You know the one that I am talking about… The dog that waddles through your front door with a “harness muffin top” or the cat whose owner breaks out in a sweat as they hoist the carrier onto your counter. The pooch is pudgy and the kitty is corpulent, but how do you tell the owner that their pet is fat and not fit without insulting their feelings (or worse yet, losing a client)?

Obesity is a growing epidemic for pets and the people who care for them. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over one-third of America’s adults are considered obese. Their pets aren’t too far behind. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that an estimated 21% of our furry companions are not just overweight but obese. These numbers are expanding on a yearly basis.

As a veterinarian, one of the most difficult topics I broach during wellness examinations is the subject of body condition score (BCS). Some of you may have never heard of BCS. Though the number that registers on a weighing machine shouldn’t be ignored, how you carry the pounds is even more significant. One pound for a Chihuahua seems small, but when viewed as the same percentage of weight gain for a 125-pound woman, that translates into an increase of 31 pounds!

A commonly used BCS range is one through nine. “One” is the “bag of bones” animal that we hope never to see. “Nine” is the unhealthy “inflated balloon” pet, the one that can only take a few steps before plopping down out of breath. “Five” is considered normal.

How do you determine BCS? No matter if the pet is tall, short, cat, dog, young, old, fluffy, or short coated, it is easy. Clients can be shown quickly how to do it at home. When the pet is standing and you look down at it, you should be able to appreciate a waistline after its ribs. If it has a long coat, run your hands over its body. If it feels like a snausage (i.e. the same size from its shoulders to its hips), it’s fat. When observed from the side, it should have a tucked up tummy just in front of its rear legs. Place your hand on the pet’s ribcage. With slight pressure, you should be able to feel the ribs. That is what a “five” feels like.

This is the larger question: why have pets been allowed to swell to such prodigious girths? The cause is multifactorial with some of the blame resting with the owners, pet food manufactures, and veterinarians.

Life is hectic. It is hard enough to find time to exercise yourself let alone your cat or dog. Pet-initiated backyard antics are not sufficient to ensure the heart-pumping levels of activity needed to burn calories. A brisk walk can double a dog’s resting metabolic rate; swimming or agility training boosts it to six times the resting rate.

Cats can be tough to motivate. Our indoor felines often sleep up to 65% of their day. To get a cat to exercise takes some creativity. Try feather toys, laser lights, or a large dog to chase it around the house (just kidding!). Identify activities that you and your pet both enjoy. The amount of times doesn’t have to be long. Five to ten minutes a few times a day is a good start. No time to recreate? Giving a treat shouldn’t be used to assuage your conscience. Just can’t say no to a yummy? Try giving a raw carrot to a dog or a small piece of lean meat or Bonita fish flakes to your cat.

The plethora of brands, flavors, and formulations of meals and snacks have compounded the over nutrition crisis. Food advertisements can be misleading. Though a puppy diet recommends feeding it until two years of age, this may not be suitable. If the pet is neutered, its metabolism will dip by as much as a third. Continuing to offer a diet meant for an intact animal can result in the packing on of pounds. Which food and how much is fitting for the dog or cat is best determined by a veterinarian.

Too often pet caregivers underestimate the problems associated with being overweight. Obesity and heart, dental, and skin maladies are all conditions that require medical attention. Groundbreaking research in the past decade has radically changed the view toward the overabundance of adipose (fat) tissue. Studies have shown adipose cells produce a tremendous variety of inflammatory chemicals. These agents negatively influence the skin, heart, joints, lungs, hormones, and immune system. Rotund pets are more prone to certain types of cancer. Fat cats are four times more likely to develop diabetes mellitus. Obesity robs our pets of length and quality of life.

How do you break the news to your client that their pet is a corpulent canine or a pudgy puss? First, never call the pet fat, which is only hurtful. Rather call it “full-figured,” “husky,” “Reubenesque,” or even a “chunky monkey”… never obese. Weigh the pet every time it comes to your facility. Record the number and BCS. Mention any upward trend. When weight is gained slowly at home, the process can be missed. Tell them about this article and demonstrate how they can determine the BCS for themselves.

Focus on modifying lifestyles and exercising more. Doggie daycare facilities are a great way for a pet to play more and slim down. The pet doesn’t always need to go on a diet. There are no bad foods, but rather there are healthier choices in more fitting amounts. Counsel a client to visit their veterinarian for a thorough wellness examination before starting a weight loss/exercise regimen. Underlying medical issues can predispose a pet to untoward weight gain.

Don’t be discouraged if your attempts to bring up the “F word” fall on deaf ears. Some pet owners just aren’t ready to listen. Be gently persistent but respectful. Offer brochures from groups such as the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention or StopCanineObesity.com. You are an extended member of the pet’s health maintenance team. You can impact the quality of a pet’s life. Speak up. Slim down.

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