Why Fat Cats and Dogs are a Problem

By Beth Davidow, DVM DACVECC

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

As the fall sets in, I always feel that I really want to eat more. The colder weather means we are inside, closer to the kitchen. I find I’m baking more and thinking about desserts for upcoming holidays. As we eat more, and spend more time in the kitchen, our furry companions tend to join us and they know just how to meet our eyes, do tricks and convince us, that they too need a little extra something yummy.

But just as extra pounds can be problematic for us, extra pounds can also be problematic for our pets. Because they are smaller than us, we sometimes don’t realize how much the percentage gain really is. While if we average 150 lbs and then went up to 200 lbs over the winter, we would probably be very concerned with our weight gain, we sometimes don’t bat an eye when our 15 lb cat suddenly becomes 20 lbs, a similar proportional gain.

Obesity is a huge problem for animals and has been an increasing problem. As in humans, obesity in our pets can lead to bone and joint problems, increased risk for certain cancers, increased heart and lung problems, increased urinary issues, and much increased risk for diabetes.

At our emergency hospital, one common life-threatening emergency in cats is urinary blockage. There are good studies that show that overweight cats are at a much higher risk for this condition than cats in good body condition. In small dogs, a large portion of the dogs with severe respiratory problems are also overweight. Many of these patients present on emergency needing oxygen and end up on many medications. If owners are successful in having these dogs lose weight, many end up requiring less medications over the long haul.

So why do dogs and cats become obese?  In the vast majority of cases it is because caloric intake is in excess of the calories burned during the day. In a few cases, they have an underlying problem such as hypothyroidism but this is the exception not the rule. Thus, to keep thin, pets either need less calories or more exercise. As in people, often the culprit is not the meals but the in between meal snacks. Remember that if your 10 lb dog usually gets a ¼ cup of food twice a day, two large milk bones probably increased his calories by 10%.

This fall, try not to succumb to that cute little face cocking their head at you to share your muffin. Although extra treats may show them you love them in the short term, the consequence may be higher vet bills and more trips to the emergency room. Instead, pick up their leash, brave the rain, and take them for a walk. You will both be happier and healthier in the long run. 

Full Moon and the ER

By Dr. Beth Guerra 

There are nights in the ER where I take a moment to reflect upon the phase of the moon. This usually occurs when I have every exam room full of potential patients and multiple critical animals being carried into the ICU on stretchers hemorrhaging, seizuring, or gasping for breath. Every emergency doctor, human or veterinary, cannot shake the conviction that a full moon coincides with a full, and often crazy, emergency room.

I have several friends that are human ER physicians, and we all swear by this phenomenon. Reflecting back on my years in the ER, I can recall with difficulty the full moon shifts where I wasn’t up to my elbows in critical patients, no matter what clinic I was working at during that time. I even psych myself out driving to work when I happen to glance up and notice the moon is waxing full.

Multiple studies have been done about this correlation, in both human and veterinary medicine, and the bottom line is, there is no correlation. Separate statistical analyses have failed to show any link between a full moon and the caseload in the ER clinic.

One study from the Indian Journal of Medical Science (2004) failed to show any positive relation between full moon days and variables such as number of trauma patients, assaults, or attempted suicides. Another retrospective study in Resuscitation (2003) analyzed ER caseloads for six years and did not find a correlation between the number of ER visits, the phases of the moon, or the signs of the zodiac. A similar study in Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (2007) found no correlation between case load and the phase of the moon (or Friday the 13^th), but did note that weekends and holidays were consistently the busiest days of the year.

A literature search revealed that this phenomenon has been studied extensively since the late 1960s and has even delved into variables like number of births, dog bites, drug overdoses, suicide attempts, surgical complications, and cardiac arrest. In each instance, no relationship has been established that can be linked to a full moon.

Even with all this evidence to the contrary, I still approach my full moon shifts with a certain amount of trepidation. I make sure to get as much sleep as possible and eat before I get to work; as every emergency shift worker knows, you may not get another chance. I take a deep breath as I walk in the door and remind myself that it’s just another day, and that no matter how out of control things get, I can’t blame it on the moon.