To Be or Not to Be ... Obese

Detecting Obesity

Obesity is the most common nutritional disease in dogs.  Scientific studies have confirmed that 20% of cats are overweight.  Experts consider a dog obese when he or she weights over 15% of the optimum weight for its species.  The best way to detect obesity is not to just weight your pet, but to observe its figure as you would a human being (see diagram).  Does your pet have a streamlined figure?  Or does your pet have no figure at all?  Then, feel the ribs.  If you can pinch at least an inch of fat over the ribs (with the exception of dog breeds like Greyhounds), then there is a good chance that your pet is overweight.

Ideal Weight		Overweight
Easy to feel ribs without excess fat covering. Viewed from the side, belly is tucked up. Viewed from above, a noticeable waist in front of the hips.		Difficult to feel ribs with excess fat covering. Viewed from the side, belly has minimal or no tuck. Viewed from above, no waist in front of the hips.

Causes of Obesity

There are several reasons for obesity.  Some of the major causes are overeating, lack of exercise, hormonal problems and improper feeding (such as leaving food down all day).  In addition, a big contributor to obesity, particularly in older pets, is the inevitable slowing down of metabolism, just like with humans.  The slower the metabolism, the fewer calories an animal needs.  However, these calories should contain ample amounts of protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  It is our natural tendency to feed our pets the same amount of food in their older age as we do in their younger years.  Big mistake (no pun intended)!

Also, spaying and neutering contribute significantly to obesity, particularly in older pets.  Though spaying and neutering is necessary for the overall good of the animal community, removal of the reproductive organs results in a slowing down of the metabolism, which means less calories burned.  Furthermore, spayed or neutered pets no longer come into heat, which is where they tend to burn a noteworthy amount of calories due to sexual anxiety.  And lastly, our dogs and cats usually product a food inhibitory hormone, which helps prevent them from overeating.  When they are spayed or neutered, this hormone is no longer prevalent in the bloodstream, therefore causing them to overeat.

Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs

Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs is specifically formulated by our own Dr. Jane Bicks to help our dogs shed a few pounds while maintaining robust good health.

Clinical Trials

After a year of clinical trials, pet owners who have used Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula can testify to less begging, less hunger between meals, shiner coats, a greater enthusiasm for life and steady weight loss.

Modified Version of The Zone

Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs is a dog modified version of the world renowned Zone Diet (Dr. Barry Sears) with a few minor adjustments to meet our canines' hormonal needs.  It contains L-Carnitine, an ingredient in human weight loss products, Vitamin E for the immune system and several antioxidants.  What distinguishes Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs from many other weight loss foods is that it doesn't compromise the necessary carbohydrates, fat, protein and nutrients that your dog still needs to maintain good, balanced health.  Even though your dog may be overweight, he still needs fat in his diet for the immune system.  Because protein is the building block of the body, Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs contains real fish, chicken and eggs.  Many diet dog foods on the market today are choked with fiber.  Although fiber is indeed necessary in one's diet, unfortunately, a diet consisting mostly of fiber does not nourish the body properly.  If your dog is eating a poorly balanced diet food, he will lose weight the hard way and unnecessary way--eternally hungry.

In the Zone or In Balance

Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula balance of carbohydrates, fat and protein will help keep your dog's blood sugar balanced.  An imbalance of the blood sugar may make your dog feel hungry and cause him to overeat (just like us humans).  It's the brain responding to something it's lacking.

How to Introduce Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs to Your Dog

Change food gradually.  Dogs' bodies and minds get accustomed to their food.  Changing too suddenly might cause diarrhea and/or confusion.  Add small amounts of Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs, perhaps 5-10 nuggets the first day, to the regular food.  Note that whatever the amount of Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs you add, you must subtract from their regular food.  Increase to 15-20 nuggets of Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula for Adult Dogs the next week and watch for signs of loose stool due to the change in diet.  If everything looks normal, increase to 1/8 of a cup and so on.  Start to expect steady weight loss about a month after the successful conversion.

What to Do About the Garfields?

After making sure that your cat is in fact obese, now it is a question of what you are going to do about it.  Though it is arguably easier to treat obesity in dogs, there are a few things you can do to help your cat shed some unnecessary pounds:

Feed Only at Meal Times

It's much more beneficial to feed your cat with Life's Abundance two times daily as opposed to ungoverned meals.  Leaving food down all day gives the cat a greater propensity to overeat, especially spayed and neutered cats.

Measure the Amount of Food

Feed the recommended amount of food for their current weight, not their ideal weight.  Monitor your cat by weighing and checking for fat over the ribs.  If you see no change, decrease the measured amount by 25%.

For Cats that Eat Too Fast

Scatter the food in a place where no one will step on it, so the cat will be forced to eat more slowly.  Cats often vomit because eating too fast results in poor digestion.

For Multiple Cats

Avoid feeding several cats with the same dish, as this can result in competitive eating, which can also make them eat too fast.  Separate the cats by putting them in different rooms and closing the door for a while.  This may not be easy, but cats are creatures of habit, and WILL adjust, so be firm.

Increase Exercise

We must find creative ways to get our cats' hearts pumping.  Take a very fat chord (that is impossible for the cat to swallow) and pull it around the house and up and down the stairs and make them chase it.  This is great for animal bonding as well.

Ask Dr. Jane Bicks

Q. I have a real problem.  Please help me help us.  You see my cat weighs 19 pounds.  I was told by my veterinarian that Sam must loose weight and lose it now.  The veterinarian also told me that Sam's weight problem was partially due to my leaving his food down all day and night.  He loves his Life's Abundance and loves to eat.  When I pick it up before bed, he screams most of the night and jumps into bed with me.  What do I do?

A. Select a room in your home or apartment that is preferably not close to your bedroom.  Then place an article of clothing or fabric that has your scent on it in the room (perhaps a pillow case or a pajama top).  Make a comfy bed for Sam.  When bedtime comes, bring Sam in there.  Give him a small amount of food, fresh water (of course), turn the radio to a station with soft gentle music and leave a night light on.  Sam will settle into his little bedroom within a short period of time.

Q. My dog has been on a weight loss food from the veterinarian for about six months.  I can't stand it!  Yes, she is loosing some weight, but she always had dandruff and her stools are huge!  If I switch to Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula, will that help solve the problem?

A. Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula was formulated by myself to promote healthy weight loss.  Unlike many other weight loss foods, the protein and fat in Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula have not been reduced.  Instead, Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula contains normal amounts of protein and fat for healthy skin and coat and for optimum nutrition.  The fiber levels are also normal so that you don't have a clean-up issue.  The key to this food is the balance of nutrients, NOT the lack of them.  Give it a try.  Our clinical trials demonstrate that dogs appear to be less hungry!