Introduction to Obesity
I'm not a great expert on this subject, but when it comes to obesity; "I know it when I see it"
Fat dogs and cats live about one and one half years less than normal weight pets on average.
They live less long ... and while they are alive they are much more likely to be uncomfortable; more arthritis, more heart disease, more diabetes, and more pancreatitis, more fatty tumors and more fatal transitional cell cancers.
Fairly new medical information indicates that obesity IS A DISEASE ... not just a lack of self discipline (in humans) or over feeding in pets.
Old (and still accurate) causes of obesity:
-Underlying diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and Cushings disease are associated with weight gain
-Certain medical therapies to include barbituates, insulin, and especially steroids are associated with weight gain
-Spaying and neutering reduces caloric requirements by about 25%. The recommended feeding guides on the bags of pets foods don't take this into account.
-Too little exercise and too many calories. By far, the main cause of obesity.
-Once the number of fat cells in the body are increased they can become smaller with diet and exercise but they never go away unless surgically removed.
New factors causing obesity:
-once fat cells multiply in size and numbers they become active producers of enzymes and hormones. 12 differenty enzymes and hormones have been identified so far. This is important new information. Adipose tissue in over- weight people and pets IS THE LARGEST ENDOCRINE ORGAN IN THE BODY and the hormones and enzymes produced by active adipose tissue causes inflammation throughout the body, causes increased release of fatty acids, glycerol and fatty deposits in the liver, pancreas, and muscles. Because of these hormones the hydrolysis of fat is reduced ... making it more difficult to lose weight. And because of these hormones, over-weight patients don't feel full ... they are always hungry.
-Most important new finding; obese animals don't respond to Leptin normally. Leptin is a hormone produced by the intestinal cells that tells the brain you're no longer hungry.
Does this new information make any difference in what we recommend?
Well, it helps explain why it's so difficult to lose weight.
For overweight dogs we are now recommending the new medication Slentrol because it is so effective at initial weight loss.
Until something new is available for cats ... and for dogs after they no longer need Slentrol we are still recommending special diets and low calorie treats as explained below. Here's what we're recommending:
FoxNest Recommendations for Pets needing to loose weight:
Blood work: It's important to rule out underlying medical problems such as diabetes, liver disease, pancreatitis, chronic infection, and thyroid disease. it's also important to get a base line of liver enzymes because an elevation of liver enzymes is the main potential problem (not a common problem) in using the new weight loss medication.
Slentrol: For dogs, this new medication is effective 97% of the time in causing significant, substained, and safe weight loss. Click here to go to our page about this new medication. For Dogs taking Slentrol, we recommend
Eukanuba Salmon and rice diet.
Hills R/D diet for cats or dogs
Prescription Diet® r/d® Feline cat food was created especially for the management of
cats that are overweight or obese which can lead to heart disease,
arthritis, and diabetes.
Prescription Diet® r/d® is a low calorie, high fiber nutritional therapy with the highest levels of L-carnitine to effectively reduce weight and increase lean muscle mass while helping cats
feel full.
Lysine added to this diet may aid in the metabolism of fat
I recommend this diet for fat cats and dogs because they seem to like it better than most super low calorie diets and it works given time and patience. Most pets lose at least 10-12% of their weight over a year. Increase stool volume is the only negative.
In addition to using R/D diet, we also recommend switching to low calorie treats and increasing exercise.
Be Aware: there are many light and low calorie diets on the market... that are mainly marketing gimics; most are only slightly reduced in calories per cup and not scientifically designed for weight loss
Hills M/D diet for cats (based on the Atkins Diet)
Prescription Diet® m/d® Feline cat food was designed as a diet for diabetes.
But its also a good alternative nutritional therapy for weight loss in cats. Prescription Diet® m/d® Feline is a low-carbohydrate, high-protein food with the highest levels of L-Carnitine that alters a cats unique metabolism to reduce body fat
Hill's M/D diet helps ensure cats maintain lean muscle mass during weight loss. High carnitine also increases energy metabolism to improve glucose utilization in diabetic cats, and helps obese cats burn fat during weight loss and decrease the accumulation of fat in liver cells.
Added fiber helps cats feel full (increases satiety)
Added antioxidants defend cells from free radicals, promoting a healthy immune system.
Arginine has been shown to improve insulin secretion.
Taurine High Helps to maintain normal insulin activity and sensitivity
Supplements We Recommend To Help with Weight Loss
Lean Treats: A low calorie healthy treat made from skinless chicken and chicken livers
Hill's T/D Tarter Control Diet: This diet is designed for helping to remove tarter from teeth but it also makes a great, low calorie treat since dogs like this diet so much. Come in for a free sample.
Foods that are good as treats for dogs and cats on diets:
rice cakes, melon, green pepper, green beans, carrots, cheerios, canned pumpkin, and non buttered popcorn.
Slentrol for dogs: Once again, we're very excited about this new weight loss medication. It's the only FDA approved, prescription medication for weight loss in America. It works in about 97% of canine patients.
Not safe or effective in cats or humans
Not a replacement for special diets or exercise.
Prozac like drugs: Some vets are recommending medications that help break compulsive eating habits in some of their patients. I think they are quite helpful in many cases ... but only when combined with the most effective weight loss diets and exercise.
Pets that are too thin or too heavy are serious health risks.
This page is about the special diets and supplements we recommend to help pets lose weight.
My favorite dieting recommendation for both people and pet dogs and cats: fasting one day a week.
This is not just good for weight loss but is healthy for the bowel and for humans, good for mental and religious discipline.
On Other pages we discuss the special diets and supplements use to treat:
Please visit our other Pages on this Site:
Revolution Frontline Plus Comfortis Vectra3D Promeris CapStar
Program 6 Month Injection for Cats Sentinel KnockOut House
KnockOut Premise Advantage Multi PrevenTic Collars
Revolution Advantage Multi TriHeart Plus
ProHeart 6 month injection
Inteceptor Sentinel
Panacur ProFender Pyrantel-50mg Revolution Advantage Multi
Inteceptor Sentinel
TriHeart Plus
And The Very Best Products Available For:
ZymoxHC FoxNest Ear Cleaner Mometamax Acrexx MalOtic
Phytosphingosine Hydroxyzine Tris8 Duralactin OFA's
Exotic Diets
Phytosphingosine FoxNest Medicated Shampoo Relief OFA's Zymox
FoxNest OatMeal Shampoo Hydroxyzine The Furminator Exotic Diets Hylyt Shampoo Genesis Spray BioGroom Natural Scented Shampoos MaloKet
Zymox VBG Cream Nolvasan Malotic DermaGel Bag Balm
Fly Repellent Vet Wrap
Biotene MaxiGuard Oral Gel Greenies TD OraVet Kits Gum Vaccine
ProPectalin DigestRite DiaRobe CatLax DiaBac Pancrazyme
GastriCalm K-Pectin
Duralactin Dasaquin SynoviFlex ChondroFlex for Cats Rimadyl Adequan
Tramadol AntiOxUltra
Special Diets Duralactin AntiOxUltra OFA's
Reconcile/Prozac DAP Collars & Plug-Ins Elimiodor Forbid
OFA's AntiOx SAM-e CranVet MultiVitamins PetTinic Milk Replacer
Bottles & Nipples Slentrol Reducing Diet LeanTreats
Prescription Therapy Diets
Urine Off The Equilizer Eliminodor Pet Candles ThioTrol Skunk
The Furminator Shed Guard OFA's Phytosphingosine
AllerPet for Humans MicroChips Pet Insurance Pet Candles Bag Balm
Dog Appeasing Pheromone Feliway Spray PetGuard
