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Smokey, a Lodi cat, eats a lunch of diet cat food with a little tuna on top. The cat is on a diet after being overweight. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Nationwide, pet obesity is on the rise — Lodi is no exception
By Natalie Flynn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Saturday, April 5, 2008 7:06 AM PDT
It is 6 a.m. Laura Bolewine is awake scooping 1/4 cup of Hills Prescription Diet cat food for Smokey, her pet of 13 years. The food must last him 12 hours because he won't be allowed to eat again until 6 p.m.
Half an hour later, Bolewine prepares a syringe of insulin, pinches Smokey's neck and gently slides the medication in.
Smokey sits quiet as if he knows how important the medication is for his health. He is an 18-pound tom cat who has suffered through diabetes for the past year. Smokey and Bolewine aren't the only pets and owners struggling with weight gain.
"At first he wanted to continue to eat all the time and would cry, but now he seems OK with it," Bolewine said of Smokey's diet.
In fact, as Americans continue to gain excessive weight, so do their pets. According to the pet health Web site thepetcenter.com, 40 percent of animals in the United States are overweight and Lodi animals are no exception. Local veterinarians say there is hope for overweight animals, owners just need to take an active approach to maintain their pets' health.
Dr. Buck Harris of Harris Veterinary Hospital said owners can best help their pets maintain healthy weight by restricting the amount of food they eat.
"Dogs can't open the refrigerator themselves," Harris said. "People tend to think dogs need to eat when people do."
Allison Williams, left, and Richard Peckham point out areas to check to see if your pet is overweight. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Harris said dogs become overweight more often than cats because people love to give dogs treats. But dogs only need to eat on average once a day.
"It's mostly dogs and the occasional cat," Harris said. "People give them snacks because they think dogs need doggie treats."
Some pet owners leave food out for their animals all day, allowing them to eat however much they want whenever they want. This type of feeding known as "free-choice" feeding and is thought to be one of the most common reasons for overweight cats and dogs.
Lodian David Baker, whose cat Tootsie is 14 pounds, used to feed his cat this way until he realized how much damage he was doing to his cat.
"As soon as she comes in the house, it's like 'Pow! Food' she just starts eating," Baker said.
Tootsie is on a strict diet that allows her to only eat small cups of food.
Dogs and cats aren't the only animals suffering from obesity. According to Dr. Richard L. Peckham, veterinarian at San Joaquin Veterinary Clinic, weight problems for horses and cows are just as prevalent.
"In cattle, dairy cows have their own weight issues," Peckham said.
Also, if horses become overweight, they are at a high risk for founder, a swelling of the inside hoof between the hoof wall and the bone. In order to prevent weight gain in horses, Pekham said horses need regulated food and exercise.
"Horses really could use exercise seven days a week," Peckham said.
1. Monitor your pet's food intake. Dogs usually don't need to eat more than once a day.
2. Exercise is important. If you are limited to taking pets out yourself, try to at least give them room to run around a yard, kennel or living room.
3. Feed your pets high-quality food. Many people buy inexpensive food that is high in fat and carbohydrates.
4. Don't give in. It can be very tempting to give a whining dog a treat, or a crying cat more food, but it just trains them that if they cry, they will be rewarded.
5. Once your pet has lost weight, don't give in and start rewarding them for weight loss. It will only start the cycle again.
Source: Dr. Buck Harris, Harris Veterinary Hospital
2. Exercise is important. If you are limited to taking pets out yourself, try to at least give them room to run around a yard, kennel or living room.
3. Feed your pets high-quality food. Many people buy inexpensive food that is high in fat and carbohydrates.
4. Don't give in. It can be very tempting to give a whining dog a treat, or a crying cat more food, but it just trains them that if they cry, they will be rewarded.
5. Once your pet has lost weight, don't give in and start rewarding them for weight loss. It will only start the cycle again.
Source: Dr. Buck Harris, Harris Veterinary Hospital
According to Richard Turner, veterinarian at Arbor Pet Clinic, obesity does not exclude exotic pets. Turner said that birds are often overweight because they are put on seed diets, which are considered unhealthy and should only be given as treats.
The overeating of fatty foods such as seed causes the birds to have many weight-associated health issues.
"We've seen many birds come in with hardening of the arteries, strokes and fatty liver disease," said Turner.
Turner recommends pet birds be put on a balanced diet of feed such as Harrison's diet, ZuPreem or Rowdybush, and a mixture of fruits and vegetables. These diets have been specialized to have higher carbohydrates and proteins with little fats.
Turner said birds need to be able to exercise, and owners can help them do this by providing larger cages and room to move around.
"Most birds just sit in the cage ... and just eat and sit there," Turner said.
But if caught soon enough, an overweight bird can be saved.
"If we put them on the right diet, then we can save them," Turner said.
Turner added that most exotics and reptiles don't have as many weight issues as birds, but that bird obesity is a major issued owners need to be aware of.
"Of all the exotic pets, birds are the most common, (and weight) is an actual medical concern for the birds."
— News-Sentinel staff
The overeating of fatty foods such as seed causes the birds to have many weight-associated health issues.
"We've seen many birds come in with hardening of the arteries, strokes and fatty liver disease," said Turner.
Turner recommends pet birds be put on a balanced diet of feed such as Harrison's diet, ZuPreem or Rowdybush, and a mixture of fruits and vegetables. These diets have been specialized to have higher carbohydrates and proteins with little fats.
Turner said birds need to be able to exercise, and owners can help them do this by providing larger cages and room to move around.
"Most birds just sit in the cage ... and just eat and sit there," Turner said.
But if caught soon enough, an overweight bird can be saved.
"If we put them on the right diet, then we can save them," Turner said.
Turner added that most exotics and reptiles don't have as many weight issues as birds, but that bird obesity is a major issued owners need to be aware of.
"Of all the exotic pets, birds are the most common, (and weight) is an actual medical concern for the birds."
— News-Sentinel staff
Animals may at times seem like part of the family. But just as it is unhealthy for a child to eat cookies all day, it is dangerous for animals to snack on treats as well. Often, more than one treat is given to the pet, especially if the pieces are small or if the animal is "extra cute and just can't be resisted." But packed in those small treats can be loads of calories:
MilkBone Dog bones (small): 20 calories per bone
MilkBone Dog bones (medium): 40
MilkBone Dog bones (large): 115
Whisker Lickin' for cats: 3
Pounce for cats: 3
Feline Greenies: 11
Source: peteducation.com
MilkBone Dog bones (small): 20 calories per bone
MilkBone Dog bones (medium): 40
MilkBone Dog bones (large): 115
Whisker Lickin' for cats: 3
Pounce for cats: 3
Feline Greenies: 11
Source: peteducation.com
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dogbark wrote on Apr 9, 2008 9:27 PM:
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