Obesity can be defined as the accumulation of excessive amounts of adipose tissue in the body, and is the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals (3). Most say that obesity has come to be one of the most common problems in domestic animals. Due to the lack of exercise in the house and overfeeding, pet cats are very susceptible to become overweight. Obesity is not only bad for ones overall health, but can lead to many illnesses, causing bigger problems that could be very detrimental to the lifespan of your pet.
When feeding a pet cat, there are many different approaches to take, but it is best to know their basic needs first. It is important to be sure to always provide free choice high quality water for your pets. Domestic, or …show more content…
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas and helps regulate the glucose flow from the bloodstream to the rest of the body. When this hormone is deficient, the body breaks down fat and protein to use as energy instead. (2) This break down of other important nutrients in the body then leads to weight loss and can also result in a high amount of sugar left in the blood stream. Ways to tell if this is happening in your cat can be identified by actions such as unwanted weight loss, increased urination, increased water consumption or even increased apatite, all leading back to some of the basic signs of nutrient deficiencies.
Obesity can also lead to joint and bone problems in cats as well. The arise of joint problems can cause lots of pain and discomfort for your pet. “One study showed that 90% of cats 10 years of age and older had x-rays that showed significant deterioration of multiple joints—in both the legs and spine” (5). It takes a long time for problems such as the results in these studies to become severe enough to even show up on an x-ray. These are serious problems that can cause such discomfort to your cat that can further cause a decrease in exercise and appetite, and may increase the chance of worse obesity in your pet
When feeding a pet cat, there are many different approaches to take, but it is best to know their basic needs first. It is important to be sure to always provide free choice high quality water for your pets. Domestic, or …show more content…
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas and helps regulate the glucose flow from the bloodstream to the rest of the body. When this hormone is deficient, the body breaks down fat and protein to use as energy instead. (2) This break down of other important nutrients in the body then leads to weight loss and can also result in a high amount of sugar left in the blood stream. Ways to tell if this is happening in your cat can be identified by actions such as unwanted weight loss, increased urination, increased water consumption or even increased apatite, all leading back to some of the basic signs of nutrient deficiencies.
Obesity can also lead to joint and bone problems in cats as well. The arise of joint problems can cause lots of pain and discomfort for your pet. “One study showed that 90% of cats 10 years of age and older had x-rays that showed significant deterioration of multiple joints—in both the legs and spine” (5). It takes a long time for problems such as the results in these studies to become severe enough to even show up on an x-ray. These are serious problems that can cause such discomfort to your cat that can further cause a decrease in exercise and appetite, and may increase the chance of worse obesity in your pet