PAWPRINTS

Archive for July, 2011

By Lambeth Hochwald for The Daily Cat

Many is the cat owner who comes home to find the resident feline sprawled out on the couch — in exactly the same place it was several hours before. If this sounds familiar, then your cat is probably in need of a little feline physical fitness.

Exercise is beneficial to your cat in several ways. For one, it can alleviate the boredom that sometimes leads to bouts of bad behavior, says Nancy Peterson, an issues specialist at The Humane Society of the United States in Washington, D.C. A little workout might ward off situations that involve chewing the legs of your dining room chairs, swinging on curtains, playing with your clothing, and so on.

Regular exercise can also keep your pet healthy and prevent disease. According to Peterson, heavier cats face a higher risk of developing heart problems and feline diabetes. And the more your cat exercises, the greater its muscle strength and flexibility, says James R. Richards, a veterinarian and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, New York. “A lot of cats live indoors these days, which is beneficial for their health in terms of keeping them away from infectious agents outdoors. But we have a lot of bored, fat, couch potato cats out there. The high point of their day is when they jump off the couch and head to the feeding dish.”

Consider it your job to keep your cat interested in some sort of exercise, says Jean Duddy, DVM, a veterinarian who specializes in internal medicine at Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. “If your cat tends to be sedentary and you don’t change that pattern, it will remain sedentary,” she says. “Keep at it even when your cat walks away.”

Experiment with different toys until you find some that capture your cat’s interest and excitement. Some felines love interactive wand-like gadgets that prompt them to leap in the air, while other cats prefer to sit in hiding and pounce on objects, says Peterson. “Even older cats can be enticed to play with most wand toys,” Peterson says. “But regardless of age, what’s most important is to make exercise a routine part of the day. An adult cat will benefit from at least twice-a-day play sessions, preferably at set times.” To keep things fun, rotate the toys on a weekly basis so that boredom doesn’t set in. 

Finally, if your cat is already overweight, be sure to speak to your veterinarian before jump-starting a regular exercise routine. Your vet can rule out any underlying medical issues that should be treated, or considered, in advance.

Lambeth Hochwald is a New York City-based writer and editor who adores a sweet, loyal, adopted little dog named Ginger

Visit AllAbout Dogs and Cats for more articles on cat health

By Timothy Brill for The Dog Daily

Obesity is a common problem in dogs, so if your furry friend is packing on a few too many pounds these days, it is not alone. If your vet agrees with your observation of weight gain, the key is to then identify the possible causes before starting a total weight management program that can result in controlled weight loss and maintenance of an appropriate weight.

Understanding Canine Obesity
From a purely clinical perspective, obesity is defined as an increase in body weight beyond the limitation of skeletal and physical requirements, resulting from an accumulation of excess body fat. It is caused when caloric intake exceeds caloric expenditure. This simply means that your dog eats more energy (calories) than it uses and stores the excess energy, most likely as fat.

There are a few common factors that contribute to canine obesity. Among them are:

• Overfeeding
• Inactivity
• Breed
• Age and gender
• Spay/neuter status
• Diabetes mellitus (When the dog secretes too little insulin hormone from its pancreas or the insulin is not recognized by the body.)
• Hyperadrenocorticism (Also known as Cushing’s disease, this disorder results when too much cortisol — a hormone — is secreted by the dog’s adrenal glands.)
• Hypothyroidism (When the thyroid fails to produce a sufficient amount of hormones that help with metabolism and other bodily functions.)

Nutrient Know-how
Your dog uses fat as its primary energy source. When your dog becomes overweight, it stores fat more easily if the calories are consumed in the form of fat than if they are from carbohydrates. An overweight or obese dog should be fed a low-fat diet to restrict calories available from fat.

A normal fiber level, provided as a moderately fermentable fiber source, helps create and maintain healthy digestion. This is especially important to your dog if it’s on a diet. Some weight-loss foods for dogs dilute calories with high levels of fiber. High-fiber foods may reduce the digestibility and absorption of many nutrients, including fat. These foods reduce weight by providing what could be considered poor-quality nutrition. These high-fiber diets may also result in large, frequent stools and decreased skin and coat condition. Diets that provide essential fatty acids, like those found in vitamin-rich fish oils, help maintain your dog’s healthy skin and coat, despite lowered fat levels.

Take it Slow
The goal of a good weight management program should be gradual weight loss. Your rotund Rover should lose 1% to 2% of its initial weight per week. You can accomplish this by reducing the caloric intake by 30% to 50% of maintenance.

A total weight management program can lead to successful weight loss in your dog. Exercise can help to keep the extra pounds off too. But before beginning any weight loss program with your pet, be sure to discuss the proposed plan with your veterinarian. Your vet may also provide you with additional tips that are tailored to the particular health, age, size and needs of your dog.

Timothy Brill is a freelance writer and animal advocate.