Overweight

Question 1

Name some consequences of overweightness in dogs and cats

Answer 1

Some cancers
Insulin/glucose dysregulation
Joint/mobility issues
Less active, less social
Reduced quality of life

Question 2

T/F: overweightness may be associated with UTIs, hypertriglyceridemia, altered cardiorespiratory function, and potentially liver dysfunction

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What are some risk factors for obesity?

Answer 3

Energy in (food, treats) exceeds energy out (activity, environment, hypothyroidism)

Question 4

Describe the ideal canine BCS

Answer 4

4-5/9

Palpable ribs
Abdominal tuck
Waistline

Question 5

Describe the ideal BCS for a cat

Answer 5

5-6/9

Well proportioned
Observed waist
Ribs palpable
Abdominal fat pad minimal

Question 6

In addition to monitoring BCS, it is important to track trends in ______

Answer 6

MCS

Question 7

Describe how to estimate target BW

Answer 7

Target BCS = 5/9

If a patient is a 7/9 at 16lbs, they are 120% of ideal BW

Divide current weight by percent (16lb/1.2 = 13.3lb)

Question 8

When calculating RER for an overweight patient, do you use current body weight or ideal?

Answer 8

Ideal

Question 9

What is the formula for RERi in cats?

Answer 9

RERi = 0.8 x (70 x BWkg^0.75)

Question 10

What is the ideal target weight loss rate per WEEK for cats?

Answer 10

0.5-2%

2% is likely not realistic tho

Question 11

What do you do if there is no weight loss or weight loss plateaus?

Answer 11

Check diet compliance
If compliant, further restrict calories by 20% of what is currently being fed

Question 12

What would the estimated target body weight be for a 128lb dog at 9/9?

Answer 12

128lb is 140% of ideal

128/1.4 = 91.4lb

Question 13

What is the formula for calculating the target daily calories for an overweight canine patient?

Answer 13

RERi = 1.0 x (70 x BWkg^0.75)

Question 14

What is the target weight loss rate per WEEK for dogs?

Answer 14

1-2%

Question 15

You calculated an overweight patient’s diet history to provide greater kcal/day than RERi. What should you feed them?

Answer 15

Feed calculated RERi

Question 16

You calculated an overweight patient’s daily calories to be less than the RERi you have calculated. What do you do?

Answer 16

If total daily calories from diet history is less than calculated (RERi x 1.0 for dogs or 0.8 for cats), then DECREASE energy by 20%

Question 17

T/F: If a patient is grossly overfed, it might be okay to keep them on their current adult maintenance diet and just cut the calories

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Treats should provide less than ______% of daily caloric intake

Answer 18

10%

Question 19

How frequently should weight loss be monitored?

Answer 19

2-4 weeks

Question 20

What values are we monitoring during the weight loss process?

Answer 20

BCS
MCS
BW

Question 21

If a patient is losing weight too fast, what do you do?

Answer 21

Add 20% calories

Question 22

If a patient is losing too slowly, what can you do?

Answer 22

Check compliance
ID and address barriers
Reduce calories by 20%

Question 23

T/F: After losing the weight, the patient can return to an adult maintenance diet and slowly increase calories.

Answer 23

False - recommended to keep on veterinary weight loss diet or light/weight management diet. Energy needs will likely remain low