The Problem with Fat Cats (and Dogs)

With pet obesity on the rise, overweight cats and dogs are no laughing matter

By Jeff Schnaufer
CTW Features

Did you hear the one about the dog that ate so much she passed out under the table? Or the terrier so fat he hurt himself jumping off the bed?

It happened. And it’s no joke.

Pet obesity has risen to epidemic proportions in this country, prompting alarms among veterinary experts who say pet owners must modify their animals’ behavior -- and their own.

Pet obesity continues to surge upward, says Dr. Ernie Ward Jr., president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), which estimates 45 percent of all U.S. pets are overweight or obese.

Preliminary results from an APOP study to be released later this year, Ward says, indicate the number could rise by as much as 10 percentage points and that the cat obesity problem is going to be much more significant than we initially thought.

Across America, many vets like Ward, who runs Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, N.C., are seeing more fat pets.

Ward is currently working with a dog that is 70 pounds overweight, which he says would be the equivalent of a 600-pound person.

Dogs that are 20 percent overweight are not uncommon, adds Dr. Dominic Marino, Chief of Staff of Long Island Veterinary Specialists in Plainview, N.Y., which makes referrals to a boot camp for obese dogs at the Pet Wellness Center (www.petwellnesscenter.org).

Part of the problem, Ward says, is that people have been justifying fat pets and ignoring health consequences for some time. Fat in dogs and cats has become very normalized, he says. “Whenever my clients come in with a 14- or 16-pound cat, they say, ‘My cat is just big.’ Part of this process is making people aware that a couple pounds on a dog or cat is like 10 or 15 pounds on a person.”

Changes in urban lifestyle and pet diets are two leading causes of overweight pets, experts say. Living indoors, lack of time for walks or play with the owner/guardian, or lack of another pet for a playmate contribute to decreased activity, says Dr. Kelly S. Swanson, assistant professor at the Department of Animals Sciences at the University of Illinois in Urbana. One of the main problems is that owners feed too much food and/or provide excess calories through treats without adjusting food intake.

Ward sums it up this way: “We’ve become a nation of couch potatoes. Our pets have become lap potatoes.”

And many of them have prodigious appetites.

Oreo, a Portuguese water dog who lives with Claudine Gershowitz and family in Melville, N.Y., ate leftover food in two other dogs’ bowls, snacked off the table, and even swiped food from kids’ hands. At last year’s holiday party, she ate so much she collapsed under the table.

“We had to watch her all the time,” Gershowitz recalls, “but things would get out of hand. She was like an alcoholic.”

The family has put the dog through weight-loss boot camp -- twice. The last time, Oreo was up to 81 pounds (40 to 45 pounds is average for her breed.) “She looked like a sheep,” Gershowitz says.

Overweight or obese pets can suffer extreme health consequences, including osteoarthritis, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, which is the fastest growing endocrine disease in cats.

Simon, a terrier who lives with his family in Calabash, N.C., had a history of health problems -- including allergies and diabetes -- that contributed to his weight gain, as well as contentment with being sedentary. Last January, he weighed a whopping 45 pounds. In March, he jumped off a bed and tore a leg ligament.

They said his breed tends to have leg problems, says owner Gail Jennings, but his weight and size didn’t help him when he landed.

Simon received treatment for his leg and a restricted-calorie diet from Ward. And each night, Gail also cooks Simon chicken and steamed vegetables. Now he’s down to around 35 pounds and plays with other dogs.

“Compared to what he was a couple of months ago, he is really starting to look good again,” she says.

The combination of exercise and a proper, vet-approved diet are key to helping obese dogs lose weight, experts say.

Cats benefit mostly from portion control. “Cat obesity is not a matter of exercise, it’s a matter of the cat foods,” says Marino. “People tend to leave cat food out all the time and cats will eat all day. You need to understand the nutritional needs of your pet.”

Feeding a dog or cat proper portions can help them live two to three more years, Ward says. APOP’s Web site, www.petobesityprevention.com. features ideal weight ranges for cats and dogs, plus a test to determine if your pet is overweight, caloric intake recommendations and other tools.

Americans also should re-think giving pet treats as a reward or sign of affection.

“Just because a dog or cat comes up and rubs us, we don’t have to give a treat,” Ward says. “Take it for a walk or toss a ball instead.”

One study by the Wellness Institute in Chicago showed that pets and their owners are more likely to stick to a weight loss and control program when they participate together instead of going it alone.

Indeed, joint activity and diet are key to keeping the pounds off Oreo, who’s back home after losing 16 pounds at the month-long boot camp at the Pet Wellness Center. The seven-year-old’s regimen at the Gershowitz home now includes a cup of food twice a day (no snacks) and plenty of play, including time on the treadmill with 13-year-old Alex, her owner, and his siblings.

“Alex hooks her up to the treadmill,” Gershowitz says, “and the kids cheer her on.”

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