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MVRAS information

Obesity

Obesity is a condition affecting adults and geriatric animals. Puppies and kittens usually are active enough to prevent them from being labeled as obese. Pets are considered overweight when they have body condition score (BCS) of 4 to 5 on a scale of 1 to 5. On this scale, a pet is scored at a 1 if is emaciated, 2 if it is thin, 3 if it is in ideal body condition, 4 if it is overweight, and 5 if it is obese. Your veterinarian can determine what your pet's BCS is based on the appearance of your pet's body with regard to the ability to see the ribs and palpate them, the presence of a waist and the amount of fat over the tail head of your pet.

An obese animal will have more health problems than a pet at an optimal weight. These problems include: increased incidence of diabetes, cancer, urinary problems, cardiovascular and respiratory problems and osteoarthritis. In addition your pet will have decreased heat tolerance, decreased ability to complete the activities of daily living with ease and will have a decreased life span.

These pets can benefit from increased exercise and reduced food and treat intake. Physical rehabilitation programs can benefit these overweight pets. In addition, acupuncture can help with joint inflammation that may be limiting your pet's level of activity.

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Pet Health Matters

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