Tag: pet diet

Exercise and the Overweight Pet: A Common-Sense Approach

Posted on October 8, 2020 - 10:34 pm by
An overweight cat standing in the grass on a sunny day.

Has your pet ever been fat shamed? Maybe it was a casual dig at the dog park. Or an insensitive remark on social media. It can be easy to underestimate how many extra pounds your pet may be carrying because, frankly, pet obesity has become the new normal. That is why we’re pointing out that tomorrow is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Pet obesity is nothing to take lightly!

About 59.5 percent of cats and 55.8 percent of dogs are considered overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). Obesity can contribute to diabetes, joint problems such as arthritis, difficulty breathing and even a shorter life span.

If you’ve got a pet who needs to take care of their weight, you’ll likely need to change their diet — including feeding them fewer human food treats. But increasing the exercise is equally important because you want your pet to lose fat while retaining or building muscle mass. How much exercise is healthy? Here are some tips to help your pet drop those unwanted pounds and earn the praise and admiration he or she deserves.

First stop: your veterinary clinic

Your veterinarian will weigh your pet and show you how to objectively determine your pet’s ideal weight. Together, you can make a plan on how to approach your pet’s weight loss. Your veterinarian may recommend a therapeutic weight loss diet or determine the right quantity of your current food to help your pet lose weight while still receiving all the nutrition they need.

The doctor will also check to see if your pet has any underlying conditions, such as hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) in dogs, which, when treated, can help with weight loss. He or she will also examine your pet for underlying heart or orthopedic conditions that may impact your pet’s exercise plan.

Gradual weight loss is best

Your pet shouldn’t lose weight too fast. As a general rule, a dog can lose about 1 to 3 percent of their body weight per month, while a cat can lose 0.5 to 2 percent per month, according to APOP. But this may vary depending on your pet’s breed and weight. Overweight cats who lose weight too fast and go off their food are prone to fatty liver disease, a serious and sometimes fatal condition. If your cat doesn’t eat for a day or two, contact your veterinarian.

Begin exercise gradually, too

Your veterinarian will typically recommend short exercise sessions, then gradually extend the length of these sessions as your pet loses weight. For overweight or arthritic dogs, low-impact exercises like walking and swimming are good because they put less stress on the joints than running and jumping. If your pet has arthritis, ask your veterinarian about medications to help your dog exercise pain free.

Start with short walks on flat terrain, gradually extending the walk and adding hills. Let your dog warm up and do their business, then gently increase the speed of your walk so your dog is getting some heart-pounding aerobic exercise. If your dog starts panting too much or lagging behind, that’s your cue to slow down a bit. Dogs that are overweight, especially those that are brachycephalic, or flat-faced, can have trouble breathing and become overheated easily. It’s best to walk these dogs in the cool of the morning or evening.

Depending on your dog’s health status, your veterinarian may recommend an exercise regimen of perhaps 30-minute walks five times a week. Each week, you can gradually increase the amount of aerobic time during the walk. If your dog tolerates that well, you can build up to twice-a-day walks or jogging.

Another alternative is to schedule regular appointments at canine rehabilitation clinics, where they can put your dog through the paces on regular or underwater treadmills. You can even make use of digital pet activity monitors to help monitor your pet’s daily efforts.

Cat fitness

Cats can be slightly more challenging to exercise, but you can start with 5-minute play sessions, chasing a laser pointer or feather toy. A cat tree can encourage your cat to climb and stretch its muscles. Food puzzles make your cat work for their meals and provide mental stimulation. Another alternative is to hide kibble in different parts of the house so your cat has to “hunt” for their meal.

Monitor progress with monthly weigh-ins

Whether you weigh your pet at the veterinary office or on your own scale, it’s important to make sure your pet is making weight-loss progress. Too much or too little weight loss suggests a call to your veterinarian, who can make adjustments in diet or exercise to keep your pet on track.

Does Your Pet Need to See a Veterinary Nutritionist?

Posted on August 13, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A close-up of a white dog looking into the camera.

The food bowl is the center of the universe for most pets. The whir of a can opener or the clatter of kibble tumbling onto a plate is enough to rouse any dog or cat from a dead sleep and send them bounding into the kitchen. When you think about it, does anything impact your pet’s health more, on a daily basis, than the food you feed it?

While the majority of dogs and cats do just fine when fed a complete and balanced commercial diet, there are some cases where you may want to seek the specialized advice of a pet nutritionist.

What is a veterinary nutritionist?

Just as human doctors specialize in particular types of medicine, from dermatology to surgery, these veterinarians select nutrition as their specialty. While your eyes may glaze over when you read about carbohydrates, proteins, essential fatty acids and other dietary ingredients, these doctors are fascinated by these topics.

After finishing 4 years of veterinary school, doctors must complete 1 year of general clinical experience and then an additional 2- to 3-year residency where they focus on the nutritional management of healthy pets and those with single or multiple diseases. To become board-certified, they must publish peer-reviewed research, write up detailed case reports and pass a grueling, 2-day written test.  At that point, they can add another title after their names: DACVN, which stands for Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.

Why consult a nutrition specialist?

There are several reasons why your veterinarian may refer you to a veterinary nutritionist or you might seek a specialist’s advice on your own.

Your pet needs a therapeutic diet. Certain medical conditions, such as kidney or cardiac disease, benefit from a specialized, therapeutic diet. In some cases, there may be a commercial diet available by prescription but your pet does not like the taste. If no commercial diet is available for your pet’s particular condition, a board-certified nutritionist can tailor one to your pet’s needs.

Your pet has multiple medical conditions. Perhaps your pet has food allergies and chronic kidney disease, for example. Again, a nutritionist can develop a specially formulated diet to address both conditions.

Your pet needs to be fed through a tube. Some conditions, such as fatty liver disease in cats, may require a special liquid diet devised for a feeding tube.

You prefer a homemade diet. While there may be recipes for homemade diets on the internet, many of them are “generic” formulas that aren’t tailored to your pet and can be deficient in necessary nutrients. For the health of your pet, any homemade diet should be developed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.

Your pet is carrying a few extra pounds. A nutritionist can develop a personalized weight loss plan that helps your pet lose the weight and keep it off.

You want to know more about your pet’s nutrition. If you’d like an expert to identify your pet’s specific nutritional needs and recommend an individualized feeding plan, a veterinary nutritionist is your best resource.

Interested in a consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist? Just ask your veterinarian for a referral or consult the Diplomate Directory at www.acvn.org.

Should My Dog’s Diet Change for the Summer?

Posted on May 21, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
A dog standing on a sand dune on the beach.

Many dogs, like their owners, are more active in the summer — especially those who tend to hibernate during the snowier months. Simple logic might tell you that more activity means your dog needs more calories. So, should you switch to a summer dog diet? In most cases, it’s not necessary.

Do Dogs Eat Less in the Summer and More in the Winter?

Ever notice how you crave heavier “comfort” foods like lasagna in the winter but opt for lighter salads in the summer? The same phenomenon can occur in dogs, too.

In the winter months, dogs that are outdoors a lot tend to need more calories as the temperature drops to help them generate heat. The opposite is also true: in warmer temperatures, they tend to need fewer calories as the temperature increases.

That said, if your dog is involved in any high-intensity sports or competitions over the summer, it’s best to confer with your veterinarian about your dog’s nutritional needs.

In Most Cases, No Summer Dog Diet Changes Are Necessary

Rather than switching your dog to a “lighter” diet, a better option might be to feed them a slightly smaller amount. Again, your veterinarian can help you determine how many calories your dog needs in the summer.

You generally want to keep your dog’s diet consistent unless he or she has a special health condition such as allergies, obesity or arthritis that can be helped with a dietary change. In those cases, you want to make a gradual switch to the new diet because abrupt changes can lead to tummy upset, vomiting and diarrhea.

Monitor Your Dog’s Figure

One of the best ways to tell if your dog is eating the right amount is by using a body condition scoring system. Ideally, you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs, and there should be an obvious waist just after the rib cage when viewed from above. If your dog has lost its waist or the ribs are hidden under a thick layer of body fat, it’s time to cut back on the extra table scraps.

While it can be common for dogs to eat less food in the warmer months, a loss of appetite can also be a sign of disease. If you notice your dog’s ribs are showing and his or her appetite seems to have vanished, call your veterinarian.

Don’t Forget the Water in a Summer Dog Diet

Many people don’t realize that water is an important part of every dog’s diet. During the warmer months, make sure your dogs have plenty of fresh water available. That way, they’ll be well hydrated for all those outdoor adventures you’ll take together.

So, Should My Dog’s Diet Change for the Summer?

In most cases, your dog’s diet is probably fine as is, especially if they were healthy and happy heading into the summer season. If you ever have any questions about your dog’s diet, be sure to ask your veterinarian.

Pet Diet Mistakes: 8 No-Nos When Feeding Your Pet

Posted on April 2, 2020 - 3:00 pm by
Taste of the Wild

For pets and their owners, the universal language of love is often spoken with food. A scrambled egg on top of kibble. A bite of your turkey sandwich. These are all ways we tell our pets we love them. And our pets dance on the kitchen floor to show us their love in return.

Harmless fun, right? Well, not always. See if you’re making any of these pet feeding mistakes.

The bottomless bowl. Most pets aren’t known for having self-control. If you leave food out all day, every day, it can lead to overweight pets, although cats are better at self-regulating than dogs. Pets will often eat out of boredom, even if they’re not really hungry. And it’s not just a matter of growing too fat for their collars — obesity can lead to diabetes, joint damage, heart disease and other health problems in pets.

The homemade diet. It sounds so wholesome, doesn’t it? But unless it’s been formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, a home-cooked diet can lack the right balance of protein, energy, vitamins and minerals for your pet. And pets with special nutritional needs, such as pregnant or nursing animals, puppies or kittens can develop serious health problems if they’re not fed a nutritionally balanced diet for their life stage.

The vegetarian diet. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they need dietary meat to live. Dogs are able to produce certain amino acids such as taurine and arginine, some of the building blocks of protein, and therefore can be healthy with a meat-free diet. Cats, however, lack the enzymes to do so and need a meat source in their diets to obtain these required nutrients. That said, cats shouldn’t be fed a diet of meat alone. They also need carbohydrates and other nutritional ingredients for a balanced diet.

The dairy fallacy. Everyone knows cats love nothing better than to lick a bowl of cream, right? Not exactly. Most cats are lactose intolerant and dairy products can actually lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

The “I can’t resist those brown eyes” diet. Who can blame you? But feeding your pet table scraps and treats throughout the day can lead to digestive problems, weight gain and begging, which started the cycle in the first place. Remember: what’s on your plate isn’t always safe for your pet. Foods like grapes, raisins, chocolate and onions can be toxic for pets. If you really want to give human food as treats, opt for safe, low-calorie options such as raw apples or carrots. Treats should also account for no more than 10 percent of pet’s total daily calorie intake so you can make sure they get the full nutrition from their regular food.

The real-bone treat. Real bones from the butcher can harbor bacteria such as Salmonella that can sicken pets and people. Bones are also often harder than your dog’s teeth, and chewing on them can result in tooth fractures. Splintered bones, if swallowed, can cause damage to the digestive system that requires emergency surgery.

The follow-the-label diet. Just like people, adult pets have different activity and metabolism levels. That’s why the feeding recommendations on food packages could be too much, or too little, for some pets. It’s best to consult your veterinarian about the right food and amount for your pet. You can also check out the Pet Nutrition Alliance calorie calculator to determine exact calorie counts for your pets. Then, watch for changes in your pet’s body condition score so you can tell if your dog or cat needs to back away from the food bowl.

The single bowl approach. Having multiple pets share one food bowl is asking for trouble. Some pets may be food aggressive, resulting in that pet hogging all the food while the other one is forced into a hunger strike. Plus, changes in appetite can be a sign of a health problem, so it’s important for you to know just how much each of your pets is eating.

If you have any questions about your pet’s diet, always ask your veterinarian. They can help determine the right food — and the right amount — to keep your pet healthy and happy.