Watch out for porky pets, local vets warn

by Julie Taylor julie.taylor@dailypost.co.nz
Ngongotaha's Jack Boardman is one of a growing number of four-legged dieters.

The 11-year-old labrador has arthritis and his weight crept up over a period of years as his age and condition affected his exercise levels and the daily snacks and treats took their toll.

Portly pets have come under the spotlight in the UK where vets claim one in three dogs is overweight. Vets in Rotorua don't believe the situation is quite as dire here, but they warn excessive weight can have similar health implications for animals as they do for humans.

When his weight reached 35.2kg in February, Jack Boardman's vet nurse Amy Sutton from Rotorua Vet Club Ngongotaha, put him on a prescription diet to relieve the stress this was putting on his joints. "It is high-protein and calorie-reduced so he is still eating much the same amount but he is not putting the weight on," she said.

And owner Helen Boardman has noticed a difference in Jack's energy levels.

"Before he used to raise his head and then haul himself to his feet when we came in. Now he jumps up and greets us," she said.

Jack lost 6.2kg to reach his target weight and his programme is now focused on maintaining his svelte new shape.

The Rotorua Vet Club is one of a number of Rotorua veterinary practices offering free weight-loss clinics for both cats and dogs.

Vet Anna Goodman said excess weight caused similar health problems for animals as for humans. "It can contribute to heart and liver problems, diabetes, arthritis and pancreatitis. The more overweight they become, the less active they become and it's a vicious circle," she said.

Vet nurse Anita Marshall said the clinic does see a lot of obese dogs but not one in three as in the UK. "A lot of people are not even aware their animals are obese," she said.

She stressed the importance of establishing good eating habits and fixed meal times early as habits are easier to make than break and said the type of food is just as important as the amount.

"Some brands have very high salt and fat content and that can cause weight gain," she said.

And human food treats such as biscuits, potato chips and chocolates are a real no-no.

"Chocolate can poison dogs. You really can kill them with kindness," she said.

Dogs are not the only pets fighting the battle of the bulge and getting cats to exercise can be a challenge.

Mrs Marshall suggested playing with a piece of string or laser light, putting food upstairs so they have to climb for it or taking them outside and making them come back in again.

Vet Ian MacKenzie of Central City Vets said it was important to measure food input against exercise levels - particularly as animals get older and less active.

"Spaying and castration can also cause them to be more susceptible to putting weight on," he said.

When it comes to losing weight, Mr MacKenzie said progress can be slow to start with and it is always easier to stop them putting the weight on than it is to lose it later.