Nutrition, the Fifth Vital Assessment
Over 60% of the pet population is overweight or obese. It’s no small wonder given the incredible selection of pet foods and treats available in this day and age. There are a few simple ways you can determine if your beloved pet has a lot to love, a little to love, or just the right amount. Once you can determine the risk for your pet then you can address it.
If you follow the chart above you can see where your pet falls appearance wise. Is there a nice tuck after the rib cage or one on the underside? Is it flat straight down the sides or even ballooning out? An average score of 5/9 is perfect, below that is not enough to love and above that is too much to love. Another way to gauge weight is by feeling of the rib cage. You should be able to easily feel the ribs without having to press in. For instance, if you lay your hand out flat and feel your knuckles that is how ribs should feel on your pet. If you make a fist and then feel of your knuckles that is what the ribs of a too thin pet would feel like. If you lay your hand back flat and feel the pads of your hand/knuckles that is what a pet that is too much would feel like.
Once you determine how your pet is doing then you may need to adjust their diet. For instance, a pet over seven years of age would benefit from a senior diet. An overweight, less active dog would benefit from a light formula dog food with less calories and increased fiber. Also, check the amount you feed. That may need to be decreased as your pet ages or has reduced activity. Don’t forget treats. They have extra calories just like our cookies and candy bars do. If you give a lot of treats please adjust the amount of food you give or decrease the number of treats. A great substitute for pet treats would be vegetables (carrots, green beans, bell peppers). Lastly, people food carries a tremendous number of calories and fat. Dogs and cats cannot digest them like we can and can either make them very ill or very overweight.
Obesity can cause several problems as pets’ age. It is a contributing factor to heart disease, diabetes, urinary blockage (male cats), arthritis and joint disease, as well as digestive diseases. Maintaining a proper weight can lead to a longer, healthier life which means more time spent with you! If you have any questions or would like a recommendation please call our office and ask one of our certified weight coaches about your pet today.