Is your pet too fat?

In our modern life style, food is no longer serving as a basic survival need, but has become a part of life’s pleasures.

This is also true for pets. Many pet owners are using food to spoil their pets, hence obesity among pets is extremely common. Obesity is the most frequent nutritional problem encountered in veterinary medicine, and approximately 20-25 per cent of the dogs and cats I see in my practice are obese.

Pet owners are getting more and more aware of the importance of preventative, medical care for their pets, including vaccinations, de-worming and dental cleaning, but obesity is an underestimated health problem.

In general, obesity is caused when the pet eats more calories than it burns. Some medical conditions can also lead to obesity. For example, hormonal imbalance such as hypothyroidism (slow function of the thyroid gland) or problems in the bones, joints or muscles that greatly influence the ability to exercise.

Obesity may lead to severe consequences; these are the most common possible outcomes of obesity:

  • Diabetes Mellitus: A lack of insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted from the pancreas after eating, in order to shift the glucose (sugar) as an energy to the body’s tissues for their basic function. When requirements for insulin exceed the ability of the body to produce it, diabetes mellitus develops.
  • High blood pressure and heart failure: Obesity may lead to high blood pressure, which puts extra load on the heart function and may eventually lead to heart failure.
  • Impairment and damage of joints, ligaments and bones. Overweight animals are more prone to intervertebral disc disease, a condition that can lead to permanent paralysis. Also overweight pets are more prone to developing arthritis and to ligaments rapture. Damages to the joints, bones muscles and ligaments can lead to a vicious cycle in which the animal becomes even less active and then gains more weight.
  • Obesity can affect the liver by accumulation of fat in the liver and eventually liver failure (Hepatic lipidosis or Fatty liver syndrome).
  • Obese animals are more prone to developing pancreatitis.
  • Obesity also affects the reproductive system and may cause infertility and complications in delivery.
  • There is a higher risk in performing anaesthesia and surgical procedures in an obese animal.
  • Some researches show that obese animals are more susceptible to infectious diseases.

In general, an ideal body condition is when the ribs are not seen, but can be easily palpable. In an overweight animal, the ribs are barely palpable. In obese pets, the ribs are not palpable at all.

If you suspect that your pet might be overweight, you should take it to your vet. The veterinarian will gather history and general details and will try to diagnose whether the source of the problem is nutritional or medical.

Besides treating the underlying problem, if it exists, the vet may suggest changing the pet’s diet to high fibre and low calorie.

The amount of food given should be according to the diet manufacturer’s feeding guide and should match the animal’s ideal weight calorie intake requirements.

Table scraps and treats should be avoided or given in severe moderation. Encouraging physical activity is also recommended, within the limitations of the pet’s physical ability.

Maintaining healthy body condition is extremely important to your pet’s health, quality of life and longevity.

Please consult your veterinarian about your pet’s specific body condition and the best way to keep it healthy.  


Jack Frost can bite your pet

The extreme winter conditions we're facing are adding extra challenges to our daily lives.

Besides tending to snow shovelling, anti-freezing our vehicles and putting on the extra layers to keep ourselves warm. we have to make sure we don't overlook the potential hazards of prolonged exposure of pets to the cold weather.

This week, I had three different cases of frostbites in dogs.

Frostbite is a condition in which certain areas of the body are severely damaged due to exposure to freezing temperatures.

The mechanism of frostbite is simple. 

The blood is transferred to the body organs via blood vessels. The blood vessels are dynamic and change diameter depending on many factors.

Cold temperature causes significant narrowing of the blood vessels, reducing or even blocking the blood supply to the affected areas.

Blood is essential for the organ cells' vitality.

There are four grades of frostbites depending of the length of exposure to the freezing temperatures, and the severity of the tissue. Frst-degree frostbite refers to a superficial damage of skin with a reversible changes that can heal and the area can return to normal function.

In fourth-degree frostbite, the deep layers of the area are severely and permanently damaged, which eventually leads to the detachment and falling off of the affected area/ organ.

The body extremities are the areas most commonly affected. 

The symptoms of frostbite depend on the stage.

In the initial stages, the areas can be numb and darker or blueish colour. In more advanced cases, blisters appear and eventually, in fourth-degree frostbites, the area became black and sloughs off.

Older animals, or animals with conditions that entail impaired blood supply (such as diabetes or heart problems), are at greater risk for developing frostbites when exposed to the freezing, cold weather. 

If you suspect frostbite in your pet, try to rub the area to warm it and stimulate blood flow. Seeking professional veterinary care is recommended in order to assess the severity of the situation and to tend to the problem to reverse the damage as soon as possible.

As always, prevention is the key.

Make sure that your pet is not exposed to freezing, cold weather for a prolonged period. When the animal is taken out, protective pet clothing can prevent the issue from occurring.

All pet stores, and other department stores, carry a wide variety of pet sweaters, jackets and paw wear. 

Do not take this issue lightly. It is true that animals have fur. However, companion animals have been domesticated for hundreds of years, hence are not geared toward spending a prolonged time in freezing conditions. 

Many dogs enjoy the snow and will happily dive right into it. There is no need to deny them this joy as long as basic safety measures are taken. Limit the exposure time to the frozen ground, and provide your pet with protective gear.

If your pet has been affected and you suspect frostbite, take it to see your vet. Early intervention can in many cases, changes the outcome of the damage. 

Corn (on the cob) in the dog

Animals never cease to amaze me with the things they swallow.

Unfortunately, swallowing foreign bodies is a common phenomena in both dogs and cats. â€¨This behaviour can stem from either playfulness, and ingestion of the foreign material by mistake, or simply due to being gluttonous, trying to eat whatever they can grab.

â€¨Meet Scooby, a two-year-old doberman. Scooby decided to chew on a corncob and swallow it. His loving owners brought him into the clinic, sick. We rarely get to clearly see the foreign body in the X-ray. Scooby’s case was really cool because it's easy to see the corncob in his abdomen.

Animals usually pass the object without complications, however, swallowing various objects can lead to serious conditions. If the object is sharp, it can cause tears of the gastrointestinal tract. Some object may be toxic to the animal, such as coins or batteries.

The most common complication is the lodging of the foreign body in the esophagus, stomach or intestine, and causing complete or partial blockage.

This is extremely important piece of information to take under account when bringing a pet home. Similarly to how we baby proof our house, we should also pet proof it.

Dogs have been known to swallow bones, balls,corn cobs, toys, sticks, stones, pins, needles, wood splinters, cloth, rawhide, leather, strings, fruit pits, and other objects. The most common foreign bodies found in cats are strings.

Any household object your pet chews on can become a foreign body problem.

Many times the owner does not witness the ingestion and is not aware or sure that the animal has ingested something they shouldn't have. Hence, it's important to be aware of symptoms that are associated with obstruction of the GIT. â€¨

Partial obstruction allows limited passage of fluids and gas through the gastrointestinal tract, whereas complete obstruction does not allow any passage of gas and fluids past the obstruction.



The clinical presentation of foreign bodies depend on the location of the object and whether the object caused a partial or complete obstruction. The most common symptom associated with gastrointestinal foreign body is vomiting.

In a complete abstraction the vomiting will be profound and frequently will be accompanied also by lethargy, loss of appetite, and depression.

A pet with an untreated case of complete obstruction will probably die within only few days. In a partial obstruction, the symptoms will be less severe and intermittent. The animal will lose weight, but as long as the animal keeps drinking it may live for three to four weeks.

Foreign bodies are usually diagnosed by imaging. Some objects can be seen on a plain X-ray like in the Scooby’s case. If an animal swallows an object such as a rock, or metal object, they can be seen easily In cases that the object itself can not be seen, but the shape of the intestine reveals typical pattern that highly suggests the presence of a foreign body.

Sometimes a contrast X-ray is required. In this type of test, the animal is fed a special dyeing material that helps determining if there is obstruction and its nature. Some foreign bodies can also be diagnosed by ultrasound or an endoscopic exam.

Once the diagnosis of foreign body was established, the treatment depends on the location of the object and the pet’s medical condition. If the pet’s condition allows it, the vet will repeat the X-rays in order to assess whether the object is moving and can pass on its own. In many cases a surgical intervention is required.


Beside removing the object most animals also require hospitalization with intravenous supply of fluids till the animal gets back on tract and is able to drink and eat on its own. The treatment usually also involves medication such as antibiotics and electrolytes supplementation.

Prevention is very important and may spare your animal from getting through a very painful and potentially life threatening  condition. It is important to pet proof your house. Keep away any object that your pet might ingest. Make sure that the toys that you give to your pets are large enough so they can not be swallowed.

Also make sure that the toys are made of good quality and can not be broken into pieces easily. Some dogs tend to chew on objects more than others, I would keep away toys from these kind of dogs — better be safe than sorry. It is very important to make sure that your pet will not have access to garbage and garbage bins.

Some dogs have extreme tendency to chew on an object when they are walked  outdoors. If that is the case with your dog and you feel that you are having difficulty controlling what your dog chews on, you can consider walking it with a muzzle on.

If your pet shows any of these symptoms, especially choking ,severe or intermittent vomiting, take it to your vet. â€¨Always pay attention to the toys you are giving to your pet. Make sure that they are not easily coming apart to smaller pieces that can be swallowed and cause obstruction. â€¨

Your vet can guide you which toys and treats are ideal for your specific pet.


Guarding against giardia

Not many diseases can be transmitted from pets to humans, but there are some exceptions and one that can affect both pets (mainly dogs) and humans is caused by a parasite called giardia.

Giardia is a one-cell parasite that affects the intestine and decreases the ability to digest food, thus causing severe intestinal-related symptoms such as:

  • severe diarrhea, often accompanied by a mucus, jelly-like material
  • excess gas
  • stomach or abdominal cramps
  • upset stomach
  • nausea

In severe cases, dehydration and nutritional loss may need immediate treatment.

Giardia infection spreads through the feces. The most common source for infection in both humans and pets is contaminated water in lakes, rivers or puddles.

The transmission from pets to humans has not been proven, but due to the fact that the parasite can affect many types of mammals, including people, it is assumed that the transmission between pets to humans can occur and safety measurements should be taken.  

Giardia infection is diagnosed by a fecal test in which the parasite or its eggs can be seen under the microscope.

A more modern and reliable lab test is now available, and can be done easily and cost effectively in most veterinary clinics. In this test, a sample is taken directly from the rectum by a special Q-tip, and the presence of the parasite is checked by a chemical reaction test that yields better objective results.

The treatment of giardia infection consists of specific antibiotic medication.

The diagnosis is easy and the treatment is straightforward. Catching the infection in timely manner can spare grief for both you and your furry friend.


Giardia is found in contaminated water, especially in stand still water such as ponds and puddles. Giardia may also be found on the surface of the ground, in the soil, and in undercooked foods.

  • Maintaining proper hygiene should protect you and your dog.
  • Avoid letting your dog drink water in the wilderness.
  • Make sure to always wash your hands thoroughly after picking up or cleaning your dog’s feces.
  • Boiling water for one minute should be sufficient in killing giardia parasites.
  • Avoid eating or offering undercooked food to your dog.

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About the Author




Dr. Oz can be contacted through his website: www.KelownaVet.ca


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