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Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?
Will Draper, DVM posted:
Have you noticed your pooch's waist line expanding? Is your cat looking skinny? What does this mean? Well, it could be a few things. Weight changes in our pets -- as in us -- are a result of calories eaten and calories burned being out of balance. In some cases, a pet's weight change can be a symptom of a medical issue, so it's important to explore what might be causing a weight gain or loss.
Weight gain First, you need to look at your pet's diet. Like humans, as pets age, their metabolism slows down a bit. Keeping extra weight off is not as easy as it was during their younger years. For an older pet, it is extra important to watch their fat and calorie intake, and make sure your pet receives enough exercise. If it is determined that diet or lack of exercise is not the issue, then the possibility of other health issues should be explored.
In older dogs, weight gain raises flags that suggest illnesses such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) or diabetes. In addition to weight gain, look for other symptoms to help your vet make a diagnosis. Increased water intake and urination can indicate Cushing's disease or diabetes in an older dog, while heat-seeking behavior can be another symptom of hypothyroidism. Depending on the symptoms, your veterinarian will suggest tests to determine the cause.
For cats, weight gain is usually associated with too much food, or diabetes. It is rare for cats to develop hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease.
Weight loss Is your pet is losing weight? First, look at diet and make sure the amount of your pet's food intake is correct. If that checks out, then you must consider the possibility of illness or a medical condition. In older cats, a common cause of weight loss is hyperthyroidism, a condition where the body produces too much of the thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone can cause an unhealthy increase in metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is rarely seen in dogs. Unexplained weight loss in a dog or a cat must also alert your veterinarian to check for conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, or cancer.
Check out these articles on WebMD to learn more about weight loss or gain in dogs:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-gaining-weight
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-losing-weight
Has your pet experienced a noticeable weight change? If so, what was the cause? What course of action did you take to help your pet?
Weight gain First, you need to look at your pet's diet. Like humans, as pets age, their metabolism slows down a bit. Keeping extra weight off is not as easy as it was during their younger years. For an older pet, it is extra important to watch their fat and calorie intake, and make sure your pet receives enough exercise. If it is determined that diet or lack of exercise is not the issue, then the possibility of other health issues should be explored.
In older dogs, weight gain raises flags that suggest illnesses such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) or diabetes. In addition to weight gain, look for other symptoms to help your vet make a diagnosis. Increased water intake and urination can indicate Cushing's disease or diabetes in an older dog, while heat-seeking behavior can be another symptom of hypothyroidism. Depending on the symptoms, your veterinarian will suggest tests to determine the cause.
For cats, weight gain is usually associated with too much food, or diabetes. It is rare for cats to develop hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease.
Weight loss Is your pet is losing weight? First, look at diet and make sure the amount of your pet's food intake is correct. If that checks out, then you must consider the possibility of illness or a medical condition. In older cats, a common cause of weight loss is hyperthyroidism, a condition where the body produces too much of the thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone can cause an unhealthy increase in metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is rarely seen in dogs. Unexplained weight loss in a dog or a cat must also alert your veterinarian to check for conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, or cancer.
Check out these articles on WebMD to learn more about weight loss or gain in dogs:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-gaining-weight
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-losing-weight
Has your pet experienced a noticeable weight change? If so, what was the cause? What course of action did you take to help your pet?
Dr. Will
8 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?Have you noticed your pooch's waist line expanding? Is your cat looking skinny? What does this mean? Well, it could be a few things. Weight changes in our pets -- as in us -- are a result of calories eaten and calories burned being out of balance. In some cases, a pet's weight change can be a symptom of a medical issue, so it's important to explore what might be causing a weight gain or loss. <br /><br /><b>Weight gain</b> First, you need to look at your pet's diet. Like humans, as pets age, their metabolism slows down a bit. Keeping extra weight off is not as easy as it was during their younger years. For an older pet, it is extra important to watch their fat and calorie intake, and make sure your pet receives enough exercise. If it is determined that diet or lack of exercise is not the issue, then the possibility of other health issues should be explored. <br /><br />In older dogs, weight gain raises flags that suggest illnesses such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) or diabetes. In addition to weight gain, look for other symptoms to help your vet make a diagnosis. Increased water intake and urination can indicate Cushing's disease or diabetes in an older dog, while heat-seeking behavior can be another symptom of hypothyroidism. Depending on the symptoms, your veterinarian will suggest tests to determine the cause.<br /> <br />For cats, weight gain is usually associated with too much food, or diabetes. It is rare for cats to develop hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease. <br /><br /><b>Weight loss</b> Is your pet is losing weight? First, look at diet and make sure the amount of your pet's food intake is correct. If that checks out, then you must consider the possibility of illness or a medical condition. In older cats, a common cause of weight loss is hyperthyroidism, a condition where the body produces too much of the thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone can cause an unhealthy increase in metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is rarely seen in dogs. Unexplained weight loss in a dog or a cat must also alert your veterinarian to check for conditions such as kidney disease, liver disease, gastrointestinal disease, or cancer. <br /><br />Check out these articles on WebMD to learn more about weight loss or gain in dogs: <br /><br /><a href="http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-gaining-weight">http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-gaining-weight</a> <br /><br /><a href="http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-losing-weight">http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-losing-weight</a> <br /><br />Has your pet experienced a noticeable weight change? If so, what was the cause? What course of action did you take to help your pet?
kathykatt responded:
my boycat will be 11 in july and he last weighed in at 13.3. my vet wants him to lose weight. i've tried. he's not as active and its a two cat household so its hard to monitor what he gets, he sometimes hogs from his sister's dish...i can't monitor him all the time. he gets a mix of wet/dry. i try to go very easy on treats and no human food but a bit of tuna when i have some. and that will be the days treat. i take him out in our yard (with me) in the nice weather "on liberty"..for exercise. what is your thought on his weight? thanks. he is a shorthair tiger...
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?my boycat will be 11 in july and he last weighed in at 13.3. my vet wants him to lose weight. i've tried. he's not as active and its a two cat household so its hard to monitor what he gets, he sometimes hogs from his sister's dish...i can't monitor him all the time. he gets a mix of wet/dry. i try to go very easy on treats and no human food but a bit of tuna when i have some. and that will be the days treat. i take him out in our yard (with me) in the nice weather "on liberty"..for exercise. what is your thought on his weight? thanks. he is a shorthair tiger...
kathy- is depends on his build. If he's a "big", long cat, 13# isn't bad. If he's an averaged sized cat, however, I'd have to agree with your vet that he's a bit on the heavy side. I'd say that if you vet said such, he's probably overweight. The "two cat household syndrome" is common. One cat eats his food, and then goes over and eats his housemate's food:). Maybe you can feed the cats separately to better monitor his intake? Good for you on working with him on exercise as well. Good luck!
Dr. Will
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?kathy- is depends on his build. If he's a "big", long cat, 13# isn't bad. If he's an averaged sized cat, however, I'd have to agree with your vet that he's a bit on the heavy side. I'd say that if you vet said such, he's probably overweight. The "two cat household syndrome" is common. One cat eats his food, and then goes over and eats his housemate's food:). Maybe you can feed the cats separately to better monitor his intake? Good for you on working with him on exercise as well. Good luck!
luvmycatsandmydogs replied to Will Draper, DVM's response:
I just adopted a siam mix today and when i got him i weighed him and he is a huge 20 pounds he has a bigger build but he needs to loose weight big time and he is 8 so i want to get on it so it dont cause health issues. I also have a 1yrold siam mix who is big build and weighs in about 13 he could stand to loose a little too so i was thinking about getting a weight management diet what would you recommend food wise that is not out ragiously priced and is safe enough for my other 2 cats who are not overweight (no way to feed seperate). Currently I feed Purina Indoor as everyone likes it and is not picky over it.
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?I just adopted a siam mix today and when i got him i weighed him and he is a huge 20 pounds he has a bigger build but he needs to loose weight big time and he is 8 so i want to get on it so it dont cause health issues. I also have a 1yrold siam mix who is big build and weighs in about 13 he could stand to loose a little too so i was thinking about getting a weight management diet what would you recommend food wise that is not out ragiously priced and is safe enough for my other 2 cats who are not overweight (no way to feed seperate). Currently I feed Purina Indoor as everyone likes it and is not picky over it.
kathykatt replied to Will Draper, DVM's response:
thank you Dr. Will. my boy is long when he stretches. i know he's larger than my girlcat who keeps her figure nicely. he has big paws if that matters. i know he's gained a bit over the years but he doesn't appear fat or anything. yet on a cat i know a lb. or two can matter. but by far...not more than that. i know she just doesn't want him to keep gaining. as for feeding them separately...then i'd have one imploring cat looking at me like they hadn't been fed in 100 years and were starving them...i do put their dishes in separate rooms to keep them apart.
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?thank you Dr. Will. my boy is long when he stretches. i know he's larger than my girlcat who keeps her figure nicely. he has big paws if that matters. i know he's gained a bit over the years but he doesn't appear fat or anything. yet on a cat i know a lb. or two can matter. but by far...not more than that. i know she just doesn't want him to keep gaining. as for feeding them separately...then i'd have one imploring cat looking at me like they hadn't been fed in 100 years and were starving them...i do put their dishes in separate rooms to keep them apart.
luvmycatsandmydogs replied to luvmycatsandmydogs's response:
Forgot to ask as well about my new adopted one he was fine when i was at the shelter sounded good and all that but on the way home he was stressing of course i noticed he was drooling and sneezing this went on the whole 40 mile ride when i got him home i cleaned him up and i see he is still sneezing a little is this possibly due to the stress or should i really be thinking along the lines of a upper resp, infection??? Should i give him a day or 2 more to calm down and see how he is?? Just thought it was odd he wasnt doing anything of it at the shelter and i was there for about 45 min or longer just looking for some thoughts on this
thanks
thanks
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?Forgot to ask as well about my new adopted one he was fine when i was at the shelter sounded good and all that but on the way home he was stressing of course i noticed he was drooling and sneezing this went on the whole 40 mile ride when i got him home i cleaned him up and i see he is still sneezing a little is this possibly due to the stress or should i really be thinking along the lines of a upper resp, infection??? Should i give him a day or 2 more to calm down and see how he is?? Just thought it was odd he wasnt doing anything of it at the shelter and i was there for about 45 min or longer just looking for some thoughts on this<br />thanks
lmcad- could be stress related, or it could be a virus or URI. If he's eating and drinking fine, and BAR (bright, alert and responsive) he's probably OK. However it's something your vet should examine him for to determine what the best course of action is. Best of luck!
Dr. Will
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?lmcad- could be stress related, or it could be a virus or URI. If he's eating and drinking fine, and BAR (bright, alert and responsive) he's probably OK. However it's something your vet should examine him for to determine what the best course of action is. Best of luck!
luvmycatsandmydogs replied to Will Draper, DVM's response:
Thanks, yeah hes doing fine and actually he is lots better today so im thinking it was more along the lines of stress. The biggest thing now is getting him to the vet for his weight which im looking all over online now to find out what the best thing to feed him as well as the others him being 20 pounds just isnt good so need a diet asap
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?Thanks, yeah hes doing fine and actually he is lots better today so im thinking it was more along the lines of stress. The biggest thing now is getting him to the vet for his weight which im looking all over online now to find out what the best thing to feed him as well as the others him being 20 pounds just isnt good so need a diet asap
purplegirl21 responded:
Well my boy jack russell has lost weight first my dad thought it was from the flea collar we put on him and he is eating fine, but we took it off and it has been at least i think 3 days and he hasnt gained anything back yet it looks like he has very little.
My girl jack russell has gained weight and i think it might be from the flea collar she does eat alot but not enough to gain weight, but she runs around like crazy and i play with her all the time. What do u think on his weight. Thanks. they are both short haired jack russell terrier's.
My girl jack russell has gained weight and i think it might be from the flea collar she does eat alot but not enough to gain weight, but she runs around like crazy and i play with her all the time. What do u think on his weight. Thanks. they are both short haired jack russell terrier's.
Report This| Share this:Is Your Pet Gaining or Losing Weight?Well my boy jack russell has lost weight first my dad thought it was from the flea collar we put on him and he is eating fine, but we took it off and it has been at least i think 3 days and he hasnt gained anything back yet it looks like he has very little. <br />My girl jack russell has gained weight and i think it might be from the flea collar she does eat alot but not enough to gain weight, but she runs around like crazy and i play with her all the time. What do u think on his weight. Thanks. they are both short haired jack russell terrier's.
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