Obesity - Diet Information

Approximately 36% of dogs and 43% of cats in this country are overweight. There are many different reasons why an animal may become overweight or obese. It can be due to over feeding, lack of exercise, medical illness or there are certain breeds who are genetically predisposed to obesity.

Obesity develops when the animal consumes more food than the body requires. When feeding your pet you must ensure that the amount of energy that is absorbed by the body is the same amount of energy that is burned off in exercise. It is very important to get this balance right or the excess energy that is not used will be stored on the body as fat.

Obesity is a serious disease and can decrease your pet's lifespan. It is also associated to many other health disorders, Here are just a few diseases that can be affected by obesity:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Respiratory Difficulties
• Arthritis
• Skin Complaints
• Exercise Intolerance
• Liver Disease

An animal only has to be 15% over their normal weight to be clinically obese.

Examples

If a cat should weigh 4kg and actually weighs 4.7kg then the cat is more than 15% overweight and therefore classed as obese.	If a dog should weigh 20kg and actually weighs 23.2kg then the dog is more than 15% overweight and therefore classed as obese.
By enrolling your pet on to a controlled weight loss regime you are making the right progress in helping to improve your pets general health and life expectancy.

Weight Loss Diet

It is very difficult to reduce an animals own diet to encourage them to lose weight, as you may be restricting specific nutrients that the animal requires on a daily basis, which can lead to further health risks. Therefore it is essential for safe weight loss, to feed a low calorie diet that still provides all the nutrients and energy the animal requires.

If you are concerned that your pet may be overweight, or is beginning to gain a few extra pounds more recently, then speak to your veterinary surgeon or nurse today, who will be able to advise you and help to get your pet started on a weight loss program. If you want your pet to attend the Weight Management Clinic then you need to speak to your own Veterinary Surgeon to see if they can refer you.

There are two possible diets that may be used to reduce your pet's weight. 

1. Royal Canin Obesity Management Diet
   This is available as a moist or dry diet
   
   
2. Royal Canin Satiety Support Diet
   This is available as a dry diet only

Both diets are prescription only and can be obtained through your veterinary surgeon.  

It is important that the diet be used with an individually designed weight loss programme along with behaviour modification and an exercise regime.