Risks of Pet Obesity

As in people, pets that carry extra pounds of weight place extra demands on virtually every organs of their bodies. When we overload these organs, disease and premature death may be the consequence. The health risks to overweight dogs and cats are serious and every owner should be aware of them. The more common consequences of obesity are the following:

Diabetes mellitus
Obesity causes an increase in the secretion of insulin in response to the increased blood glucose level in an overweight animal. Insulin is also in higher demand simply because there is a greater amount of tissue present. When requirements exceed the ability of the body to produce insulin, the cells in the pancreas which produce insulin may "burn out". This will result in the development of diabetes.

Damage to joints, bones and ligaments
Approximately 25% of overweight dogs develop serious joint complications. The bones, joints, muscles and associated tendons and ligaments all work together to give the dog and cat smooth and efficient movement. If they are required to carry excess weight, these structures can start to become damaged. Arthritis can develop and pain and joint changes can become markedly more severe. Certain breeds of dogs, such as dachshunds and corgis, are prone to develop intervertebral disc disease ('slipped disc'). Carrying extra weight increases the probability that they will develop this painful and sometimes debilitating condition.

Heart disease and increased blood pressure
As in people, overweight pets tend to have increased blood pressure (hypertension). The heart has an increased work load since it must pump additional blood to excess tissues. This can lead to congestive heart failure.

Difficulty breathing
In overweight animals, the lungs can not function properly. The additional fat in the chest restricts the expansion of the lungs. The extra fat in the abdomen pushes against the diaphragm which separates the abdominal cavity from the chest. This results in less space in the chest for the lungs to expand on inspiration. To make matters worse, the increased quantity of tissue puts an increased demand on the lungs to supply oxygen. These changes are especially serious in dogs or cats who may already have a respiratory disease.

Decreased stamina
Animals who are overweight have less endurance and stamina. Carrying all that extra weight around takes a lot more work. The heart, muscles and respiratory system are all asked to do more than they were originally designed.

Heat intolerance
Fat is an excellent insulator,which is fine if you are a polar bear. But if you are an overweight dog or cat in the heat of summer, the excess fat can make you miserable and much less capable of regulating your body temperature.

Decreased liver function
The liver stores fat so when a pet is overweight, an increased amount of fat builds up in the liver. This is called hepatic lipidosis and can result in decreased liver function.

Increased surgical and anesthetic risk
The effects of obesity on the heart and lungs can have serious ramifications during anesthesia. Cardiac arrest and poor circulation of oxygenated blood to the tissues can occur. Many of the anesthetic drugs are taken up by fat, so an overweight animal will take longer to recover from anesthesia. In addition, many anesthetic drugs are broken down by the liver. A fatty liver may not be as efficient at breaking down these drugs resulting in a delayed recovery. Increased fat in the tissues also makes surgery more difficult. In an abdominal surgery in an obese pet, there may literally be inches of fat between where the skin incision is made and the organ of interest. This makes the surgery technically more difficult and will lengthen the time the animal is under anesthesia, increasing the anesthetic risk.

Digestive disorders
An overweight pet has an increased incidence of developing constipation. He or she may also have more problems with intestinal gas and flatulence, which is not pleasant for the pet or the owner!

Skin and hair coat problems
The risk of skin and hair coat diseases are increased in dogs and cats who are overweight. The skin forms more and different types of oils and may fold in on itself creating pockets which are ideal for the accumulation of oils and the development of infections.

Increased risk of cancer
The exact link between obesity and developing certain cancers is unknown. However there have been studies which suggest that obese dogs tend to have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers, including a particular type of cancer of the urinary bladder. A recent study also found that dogs who were obese at one year of age were at greater risk of developing mammary tumors.

It is evident from the above discussion that health is diminished in overweight pets. It is clear that we are not contributing positively to our dog or cat's health when we allow them to become overweight. The next time those big brown eyes say, 'Can I please have a treat,' think very carefully first. In most cases your answer should be 'No, and I'm doing this for your own good,' and it will be absolutely true.

River City Veterinary Hospital
2250 W. Everest Lane
Meridian, ID 83646
http://www.rivercityvet.com/
info@rivercityvet.com