Second Chance: Lean Pets for Longer Lives

03 Dec Second Chance: Lean Pets for Longer Lives

In my experience, most Western slope dogs are “fit.” They walk, run, swim, bike, ski and hike with their owners. They have great circulatory systems, well-toned muscles and admirable respiratory capacity. However, there is a myth circulating about that as long as pets get lots of exercise, they will be healthy. Unfortunately, being fit isn’t enough if your pet is still overweight. Slim is in.

Daisy

Seriously, if you really want your pet to live as long as possible, be as healthy as possible, and to be as pain-free as possible, you want to keep your furry family members on the slim side. In veterinary medicine we assess animals using a 0-9 body condition score.  One is emaciated, 9 is grossly obese. Most dogs and cats I see are between 5.5 and 7.5. Not terribly overweight, but not slim.

A recent veterinary study showed that pets kept slim — between 4 and 4.5 out of 9 (with a pronounced waist as you look at them from above and from the side) lived a full two years longer and were much less likely to have orthopedic problems – the hip and knee troubles that so many of our older dogs suffer from. Two years, in a pet’s life is substantial, sort of like us living 14 years longer than otherwise.  And these additional two years will be easier and more enjoyable for a slim senior than a portly one.

So if your furry friend is fit, but stout, you’d do them a great favor by cutting back their food intake. It doesn’t take special diet food, it just takes a little less. Don’t take the pet-food manufacturer’s word for it either as most commercial pet food labels recommend feeding far too much. Consult with your veterinarian, but most dogs and cats should eat their weight in kilograms (divide a pound by 2.2 for kilogram) multiplied by 30 plus 70 in calories.

So a 40 lb dog, which is 18 kilograms, should eat 615 calories per day (which of course could vary depending on your pet’s activity levels). Find the calorie count on the back of your pet-food and figure out how much 615 calories is, then divide it in half and feed that twice a day. Snacks can be carrots, frozen broccoli, frozen cauliflower. Add canned pumpkin (like 1/4 cup) to their food to make them feel fuller.

Animals have a much easier time losing weight than we do, unless yours has figured out how to open the refrigerator (but don’t go overboard – a few pounds can make all the difference with most animals). So every time you feel your resolve getting weak with an urge to let your dog lick the dinner plates clean, think about how much longer your pet will be with you, and how much less arthritis it will suffer from…

The Second Chance dog of the week is Daisy, a lean year old Shepherd/Hound mix who is a super fun, energetic, loving, and happy girl. She does well with other dogs and loves people. She will fit in great with an active family with the time and energy to train her. She would also be a good asset to those on their own weight loss program as her energy will inspire you to move.

Rock Hudson

The cat of the week, Rock Hudson, is an 11-week-old handsome little kitten also willing to keep you on your toes and your love tank filled…a source of entertainment as well as a great companion…

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

Ted Hoff & Mae

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)