Pet owners warned against lifestyle diseases

CHENNAI: Just as it is with humans these days, pet animals too are susceptible to lifestyle diseases, and it's important for pet owners to be aware of the diseases to get their animals treated at the first whiff of sickness, says British veterinary surgeon and nutrition expert Dr Charlotte Gray. She was in the city on Wednesday for an event in which Right4Paws, a startup, introduced a range of minimally processed pet food.
Dr Gray told TOI, "Veterinarians in the US and UK see a lot of pets suffering from obesity-related diseases such as arthritis and diabetes. But the owners are completely unaware of it."
She stressed the need to critically check the nutritional weight of pets to keep lifestyle diseases in check. "Owners should be encouraged to perform body condition scoring. It is a management tool designed to assess body reserves or fat accumulation of an animal. Owners should feel for ribs, look for a waist, and gently press. If you have to dig into the skin to find the ribs, it means the dog is too fat, but if you can see the ribs, they might be underweight," she said.
Dr Gray urges owners to follow a balanced diet for their pets and to read the processed food packaging. "Studies have shown that animals will eat until they satisfy their protein needs. Cats and dogs can regulate their weight better with higher meat diets and less carbohydrates," she said.
While symptoms of diseases like diabetes can be easily noticed, those of arthritis are hard to spot. "In diabetes, pets tend to lose extreme amounts of weight and drink less water. Arthritis is signalled by slightly less activity," she said.
Animals are also known for hiding their pain. Dr Barani Dharan, senior veterinarian at the Ark Veterinary Hospital, told TOI, "Apart from physical diseases, pet owners also need to look out for psychological issues. The animals might become silent, and their daily activity and usual routine might change."