Page 935 - Small Animal Internal Medicine, 6th Edition

CHAPTER 51 Weight Loss and Obesity 907

Once the ideal body condition has been achieved, the increased incidence of lower urinary tract disease, diabe-
daily caloric intake can be adjusted to maintain an ideal body tes mellitus, arthritis, decreased life span). It is important
VetBooks.ir condition. The patient’s weight loss diet can be maintained, that clients be instructed how to properly feed their pet and
how to regularly determine the pet’s body condition such
or a diet with lower energy density than initially fed can be
tried. Maintenance diets that are intended for weight control
pet. Weight education should be reinforced at least annually
are widely available. Continued guidance on appropriate that they can maintain the ideal body condition of their
amounts to feed as well as types and amounts of treats should during the health examination.
be provided. The patient should be reevaluated initially after
2 to 3 weeks, then at least every 2 to 3 months after weight Suggested Readings
loss to ensure that weight stability is maintained and that the
patient is not gaining weight on its new diet regimen. Cur- Brooks D, et al. 2014 AAHA weight management guidelines for
dogs and cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2014;50:1.
rently, medications or effective nutraceuticals for facilitating Farcas AK, Michel KE. eds. Small animal obesity. Vet Clin North
weight loss in dogs and cats are not available. Chronic energy Am Small Anim Pract. 2016;46(5):761.
restriction together with appropriate owner education and Freeman LM, et al. Nutritional assessment guidelines. J Small Anim
ideally increased activity and exercise to increase energy Pract. 2011;52:385.
expenditure remain the standard strategies for achieving German AJ. Outcomes of weight management in obese pet dogs:
successful weight loss. what can we do better? Proc Nutr Soc. 2016;75:398.
German AJ, et al. Use of starting body condition score to estimate
Prevention changes in body weight and composition during weight loss in
Ideally, clinicians should focus more on obesity prevention obese dogs. Res Vet Sci. 2009;87:249.
than on treatment because treatment can be very challeng- Kealy RD, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-
related changes in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;220:1315.
ing. Because increased food intake and overconsumption Laflamme DP. Companion animals symposium: obesity in dogs
of energy resulting in the development of obesity occurs and cats: what is wrong with being fat? J Anim Sci. 1653;90:
soon after gonadectomy, prevention should begin at the time 2012.
that the pet is neutered. Clients should be counseled about Larsen JA. Risk of obesity in the neutered cat. J Feline Med Surg.
the risk factors of obesity (e.g., male neutered cats, female 2016. pii: 1098612X16660605. [Epub ahead of print].
neutered dogs, inactive and indoor lifestyle, free-feeding, Scarlett JM, Donoghue S. Associations between body condition and
energy-dense foods) and the consequences of obesity (e.g., disease in cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1998;212:1725–1731.