Dogs Pay Heavy Price for Obesity
08 Sep 2008
Up to 40% of domestic pet dogs in Europe could be overweight or clinically obese, according to veterinarians; some US vets say the figures are very much higher.
It is a hidden problem for many owners — they simply do not realise that their dog is heavier than it should be. UK practitioner Andy Green from the Pennard Veterinary Practice in Kent says: “They are not aware of gradual weight gain until they bring their dogs in for check-ups and see over time how much their dog has gained weight.”
Excessive weight can shorten a dog’s life by up to two years, impair its quality of life, and contribute to medical problems such as heart and lung disease, arthritis and joint problems, as well as diabetes. Owners who are concerned about their dog’s weight are being encouraged to visit the vet.
Vets say that excessive weight is a clinical issue; owners are usually advised to reduce the animal’s weight, through a combination of exercise and diet.
For those dogs, which do not respond to diet and exercise, clinical help is now available through the vet in the form of a weight loss product. The product works by decreasing the dogs’ appetites, making it easier for owners to introduce new long-term diet and exercise behaviours. The drug was introduced to the US eight months ago and is just being launched in Europe.
Dr. Scott McComb DVM, one of many US veterinary surgeons now using the drug as a weight loss aid, said: “Pet owners need to see the benefits of their efforts, see the benefit of weight loss, or their owner behaviours will never change.”
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Vader is my 8 year old Rottweiler that I rescued from downtown Detroit in 2000. Vader was diagnosed with osteosarcoma cancer on June, 11th 2007. My two options were to do nothing giving him about 3 months to live, or to have his right leg amputated. At that time I didn’t think about cost, only what was best for Vader. How would he get along with only three legs? How long would the surgery prolong his life? Many tough questions went through my head. After doing weighing all the options and doing online research about how dogs adapt to having only three legs, I decided to have the surgery performed. I went to pick him up the day after his surgery, which he came through the great, and I was so surprised to see him standing waging his little stub of a tail. I thought I was going to have to carry him. I custom built him a ramp to get into my Trailblazer (as you can see in the video) and he went right up them. I practiced with him going up the ramp BEFORE his surgery so he would be familiar with it. I took a video of the whole trip from getting in and out of the truck and into the house. He actually RAN into the house and up some huge stone steps, I was amazed. The scene in the video with his T-shirt on is actually day one post surgery.
The dog food I use is IAM’s senior; it has a lot of protein and a little less fat. You can use other brands but just make sure the first ingredient is chicken, beef, fish… and not some cornmeal or byproduct. For dinner we give him eggbeaters mixed in with his dog food. And whenever we make broccoli or vegetables I will give him some. Vegetables are supposed to be very good for them. I wish I would have known some of this when he was a puppy so I could of fed him better. I always used whatever the vet recommend and something with glucosamine and chondroitin but didn’t supplement it with anything. Luckily he has always been fit and healthy until this bout with cancer.