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Help!!! My Pet looks like Jabba the Hutt! Obesity and Pets
Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia), physical rehabilitation and anesthesia/analgesia - H

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Presentation Overview
1. Obesity Definition
2. Why is Obesity Bad?
3. Patient Evaluation
4. Owner Education
5. Physical Exercise
6. Exercises for Dogs
7. Exercises for Cats
8. Horse Obesity
9. Equine Physical Rehabilitation
10. Horse Exercises
11. Rabbit Obesity
12. Successful Weight Management

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Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS-lab animal medicine (research anesthesia), physical rehabilitation and anesthesia/analgesia – H About Me
• VTS-lab animal medicine (Research anesthesia)
• VTS-(physical rehabilitation)
• VTS-(anesthesia & analgesia) - H
• Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians
• Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses
• Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthesia and Analgesia – Honorary member
• Veterinary Medical Technologist
• Surgical Research Anesthetist
• Certified Canine Rehabilitation Veterinary Nurse
• Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner

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Obesity Definition
• Obesity can be defined as an increase in fat tissue mass sufficient to contribute to disease.
• Burns KM, Towell TL. Owner Education and Adherence. In Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats. Towell TL, ed. Wiley Blackwell. Ames, IA. 2011, pgs 3- 21.

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Overweight vs. Obese
• Dogs and cats weighing 10-19% more than optimal weight for their breed are considered overweight; those weighing 20% or more above the optimum weight are considered obese
• Burns K. 2013. Why is Rocky so Stocky? Obesity is a Disease!. Journal of the North American Veterinary Technician Association; Convention Issue pgs 16-19.

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Not Just Our Imagination
• Pet obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US and other industrialized countries, which parallels the epidemic in the human population. It is estimated that 35%-40% are overweight or obese
• Lund E, Armstrong P, Kirk C, et.al, 2005. Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult cats from private US veterinary practices. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 3:88-96.
• Lund E, Armstrong PJ, Kirk CA, et.al, 2006. Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult dogs from private US veterinary practices. International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, 4: 177-186.

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As of January 3, 2019
• Over the last eight years, there has been a 24% increase in claims related to pet obesity, says pet insurance company Nationwide
• “Obesity can be detrimental to the livelihood of our pets,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary officer for Nationwide.
• Source URL: https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/pet-obesity- rates-continue-to-rise-in-the-u-s/

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Thank you VetScope