Todayโs path rounds are on ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ is accumulation of ๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ (fat) to an excessive level. This is actually the most common nutritional issue in pets! It is estimated that up to 30% of dogs and cats are obese.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
At the fundamental level, obesity occurs when the amount of caloric intake exceeds how many calories the animal uses. Pets often develop obesity because owners like to show their love and appreciation through treats, table scraps and other food items. Even though the pet appreciates these snacks, their body does not!
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Obesity can cause significant health problems, and can actually decrease the animalโs life expectancy. Obese animals suffer from heat intolerance, exercise intolerance and joint and muscle pain. Having to move around extra weight can also put strain on the heart and lungs. Excessive fat can also contribute to metabolic problems like ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฌ and ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (fatty liver).
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Diagnosis is usually made through weighing the animal, and performing a ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐. In this scoring system, the veterinarian feels the animalโs body to determine how thick the fat deposits are. Animals that are over a 5/9 score are considered overweight.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Obesity is treated through reducing caloric intake and increasing exercise. Many obese pets benefit from low-calorie foods, which allow them to eat a full meal and feel satisfied, while only receiving a small amount of energy. Increased exercise may take the form of walks, runs, or increased play time.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A very fat Dachshund. Sausage dogs should not eat sausages, lol.
2-4) Internal organs of obese animals showing the extreme fat accumulation. You can imagine how it would be hard for that animal to move around with all that extra weight!
5-6) A cat with hepatic lipidosis, and what that liver looks like under the microscope. Liver cells are normally nice and pink, but these ones have massive globules of clear fat within them.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Sanderson SL. Nutrition in disease management in small animals. Merck Veterinary Manual 2016.
Photos 1-4, 6 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Luginbuhl, Ramos, Read, Dhein licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo 5 ยฉ University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
