A comment such as "your pet is "fluffy" is my nice way of suggesting to the owner that their pet needs to lose weight. Many clients are aware that their pet is a little overweight, but how does one decide?
Unfortunately, pets do tend to gain weight after they are neutered because of metabolism changes. Most veterinarians refer to a body condition score to rate where your pet's weight is compared to normal. I tend use the 1-5 score.
1/5 Very Thin: The ribs, spinal column (backbones or vertebrae) and hip bones stick out. The muscle mass is very small and there is no fat on the chest. These pets are obviously unhealthy and referred to as emaciated, malnourished or starved.
2/5 Thin: Can see the ribs, spinal column and hip bones; they have an obvious waist, meaning that when viewing the pet from the top down, their tummy sucks in behind their ribcage. There is a little fat under the skin over the ribs of dogs and cats and there might be a little abdominal fat in the groin area.
3/5 Ideal Weight: The ribs, spinal column and pelvic bones in dogs are not visible, but can be easily felt. There is an obvious waist with a little fat over the ribs and a little abdominal fat on cats in the groin area.
4/5 Overweight: The ribs, spinal column and pelvic bones in dogs are difficult to feel and are covered with an obvious layer of fat; there is no waist. Cats have heavy fat deposits on abdomens and may have hanging fat lumps in the groin. There are fatty deposits over the spinal column and at the base of the tail; the chest or sternum have fat deposits.
5/5 Markedly Obese: There is massive fat deposited over the ribs, chest spine, abdomen in cats and base of the tail in dogs with an obviously distended tummy. Viewed from the top, their abdomen is wider than their chest.
Some people think fat pets are cute. I think they are mistreated! Fat cats cannot clean themselves properly because they cannot reach their tail ends. Large fat dogs have trouble walking. It is not cute. Obese pets have myriad health problems including the inability to groom themselves, skin problems, constipation, megacolon, joint strain and osteoarthritis, respiratory problems, cardio-vascular conditions, diabetes, increased risk of infections, increased risk of complications with anesthesia, complications with wound healing and reduced lifespan. Need I continue?
Sharon E. Anderson, DVM
