Veterinary Medicine Essentials: Obesity in pets

An estimated 54% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese, but clients don't always recognize that Parker has gone portly. We at dvm360 have curated our best, most informative articles about this topic to help you diagnose and treat it most efficiently and effectively. And we will keep you on top of new developments as they arise.

Updates on obesity in pets

Does this chart make me look fat?

Sep 25, 2017

Yes, price and income affect the demand for veterinary services. But in the case of nutrition, education may be just as important. ...

U.S. pets getting fatter, according to pet obesity research report

Feb 28, 2017

Pet owners disagree with veterinarians on nutritional issues ...

Do I look fat in this? 6 ways to effectively intervene in patient weight issues

Aug 08, 2016

A new study looks at how veterinarians can comfortably step in to facilitate weight loss, borrowing from successful human programs to help. ...

Will my fat cat hate me if I put it on a diet?

Mar 08, 2016

Cat owners can be reluctant to put their obese felines on a diet for fear of making fluffy furious, but newly released study findings from Cornell suggest the opposite. ...

Diagnosing obesity in pets

Obesity in dogs, Part 1: Exploring the causes and consequences of canine obesity

Excess weight is the most common medical condition in companion animals and has a number of health and wellness implications for both pets and their owners. ...

Identify at-risk patients when battling obesity in companion animals

Small animals are supplied with an abundance of highly nutritious and palatable food. ...

Nestle Purina BCS scale

Nestle Purina BCS scale ...

Treating obesity in pets

Obesity in dogs, Part 2: Treating excess weight with a multiple-modality approach

Pairing interventions that benefit both the pet's and owners' health may be a valuable role for veterinarians. ...

Feline nutrition: Understanding how to feed cats for obesity prevention and weight management (Sponsored by Nestle Purina)

Studies show 15% to 35% of cats in the US are overweight or obese. Learn what you need to do at your veterinary practice in order to take control of weight management in your feline patients. ...

A veterinarian's view on exercising with pets

Is it ok to hit the trails with your fuzzy companions? ...

Video: Feline obesity: Behavioral solutions

Predation, play, and perches are key to helping cats expend more energy, says Dr. Jacqueline Neilson. ...

Promote weight loss by pointing out the perils of pet obesity

Seeing too many overweight pets in practice, but having a hard time getting clients on board with your weight reduction recommendations? Put some mass behind your message with this informational client handout. ...

Associated conditions

A pernicious triad: Arthritis, obesity and chronic pain

Each of these health problems causes harm in its own way, and it's not unusual for veterinary patients to present with all three. Dr. Tara Edwards says early detection and intervention and a multimodal management strategy are keys to taming this tangled trio. ...

Top 10 obesity-related pet conditions

These cat and dog conditions accounted for more than 1.3 million of Nationwide pet insurance claims in 2016, a 23 percent increase from three years before. ...

Obesity and concurrent disease: Time for a complete nutrition assessment

Dr. Martha Cline addresses how a veterinary patient's diet comes into play when more than one condition is present. ...

See Spot suffering from osteoarthritis

Technicians-doctors need your help in detecting osteoarthritis in your veterinary patients. Here's how to become an OA advocate in your clinic. ...

Data: Most common conditions with canine obesity

This year's Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health Report highlights the growing problem of canine obesity in veterinary medicine-revealing the top obesity comorbidities as well as the breeds most affected. ...

Chronic kidney disease + obesity: A treatment plan doodle

Veterinary nutrition expert Dr. Martha Cline brings clarity to this complicated comorbidity. ...

When obesity and chronic kidney disease collide

A review of the literature and an explanation of what is (and isn't) reasonable when it comes to making a treatment plan. ...

Client education

When the pet is obese and the client is oblivious

According to veterinary nutritionist Deborah Linder, the battle of the bulge starts with your clients' hearts and minds. ...

Make sure clients don't derail the benefits of veterinary therapeutic diets

The treats pet owners add on top can toy with the benefits. ...

Hey, that was awkward: Dealing with obese pets (but mostly their owners)

We all know it-weight is personal. It's often an emotional trigger for clients. Avoid the awkwardness and promote healthier lifestyles for pets and owners using these 4 tips. ...

Client handout: How to get your dog in shape

Client handout: How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

Client handout: How many calories is a mouse?

Ever wonder how a mouse would factor on the Weight Watchers "point" system? It may help clients with overweight cats. ...

Client handout: 4 tips for weight loss in cats

Help clients get their cats back into a healthy weight range with tips from this free handout. ...

Review the risks of pet obesity with veterinary clients

Addressing pet obesity ...

Arming your team

Keep current on calorie counts

No, calorie content is not required (yet) on pet food labels. But you can still help your veterinary clients figure out caloric intake. ...

Calculate the perfect portions for pets

Are Fluffy and Spot eating too much or too little? Use this step-by-step guide to determine caloric requirements for your veterinary patients. ...

A tool to find out what Ruby and Roscoe are really eating

You know you're not really getting the full picture of what your veterinary patients eat. Here's a form to help you get a little fuller picture of a dog's diet. ...

Pet weight loss posts and tweets

Pre-prepared Facebook posts and tweets that exercise social media channels to help your overweight veterinary patients. ...

Team tool: Coach clients to weight loss success (for their pets, of course)

You and your fellow veterinary team members are basically Oprah for overweight pets. ...

Why weight? Tackle pets' muffin tops and garbage guts

Use these 5 steps to build an effective pet weight-loss program at your veterinary hospital. ...

How to win client compliance and influence patients' weight loss

Your veterinary patient needs to lose a few pounds, now! Understanding clients' decision-making processes makes buy-in easier. ...

Let's get awkward: “Your pet is fat”

Pet owners are often oblivious to pets' unhealthy weight. So cut the “Your dog is so fat” jokes and learn how to navigate this emotional client landmine. ...