Management of obesity in dogs & cats Flashcards
Define obesity
“A disease in which excess body fat has accumulated such that health may be adversely affected”
What are some health consequences of obesity?
- Functional impairment
- Comorbidities: other more chronic diseases that are more likely to develop in an obese animal
- Shorter lifespan
- Poorer quality of life
Energy intake is used in which 3 ways?
- Basal metabolic rate
- Activity
- Thermoregulation
What are some comorbidities of obesity?
- Diabetes mellitus
- Orthopaedic disease
- Respiratory disease
- Neoplasia
- Pancreatitis
- Hepatic lipidosis
What are the two steps when getting started in managing an obese pateint?
Estimate ideal weight
Body condition scoring
If a patient has a 9/9 BCS what excess % of their ideal weight are they?
40%
If a patient has a 6/9 BCS what excess % of their ideal weight are they?
10%
What are key principles of the weight reduction phase?
- Calorie intake vs. expenditure
- Exercise alone is ineffective for weight loss
- It’s not what you feed, its how much
What are the correction factors for different BCSs?
5/9 = 1 6/9 = 1.1 7/9 = 1.2 8/9 = 1.3 9/9= 1.4
How is ideal weight calculated in a dog and cat?
Starting body weight ÷ Correction factor
How is maintenance energy requirement calculated in a dog?
MER = 95 Kcal per kg0.75/day
How much of a dogs MER should be fed for weight loss?
- Entire male = 80% MER
- Neutered male or entire female = 70% MER
- Neutered female = 60% MER
How is energy intake for weight loss calculated in a cat?
35-40 kcal per kg IBW per day
What are some benefits of a therapeutic diet?
- Decreased energy content (low in fat)
- Nutrients in balance for weight loss
- Lean tissue preservation (protein, L-carnitine)
What diet changes can be made to reduce intake?
- Increasing water content in diet
- Expanding food with air
- Changing shape of food
- Increasing protein and fibre
What is critical when measuring food portions?
Accuracy
- Ban the cup
- Measure out daily food ration using electronic weight scales
What are some considerations to make on how to feed an animal?
- Slowing food intake using puzzle feeders
- Dogs like working for their food
- Multi-cat households: grazing cat’s vs consuming all in one
How much of an animals calories should come from treats at:
- maintenance
- during weight loss
- At maintenance: <10% of daily energy intake
- During weight loss: <5% of daily energy intake
- Use vegetables as an alternative – high water content
How is exercised used in weight loss
- Burns some calories
- May preserve lean tissue?
- A positive reward
- Health benefits?
What are some considerations for exercising dogs
- Tailor exact plan to the individual dog
- Try to increase overall activity by 25-33%
- Take account of comorbidities
What are some considerations for exercising cats
- Exploit natural behaviour
- Encourage play activity
- Food-based exercise
- Regular sessions
- Short rapid periods
- Vary toys used
How can/should weight be monitored?
- Recheck every 2-4 weeks
- Reduce intake (5-10%) if weight loss slows
- Proactive client management: Always make next appointment and chase up clients who do not arrive
- Monitoring methods: Weighing, Photography, Diaries
Describe food intake in the weight maintanence phase
- Gradually increase food intake - 5-10% every 2 weeks
- Reweigh at regular intervals
- Success is MORE about keeping weight off than losing it in the first place