Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 25, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE C1 ARTS & LIFE arts@ freepress. mb. ca I WINNIPEGFREEPRESS. COM I HOROSCOPE C4 I MISS LONELYHEARTS C4 I DIVERSIONS C7 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 C 1 W E were feeling a bit nervous as we knocked on the back door of the veterinary clinic last week. And by " we" I mean me and my beloved long- haired miniature wiener dog, Zoe, who enjoys a trip to the vet as much as I enjoy visiting the dentist for a root canal. A trip to the clinic feels a bit like a mission behind enemy lines for me and the wiener dog, because our longtime vet, Dr. Jim Broughton, owns Exclusively Cats Veterinary Hospital on Corydon Avenue. Adding to our stress level was the fact Zoe was there for her first official weigh- in since being placed on a strict new diet and exercise regime. Last month, Dr. Broughton diagnosed my little buddy as " grossly obese." According to the breed standard, she should weigh about 12 pounds at most, whereas she tipped the scales at 19 pounds, meaning she was seven pounds, or 36 per cent, over her ideal weight. It's not the kind of recognition you want for a family member, but Zoe's weight issue has made her the " spokesdog" for our Fit Pet Project, a oncea- month series of articles focusing on the issues surrounding portly pets. The project sprang from the mind of deputy editor Julie Carl, who rightly suspected Zoe's weight problem was merely the tip of an iceberg, which, when flipped over, would reveal an epidemic of overweight and obese pets. Experts told us up to 40 per cent of pet dogs are likely overweight or obese, while 60 to 70 per cent of owned cats may potentially have a serious weight problem. This growing legion of pudgy pets is at risk of myriad health problems, ranging from diabetes, heart disease and respiratory issues to back problems - especially in dogs like Zoe - senility and behavioral issues. DOUG SPEIRS Winning by LOSING Words carry weight Here are a few more tips from our pet experts: 1) No table scraps: " Don't feed table scraps, because they tend to be highcalorie, high- fat things which cannot only cause obesity, but all sorts of health problems." - Veterinarian Dr. Jim Broughton 2) Get in the swim: " A great exercise for dogs in the summer, just like humans, is swimming. Get a kids' pool, depending on the size of the dog. It's great exercise and it's low- impact for older dogs or dogs that are severely overweight." - Broughton 3) Don't lose hope - " If it's the early stages of the weight- loss program and your animal doesn't lose weight or even gains weight in this phase, don't give up. It's just a little bump in the road. This can easily be addressed to get back on track. Don't get discouraged. This is a marathon, not a sprint." - Broughton 4) Even healthy treats have a downside - " Don't give too much lettuce or celery because of their higher moisture content, which could lead to loose stools. These things are meant as treats, not a main part of their diets." - Broughton 5) Ease into exercise: " If your pet has been inactive for a long time, gradually ease into any exercise program. I wouldn't jump on the treadmill and do two hours. Choose activities that are appropriate for your pet. Start slow and increase the activity as they become more fit." - Pet Valu expert Sandy Waldner 6) Be patient: " If your pet is 25 to 30 per cent overweight, it may take six to 10 months to lose the weight in the proper time frame." - Waldner Doug Speirs' ' grossly obese' dog is on the ( more active) path to better health After her first checkup last month, Zoe was placed on a prescription diet and ordered to get 10 minutes of exercise at least three times a day. For the first 10 days, the goal wasn't so much shedding pounds as blending her caloriereduced kibble with her old food to make sure the change in diet didn't lead to gastrointestinal distress. The good news - Zoe has already lost almost a full pound, down from 19 pounds to a shade over 18 pounds. We've been a little lax on the exercising, but our marginally lighter pet is already acting perkier, jumping up on the couch in the den, something she was unable to do before the project began. " She's already starting to get her hourglass figure back," is how my wife, who places the blame for Zoe's weight problem entirely on my shoulders, puts it. For his part, Dr. Broughton was delighted with - and surprised by - any weight loss this quickly. " I'm happy with her weight loss at this point," our vet for the last 25 years said, beaming. " My goal at this point was to get her system adapted to the new food. We weren't even really measuring the amount, but she's already lost about five per cent of her body weight, which is good. " Our target for now is for her to lose anywhere between one- quarter to one- third of a pound a week. That's what we're aiming at." Now that we know the weight- loss kibble - not only calorie- reduced but formulated to maintain her metabolism - won't make her sick, the real diet begins. That means my miniature friend is allowed exactly one cup of food a day, half in the morning and half in the evening. If she seems hungry, some low- cal options, such as shredded carrots or green beans, can be added to the mix " to bulk up the food and make her feel fuller." It's critical to remember that weight loss should be gradual and monitored closely. Sudden weight loss, especially in cats, can lead to irreversible liver damage. " That's the big issue with rapid weight loss - the potential for liver damage, especially in cats, but it can apply to dogs as well," Dr. Broughton warned as Zoe puttered around the clinic and made a stealth attack on an unprotected bowl of cat food. Along with reducing the number of calories entering your pet, it's essential to increase the amount of energy going out. Which means owners need to stop showing love for their animals through food, and get off the couch and get active with their pets. Continued Please see WINNING C 5 BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Zoe has lost close to a pound so far. C_ 01_ Feb- 25- 14_ FP_ 01. indd C1 2/ 24/ 14 5: 39: 40 PM ;