Symptoms and Treatment of Obesity in Cats and Dogs

1 Causes of Obesity

Simple obesity comes mainly from genetics, overeating, or lack of exercise. By breed, Pugs and Dachshunds tend to gain weight; by diet, high-fat, high-energy food and treats cause it; by age, dogs of 5 to 12 years and cats of 5 to 10 are most at risk.

Secondary obesity comes from endocrine or metabolic disorder, or abnormal hormone release. In cats and dogs, iatrogenic obesity, long-term use of glucocorticoids, chlorpromazine, or insulin, can cause weight gain.

2 Diagnosis and Treatment

How it is diagnosed: clinical exam. Simple obesity shows even fullness, normal appetite and urine, glossy coat, and no endocrine or metabolic signs. Secondary obesity often shows increased appetite, excess urination, trunk-centered fat, dry dull coat, more dandruff, pigmentation, symmetric non-itchy hair loss, or laziness and drowsiness with lower alertness.

Body condition scoring and lab work. Simple obesity: lipids are normal early, then cholesterol, lipoproteins, triglycerides, and insulin rise later, with obese cats showing high triglycerides. Secondary obesity: hypothyroidism is checked via free T4, total T4, and TSH; low T4 with high TSH points to primary hypothyroidism, low T4 with low TSH to secondary. Other forms include canine Cushing’s obesity and diabetes-related obesity.

Treatment: obesity needs a combined plan, better feeding management, fixing unhealthy habits, more exercise to burn calories and cut fat, and watching for diseases like hypothyroidism, diabetes, and pancreatitis. Manage those alongside the weight loss.