Obesity Consultation

Obesity and Pets

Approximately 25% of dogs and cats seen by veterinarians are overweight to obese. A large number of the patients that we develop weight loss plans for have come to Texas A&M to be treated for conditions that resulted from, or are being exacerbated by, obesity. Therefore, we take weight control very seriously, because we are not only working towards the pet achieving optimal weight, but many times trying to prevent the reoccurrence of other serious conditions. Orthopedics and Cardiology are two of the services we work with often, because the skeletal system and cardiopulmonary system are often dramatically affected by extra weight. We also see our share of Neurology patients, most often dogs that have back problems, who would benefit greatly from weight loss.

Weight Loss Consultations

The process of a weight loss consultation begins with the clinician recognizing that the patient would benefit from weight loss and expressing his or her concerns with the owner. If the owner agrees that their pet would benefit from shedding some excess weight the clinician will fill out a consultation form and contact the Nutrition Service. The consultation form lets the Nutritionist know what conditions the animal is being treated for, a medical history of past problems and a detailed diet history provided by the owner. The nutritionist then examines the pet to assign a body condition score (BCS) that defines actually how overweight the pet is. The nutritionist then takes measurements that also help him or her determine the animal's body fat using a computer program. The next steps involve analyzing how many calories the pet has been eating and how many the pet will need to eat to safely lose weight. Then a plan is developed that will include a specific fat-restricted calorie-restricted food, exercise and scheduled rechecks to check the pet's progress. The nutritionist meets with the pet's owners before the pet goes home to discuss the plan and make sure that it will work for them and to answer any questions the owners may have about the plan. About once a month the nutrition technician calls the owners to check on the pet's progress, answer any questions and make sure that biweekly rechecks have been done with their local veterinarian to monitor weight loss.

How You Can Help Your Pet

Prevention is truly the best medicine. The best thing you can do for your pet is to prevent him or her from getting overweight. You can prevent obesity by monitoring your pet's body condition, adjusting his or her food accordingly with the help of your veterinarian, and making sure your pet gets enough exercise.

If your pet is either over or underweight, please consult your veterinarian about a plan to get back on track.