What is Obesity?
Obesity is a condition where a pet's weight is more than 15% above normal. It is the most common nutritional disorder seen in cats and dogs and it is estimated that as many as one in three pets are overweight.

Obesity is seen more commonly with advancing age, and in desexed animals. It is also more common in females than males. Obesity increases the number of health risks to your pet, so it is very important to seek treatment and prevention.

What to look for
Obesity can have a slow onset, so it can be hard to notice that your pet's weight has crept above the ideal. Your vet will be able to tell you whether or not your pet is weighing more than he or she should.
< br /> There are a couple of easy ways to check for obesity:

• Weigh your pet. You can compare your pet's weight with the weights recommended for their particular breed and age. Your vet will also be able to offer help with this.

• Feel your pet's ribs. Rub your fingers along the ribcage. You should be able to easily feel the ribs beneath the skin if your pet as at their ideal weight. If you cannot feel the ribs, there is a good chance your pet weighs more than they should.

What causes Obesity?
There are many factors that contribute to obesity, some of which we can little control over. These include breed, sex, age and heredity. There are factors that we can control, such as diet, exercise and pregnancy.

Most obesity is caused simply because a pet eats more calories than he or she needs. This means either too much food, not enough exercise, or a combination of both. The excess calories which are unable to be used, end up being stored by the body as fat. This accumulation of fat tissue adds to the pet's weight and creates the familiar changes in appearance that are associated with obesity.

Highly palatable commercial pet foods can encourage pets to over eat. However a major cause is the excess consumption of snacks and table scraps in addition to the normal diet. Some of these treats can be very high in energy and thus oversupply a pet with calories.

Reduced exercise and boredom can result in a pet not using all the calories that they consume. Desexed animals are more prone to obesity through hormonal changes.

How is Obesity managed?
Most cases of obesity can be treated by:

• Reducing the pet's intake of calories
• Increasing energy output through exercise (where health permits)

The best way to restrict calories is to feed a diet that is low in calories, low in fat and high in fibre. With such a diet, a pet can continue to eat a similar amount and still feel adequately "full" and satisfied.

This is preferable to feeding reduced amounts of ordinary pet food. At worst, this may lead to nutrient deficiencies, while most pets won't be satisfied and will stay hungry.

Here at Lane Cove, our vet's can plan a safe and effective weight loss program for your pet, which includes:

• Accurate weighing and the setting of an ideal "target" weight.
• Selection of the most suitable diet for your pet.
• Calculation of feeding quantities
• Timing of periodic weight check to monitor progress.