Feline obesity is out of control. Here's how to get your cat back on track to a healthy figure

By Kim Campbell Thornton

When we at Pet Connection say "fat cats," we're not talking Wall Street bankers. The percentage of cats considered to be overweight (10 to 19 percent greater than ideal weight) or obese (20 percent or greater than ideal body weight) has reached a whopping 58 percent, according to a survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

That makes excess weight the No. 1 nutritional disorder in cats. Carrying too many pounds is linked to a number of feline health problems. Obese cats are more likely to suffer a liver disease called hepatic lipidosis; feline urinary tract disease; diabetes; lameness; complications from anesthesia; and non-allergenic skin conditions.

What's the skinny on the increase in tubby tabbies? It may be as simple as a lack of recognition of what a healthy cat looks and feels like. A study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery in 2010 found that nearly 34 percent of owners underestimated their cats' body condition score.

Body condition scores rank cats on a 5-point scale, with 1 being emaciated, 2 thin, 3 ideal, 4 heavy and 5 grossly obese. In a hands-on test, it should be easy to feel a cat's ribs and other prominent bones using light pressure. If your cat falls into category 4 or 5, it's time to institute a kitty weight loss plan to help him regain a slim, trim figure.

Start with a veterinary exam to rule out medical problems that might be causing the weight gain. A weigh-in establishes current weight so a goal weight can be determined.

Your first thought might be to cut back on the amount of food you give, but that just leads to a cat who is hungry and unhappy. A different food may be a better option.

Feeding a diet that swaps out carbohydrates for proteins appears to be useful for weight loss, says Margie Scherk, DVM, speaking on feline weight management at the World Feline Veterinary Conference in San Diego, California, last October. And be aware that even 10 extra pieces a day of kibble formulated for normal weight maintenance can cause a cat to gain a pound in a year. Measure food and give it at regular mealtimes instead of free feeding.

Diet is a big part of helping cats lose weight, but getting them moving is important, too. You might not be able to take your cat jogging or get him to walk on a treadmill, but there are plenty of creative ways to add exercise to your pet's life and at the same time provide a more stimulating environment.

An easy way to keep him moving while you're gone during the day is to divide the amount of food he receives daily into six or seven portions. Place each portion in a small container, and hide them throughout the house. Mix up your hiding places so he has to work to find his food each day.

Interactive play is also important. Use toys to encourage him to walk and run around the house. Your cat is a predator, so focus on his love of stalking and chasing. Cats have short attention spans, so playtime of two to five minutes a few times a day is plenty. Since cats are nocturnal, you may find that he is more interested in being active after the sun goes down.

Introduce exercise gently and gradually. Cats who are overweight or obese can injure their joints if they do too much too quickly.

Most important, remember that prevention is best when it comes to obesity. Weight gain is more likely after cats turn 2 years old, so don't let them become sedentary as they mature. That's a heck of a lot easier than trying to change their eating habits or food after they have put on too many pounds.

Q&A

Dog won't stop

humping mom

Q: We have a 4 1/2-year-old neutered English springer spaniel who humps my mother. There are two other adults in the house, but he humps only her. Any ideas as to why this would be? -- via email

A: This is one of those embarrassing and common dog behaviors that none of us enjoys. The first thing to know is that humping is normal dog behavior. Dogs hump for three main reasons: to get attention, in play and in response to stress and anxiety.

Your dog may be seeking attention from your mother, he may be excited that she's visiting (if she doesn't live there) or she may have never let him know that it's not acceptable behavior. You need to let him know that his behavior is unacceptable, and teach him an alternative behavior for which he can be rewarded.

Dogs who hump a leg or climb on an arm to hump are often seeking attention. When people laugh, look at them or even tell them to stop, they've gotten a response for their behavior.

If this is how your dog behaves toward your mother, the best thing she can do is to remove her attention altogether. Look the other way, stand up and walk away. You can also remove him yourself. Don't yell, but in a neutral manner take him away and give him a brief timeout of one to three minutes.

The lesson for your dog is that humping puts an end to any attention he might receive. Teach him instead to sit, shake or perform some other activity in her presence. Then she can reward him for acceptable behavior. Even better, pay attention so you can distract him and ask him to perform a command or trick before he begins this unwanted behavior. -- Mikkel Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Cats don't thrive

on veggie diet

-- Can cats be vegetarian or vegan? That depends on how long you want to have a cat, says Kristi Krause, DVM, a board-certified specialist in feline medicine. Cats, with their claws and teeth made for taking down and eating meat, are obligate carnivores, meaning they require certain proteins that can be obtained only from meat. Supplements don't contain enough of the essential amino acids cats need to thrive and survive. Cats who eat a diet that's not meat-based can develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies that affect bone and muscle development; an enlarged heart from lack of taurine; and vision problems.

-- Until recently, neuroscientists believed that neurons such as the eye's photoreceptor cells did not regenerate after being damaged. But new findings from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine showed that in certain forms of early canine blindness, photoreceptor cells in the retina continued to divide when puppies were between 7 and 14 weeks old. Further research will focus on genes involved in turning cells on to divide, in the hope of developing a therapy to interfere with cell death and retinal degeneration. It could eventually help not only dogs, but also people with similar disorders.

-- Rabbits are an age-old symbol of fertility, and for good reason. The furry breeding machines can produce six or more litters a year, with each litter containing five to eight kits (what baby rabbits are called). Do the math: That's at least 30 to 48 baby bunnies per year. During their breeding season, which runs from February to September, female rabbits are constantly pregnant. They can become pregnant again within 24 hours of giving birth. To prevent unwanted pregnancies, spay or neuter rabbits ASAP; they reach sexual maturity between 3 and 6 months of age. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Pulling a cart or wagon is bred in the bone for some breeds, but almost any dog can learn

By Kim Campbell Thornton

You've probably seen vintage photos of dogs pulling carts or wagons loaded with milk cans, large cheeses and other goods to market for farmers. Certain breeds specialized in this work, among them Bernese mountain dogs, bouviers des Flandres, great Pyrenees, greater Swiss mountain dogs, Leonbergers, Newfoundlands, Rottweilers and Saint Bernards. Dogs were less expensive to purchase and care for than horses and were sometimes referred to as "the poor farmer's horse."

Some modern dog owners, inspired by their breeds' heritage, are eager to teach their dogs to perform their traditional work. They've taken up drafting, also known as carting.

Laura Bullock of Charlotte, North Carolina, has had greater Swiss mountain dogs for nine years. "I really wanted to do all of the things that my breed is meant to do," she says. "It's something that is interesting and different and definitely challenging. It may look easy, but it's not."

Dogs who can pull a cart or wagon are popular for lots of reasons. They are crowd pleasers in parades, give rides to neighborhood kids, haul recycling bins out to the street, help bring home groceries and work as gardening assistants, pulling wagons loaded with potting soil, bark and trays of plants around the yard.

A framework of training and trust between dog and owner is necessary to be successful. Before a dog starts training for carting, he should know and respond readily to basic obedience commands, especially "stay" and "come."

Before a dog is ever put into a harness or attached to a cart, he becomes accustomed to having a cart brought behind him and learns how it feels to have the shafts of the cart touching his shoulders. Experiencing that sensation is important because as the cart turns, the shafts will touch the dog's body, so it's something he needs to be prepared for.

More advanced lessons involve learning to go in circles, back up, pull uphill, control the speed of a cart going downhill and walk across different surfaces. In a draft test, to earn a title, a dog may have to pull his cart over dirt, grass or gravel, as well as over a bridge or through a gate. He needs to learn how it feels and sounds to cross those surfaces and how to make his way through narrow spaces. As he learns, he is rewarded with toys, treats and praise.

Dogs can become accustomed to wearing a harness and being hitched to a cart at any age -- the earlier, the better -- but depending on the breed, they must be 18 months to 2 years old before they can enter a draft test to earn a title. That's to ensure that the dog's bones and joints are fully developed.

Drafting isn't limited to large breeds. Any dog of any size can learn to pull for fun, exercise or utility, although a smaller dog's loads are limited. Breeds and mixes that have learned to pull include papillons, cockapoos, Shetland sheepdogs and collies.

Before getting started, take your dog to the veterinarian. He shouldn't have any physical problems that could be made worse by the activity.

To learn more, contact a local Bernese mountain dog breed club. They often have drafting demonstrations and clinics at fun days or specialty shows so people can learn about the sport.

The benefits of carting go beyond earning titles or even doing work with it, says Kathe Vasquez, co-chair of the draft committee for the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Southern California.

"It forms a really special bond between you and your dog. When you have that partnership, that teamwork, it's really a beautiful thing."

Q&A

Excess thirst, urine

signal health problems

Q: My cat seems to be drinking a lot more water than usual. She's even started having accidents outside the litter box. I think she can't get there in time. What could be causing this? -- via Facebook

A: In vet speak, what's going on is called polydipsia and polyuria -- excessive thirst and urination. The problem is that these signs can be symptomatic of any number of diseases. It can be really frustrating for veterinarians and owners to try to figure out the cause. Diseases that cause these signs include diabetes, kidney failure and hyperthyroidism, to name just a few.

The differential diagnosis -- a term you may know from medical detective shows such as "House M.D." -- involves a good history first. The veterinarian will want to know how long your cat has been drinking lots of water and whether you've noticed if she's urinating more frequently (pollakiuria) or going a normal number of times but producing greater amounts of urine (polyuria). Other questions may include what you feed your cat, whether you've noticed any changes in eating habits or unusual weight loss and whether you're giving her any medications or supplements.

A physical exam and lab tests are also part of the search for answers. A complete blood count, urinalysis and thyroid test are among the lab work your veterinarian may order. They can help to check such things as kidney and liver values, thyroid hormone levels, abnormal electrolyte levels and excess sugar in the urine. Again, there are many potential causes of these signs, so a veterinary visit is a must. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Best workplaces

for pet lovers

-- We've all heard of the Fortune 500 -- the 500 most profitable U.S. companies. Well, here's a more important ranking for pet lovers: the pet-friendly 12, a dozen companies that offer perks to pet-loving employees. They run the gamut: allowing owners to bring dogs to work and providing pet insurance, discounts for doggie daycare, pet supplies, financial assistance for pet adoptions and free pet health screening days. The "purr-ty" dozen are Genentech, Kimpton, Atlantic Health, VMWare, Salesforce, Mars, Google, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Autodesk, GoDaddy, Workday and Activision Blizzard.

-- Thanks to social media, we're seeing lots more photos and videos of cats getting baths or playing in water. You were probably under the impression that cats did a perfectly fine job of grooming themselves, but there are times when a bath can be beneficial. If someone in your family is allergic to cats, a weekly bath (for the cat) can help to keep dander levels low, reducing the person's reaction. Cats also need baths if they get into something sticky or that would be toxic for them to lick off themselves.

-- "Who rescued whom?" The popular bumper sticker is seen on numerous cars, but for Eric O'Grey, it's more than an expression. When his doctor told him he would be dead in five years if he didn't lose weight, he consulted a nutritionist and took her advice to adopt a shelter dog. He chose a middle-aged, overweight dog named Peety, and the two started walking. Within a year, O'Grey had lost 140 pounds and Peety 25. Their story was turned into a video, the kickoff for a contest called the Mutual Rescue initiative, in which people can share stories of how a shelter animal changed their lives. Contact the Humane Society of Silicon Valley for more information. Entry deadline is April 30. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Not so fast. Going nuclear with antibiotics can cause bigger problems than it solves

By Kim Campbell Thornton

What's the first thing you do when you're feeling sick or your pet has diarrhea? Is it to ask your doctor or the veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics to knock down whatever it is quickly?

That's a common request in human and veterinary medicine, but it's not necessarily the right one. From urinary tract infections to dental disease, antibiotics seem to be the easy answer, but their overuse in animals and humans is creating resistant bacteria. Instead of being killed off by the drugs, bacteria continue to multiply, becoming stronger than ever. That makes them ever more difficult to treat. And oftentimes, they're not even necessary.

"Lots of ailments that we see are caused by viruses, which antibiotics won't do anything for," says Tony Johnson, DVM, an emergency and critical-care specialist. "Lots of ailments that we see are going to go away on their own without antibiotics. We prescribe antibiotics for things that there's absolutely no need for. If a dog gets hit by a car and doesn't have a mark on it, he doesn't need antibiotics. If a dog has a cut less than the size of a dime, it'll heal on its own; he doesn't need antibiotics. Veterinarians are as guilty of this as the general public."

A review of antibiotic use in dogs, published in June 2011 in the Journal of Small Animal Practice, found that there was a confirmed infection in only 17 percent of the prescriptions. In 45 percent, infection was suspected; for instance, the patient had an open wound or discharge from the eyes or nose. In 38 percent, there was no documented evidence of infection. In those cases, the antibiotics were often given for "preventive" reasons, such as after surgery.

A better practice is to culture the skin, blood, urine or other tissue to confirm an infection and pinpoint the type of bacteria causing it. That allows the most appropriate antibiotic to be prescribed.

"If we see a big, infected wound or if we have a dog with pneumonia, we can culture that, find out what the bug is and what antibiotic will specifically target it, as opposed to using an overly broad-spectrum antibiotic that isn't needed," Dr. Johnson says.

But cultures can be expensive. While the cost of a culture is often worth it, not everyone is willing or able to pay for it.

That leaves veterinarians guessing at the best way to proceed. If they guess incorrectly, the dog or cat is in discomfort longer than necessary, and they are potentially contributing to the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

What's the answer? The World Health Organization and other institutions are calling for antibiotic stewardship: using the drugs only in cases with a definite diagnosis, ruling out viral and fungal infections, parasites and other conditions that don't respond to antimicrobial therapies.

For instance, antimicrobials aren't indicated for viral upper respiratory infections such as feline herpesvirus or canine influenza unless they are accompanied by secondary bacterial infections. Most cases of feline lower urinary tract disease don't involve bacterial infection. Treatments such as a change in diet or stress relief techniques are more effective. And some wounds may simply require cleaning with a topical antiseptic solution.

"If your dog or cat or child is not in pain and it's not life-threatening, let their body deal with it, whatever it is," Dr. Johnson says. "Antibiotics are a very powerful tool, and they save lives, so you don't want to not use them when necessary, but the main thing to understand is that they are not a cure-all."

Q&A

Lyme disease affects

dogs and humans

Q: Do dogs get Lyme disease? I have always heard that they don't, so why is there a canine vaccine for it? -- via email

A: That's an interesting question with a complex answer. The short version is that yes, dogs can get Lyme disease from the bite of an infected tick. We see clinical signs in approximately 10 percent of infected cases, according to my colleague, Richard E. Goldstein, an internal medicine specialist at New York City's Animal Medical Center. He spoke on Lyme disease in dogs recently at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Now, 10 percent might not seem like much, but if you look at the numbers, Lyme disease is pretty common. Even if most dogs don't show signs, the infection rate is 50 percent to 75 percent in some areas of the Northeast. Clinical signs in 10 percent of those dogs is a lot of dogs.

It can take two to five months after infection for a dog to show signs, such as lameness, lethargy and fever. They may last for approximately three days, and the arthritis and fever are usually treatable.

In more serious -- but fortunately, less common -- cases, dogs can develop a type of kidney disease called Lyme nephritis, which is often fatal, even in young, healthy dogs, as well as myocarditis -- inflammation of the heart muscle -- and neurological disease. And in many, if not most, dogs, the bacteria are the unwanted guests who never leave, even in the face of antibiotic treatment.

Good tick control is the first line of defense against Lyme disease in dogs. Vaccination alone isn't enough. If you live in an area where the disease is endemic, talk to your veterinarian about your dog's risk level, the prevalence of the disease and whether vaccination is appropriate for your dog. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

First White House pets

were dogs and horses

-- Pets have made themselves at home in the White House since the very beginning. The nation's second president, John Adams, was the first to take up residence there, and of course the family dogs accompanied him and his wife, Abigail, to their new digs. The Adams family had several mixed-breed dogs, including two named Satan and Juno, according to the Presidential Pet Museum. Of Juno, the First Lady wrote to her granddaughter: "You will be glad to learn that Juno yet lives, although like her mistress she is gray with age."

-- Since 2008, it has been a federal felony to sponsor, exhibit, buy, sell, deliver, possess, train or transport an animal for participation in animal fighting, a crime punishable by a five-year prison term and a $250,000 fine. But until recently, spectators at dogfights got off lightly. In 24 states, the act of attending a dogfight is only a misdemeanor, carrying penalties of a small fine and no jail time. With passage of the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, included in the 2014 Farm Bill, it is now a federal misdemeanor to knowingly attend a fight as a spectator and a federal felony to bring a minor under the age of 16 to a dogfight or cockfight.

-- Do you think his friends call him "metal mouth"? Wesley, a golden retriever puppy, is sporting braces after his owner, Molly Moore, noticed that he was having trouble eating and was losing weight. She brought the problem to the attention of her father, Jim Moore, an associate professor of oral surgery at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Moore realized Wesley's mouth didn't close properly and was causing pain. The braces will alleviate the problem in plenty of time for Molly's wedding next year. Maybe she'll have a canine ring bearer. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.