that it gets in the way of good obesity care. Thanki has experienced this casual judgment. Strangers have come up to me and said: Your dog is really fat, she says. Once, my partner was carrying George at an event so he wouldnt get stepped on and a woman said: Hes got legs, you know. Oh wait, maybe he doesnt, because hes so fat.

Celia Deakin, a 40-year-old teacher from Edinburgh, knows this stigma all too well. I do feel guilty, she says. I would like him to be healthy. Deakin is attempting to lose weight herself and says that when she takes her 13-year-old moggy Marlowe to the vet, she feels judged. Its shameful, says Deakin, to be overweight yourself and holding an overweight cat and saying: I swear he doesnt eat that much. Deakin describes Marlowe, who weighs 7.4kg, as an absolute unit and a giant puma. Not in a Rubenesque way, she adds. Hes just a big, massive chunk. When Marlowe jumps off the bed, says Deakin, it sounds like a cannonball hitting the ground.

Like George, Marlowe piled on the pounds during lockdown, when Deakin would feed him treats to stop him whining while she was teaching classes on Zoom. But, over the past year, shes been on a mission to drop his weight, after the vet diagnosed him with arthritis. I did this really intense diet where I ignored all his wails for food, says Deakin, and put him on special satiety food [calorie-controlled to help animals stay fuller for longer]. He lost literally a gram. Deakin is at a loss. She doesnt believe hes stealing her other cats food, and she isnt overfeeding him. She wonders if hes just naturally big boned.

When your animal is whining, what its really craving is that sense of attention and reward

Dieting can be a challenge, says German, and its best done in conjunction with a vet. He advises owners to put their animals on high-quality satiety food, which is nutrient-dense. Always weigh the food on a scale, says German, and minimise treats as much as possible. When animals start begging for food, German advises giving them low-calorie snacks, such as slices of cooked courgette. Often, says German, when the animal is whining, what its really craving is that sense of attention and reward. But there are other things you can do to reward your pets. Take the dog for a walk. Groom your cat.

The best efforts of owners can be undone by our food-centric treat culture, and a lack of general awareness about the dangers of pet obesity. Deakin suspects that Marlowe is finding food outside: either the neighbours are feeding him, or he is hunting his own food. Thanki has had members of the public feed George from their picnics. One man in St Jamess Park gave him an entire packet of ham, she says. The man said: Oh dont worry, I dont mind. I said: I mind!

But there are also members of the public actively trying to undo the bad habits of their fellow pet owners. I monitor their weight six times a week, says Anna Talbot of the 37 gerbils in her care. Talbot, a 44-year-old cleaner and renovator from Staffordshire, runs an unofficial shelter from her house. I havent got a home any more, she says. I have 16 tanks around the house. Six in my bedroom, six in my spare room, and four in the back room.

Talbot specifically seeks out what she describes as sad gerbils, meaning gerbils who tend to be overweight or obese, and are being kept in small cages. She takes them home and puts them on diets. She rescued Jake in 2021, when he weighed 113g. He was absolutely depressed, she says. All he would do is just shovel food in. Jake was initially too fat to climb the stairs in Talbots house, but she would coax him up. Give him that encouragement, she says. He lost a gram here and a gram there.

In a few months, Talbot got Jake down to a much healthier 80g. But her efforts came too late. She found blood in his urine. She thinks it was related to his obesity. As it was a weekend, her vet wouldnt do a home visit. He lay next to me all night, says Talbot in a strangled voice. He was in agony. He was looking at me, just lying there. Half an hour before he passed, he walked up to me and Eskimo-kissed me. He knew I was there for him. She says it was the worst experience of her gerbil-keeping life. Ive lost gerbils before, she says. I trod on a gerbil and killed him. It was awful. I have flashbacks. But Jake was different, because he was such a beautiful little soul.

Despite her loss, Talbot is undeterred in her efforts to rescue obese gerbils. When we speak, she has just finished weighing Ethan, a gerbil she rehomed 10 days ago. He weighed 103g when she got him; now he is down to 88g (he should weigh around 80g). They were chuckling at how fat he was in the pet shop, Talbot recalls. Saying: Oh my God, Ive never seen such a fat gerbil! I couldnt wait to get him out. If you hit an animal, it would be animal cruelty. Obesity is the same. They cant decide for themselves. You need to take the upper hand, give them a good diet and exercise.

Most experts agree, however, that overfeeding is not wilful animal abuse. People arent doing this from the wrong point of view, says James. Theyre doing it because they love their pets and think they are doing the right thing. I hesitate to call it cruelty, especially when you have a pet that is really motivated by food, and acts as if they are hungry, even when they are not. Thanki is charitable about her mothers habit of feeding toast to the dog. A lot of it is cultural, she says. Im from an Indian background. When I went to my nans house when I was a child, I would always be bursting when I left. Its ingrained, that idea that feeding someone means theyre loved.

But there is such a thing as loving someone to death particularly when they are an adorable animal with a taste for treats, and a petulant whine. Owners of obese pets can take comfort that most bad habits can be undone, with discipline, underwater treadmills and the odd chunk of courgette.

*Some names have been changed.