Q: Interesting article on pet obesity. I have been looking for some answers to my “fat cat problem”. I have two cats, one 4/5 and the other 10. Both need to lose weight but, when I have chosen a higher quality holistic food in the past they just keep gaining weight. My other option was the “vet” food option (Medical and Hills Prescription). I personally do not like the “vet” options. The ingredient list makes my stomach turn. I copied a portion out of one of the other articles (see below) on this website but and confused about how I figure out how many calories a day my cats will need.

What does the #30 represent and what does #70 represent?

“Inactive 10 year old, 13 pound (5.9 kilogram) domestic shorthair cat. Ideal weight is determined to be 9 pounds (4.1 kilograms). The calories that an average 9 pound cat requires each day are calculated as follows: (4.1 x 30) + 70 = 193 calories”

How do I find out how many calories are contained in the food I am feeding. Currently my ten year old is eating the Halo Seafood (dry). I would like both cats to be on the same food and be able to lose weight. Any advice you could give would be most appreciated.

Thanks
Terri

A: Terri, Thanks for your questions. I will try to clear up any confusion.

Once cats become overweight or obese, their metabolism slows down and it takes very few calories to keep them fat. Cat owners and vets alike often make the mistake of feeding too many calories and then are frustrated that even though they had chosen a “diet” food or a high quality holistic diet, their cat is not losing weight.

It is imperative that a cat’s IDEAL body weight be determined. This is usually around 8 or 9 pounds for most domestic cats (yes, even most of those 16 pound cats should only weigh 8 or 9 pounds…unless they are a purebreed larger breed cat).

Then the following formula is used to calculate calories:

[Ideal weight (in kilograms) x 30] + 70 = number of calories needed at ideal weight.

Than take that number and multiply it by 75% (0.75) to get the number of calories that your cat can eat each day in order to reach that ideal body weight.

The numbers 30 and 70 are just the nutrition formula for figuring out calories…you use the same numbers for every cat.

So lets say for example a cat currently weighs 12 pounds but his ideal body weight is 8 pounds. This means that he is 50% overweight.

8 pounds is 3.6 kilograms.
(3.6 kg x 30) + 70 = 178 calories. Then 178 calories x 0.75 = 134 calories.

This means he should eat approximately 134 calories in order to reach his 8 pound goal weight. He should lose approximately 1 to 2% of his body weight each week. So since he is 50% overweight it is going to take 25 to 50 weeks (6 months to 1 year) to lose this weight safely.

Some cats that are very lazy or very overweight need even further calorie restriction than this. So if you find your cat is not losing weight after 2 weeks on the new plan, see your veterinarian for advice. A common diet pitfall is treats. It is imperative to count the calories in treats and if you are giving treats, you have to decrease the amount of food you are feeding accordingly. Halo lists the calories in each of their cat treats for ease of calculating how many your cat should have each day.

The amount of calories in the seafood dry food is 400 calories per cup. So in the example above where the cat can have 134 calories, they would be able to eat 1/3 level cup of food for the entire day. Remember this is just an average calculation and if a cat doesn’t lose weight after 2 weeks with the calculated calories, talk to your vet about a further decrease.

Cats should also be examined by a veterinarian BEFORE they start any diet regimen to make sure they don’t have medical diseases predisposing them to obesity (such as diabetes, etc) and to make sure the rate of weight loss is safe for your particular cat.

Good Luck and hope that helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

Q: I have a miniature Dachshund that has several issues:

1. He is overweight and I am hoping to help him lose weight. He is on a “weight control” dry food now and has been for some time. I actually feed him less than the recommended amount for him to lose weight and he hasn’t lost an ounce. Please advise.

2. This summer he has really had issues with his skin breaking out in hot spots in the “armpit” and groin regions. What could be causing this?

3. Even though he is short-haired, he sheds terribly bad. I use an oil supplement now but he still sheds excessively. Why?

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing your suggestions on what items Halo has that may help with these issues.

A: Thanks for your questions!

1. I am so happy to hear you are making a plan to get the excess weight off your dog. The health risks of obesity are real and he will feel so much better at a more trim weight! Although you are “feeding less than the recommended amount for him to lose weight”, he needs a weight loss plan specifically tailored to him:

• The first thing you must do is determine his IDEAL body weight. Your veterinarian can help you with this determination if you aren’t sure. Be warned, most people over-estimate how much their pet should weigh…you may be surprised by the number of pounds he needs to lose. In general (breed standard) Dachshunds should weigh less than 16 pounds. Remember, there are also medical conditions that can contribute to obesity (such as hypothyroidism and Cushings Disease–both very common in this breed) and your pet should be fully evaluated before beginning a weight loss program.

• Once the ideal weight has been established, the best weight loss plan is one that provides approximately 75%-80% of the calories your pet would require at that ideal weight. For example, if your dog should weigh 15 pounds (6.82kg), his daily needs to lose that weight are approximately 275 calories (although it can range from 205 to 300 calories depending on his metabolism).

• In general, he should lose about 1 to 2% of his body weight each week. You should weigh him at least every two weeks for adequate monitoring. If he is losing too quickly or not quickly enough, the daily calories must be adjusted. When the goal weight is achieved, a new plan for food intake must be made with your vet.

2. The skin condition you are describing sounds like pyoderma–a skin infection which commonly occurs in the skin fold areas. Obesity definitely contributes to this problem. The skin folds are warm and moist environments ideal for bacterial growth. Once the actual infection is taken care of your veterinarian may be able to recommend some basic maintenance tips for keeping the skin folds clean and dry as possible. There are some baby wipes or medicated wipes which can prevent the terrible breakouts.

3. As far as the shedding, make sure the oil supplement you are using is “broad-spectrum”. Don’t just include fish oils…there are many essential oils that have been proven to be beneficial for hair and skin health. Halo Dream Coat is a blend of 6 virgin oils which provides multiple essential oils (including fish oils). Again, the Dachshund breed is also very prone to endocrine problems which manifest themselves as shedding/hair loss, obesity, etc. These include hypothyroidism, Cushings disease and others. Given your dogs issues with the skin and obesity, make sure you get a vet visit to ensure he is not dealing with something like that.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna J. Spector

Q: What to do when our cat bites a lot?

A: Aggressive behavior toward people is very common in cats. Biting is usually play-motivated or part of a “don’t pet me anymore” behavior complex. Cat owners whose cats have “playful” aggression describe their cats as turning vicious during the act of play. Play often resembles predator activity with stalking, pouncing, hit-and-run attacks, etc. It is common for these cats to exhibit aggression when the owner gets out of bed, comes around a corner or is playing with the cat when suddenly a bite will be directed toward a hand rather than a toy. This can usually be easily dealt with by providing opportunities for your cat to stalk, pounce, carry objects in its mouth, bat and swat with appropriate toys. NEVER allow playful behavior (batting, swatting, etc) directed toward hands or any other body parts. If the behavior is already established, you may need to learn more about “time outs” or even a squirt of water to discourage inappropriate play aggression. You may have to consult a behavior specialist if the problem is more severe.

The other form of aggression to watch for is the “don’t pet me anymore” aggression. This usually occurs when the cat is being pet and suddenly turns and bites. If this sounds like your cat, you have to learn to read your cats cues. Most cats give some warning like ear flicking, tail swishing or thumping, skin rippling or quick head movements that are indicators that they do not wish to be pet anymore. Learning to read their body language can avoid most of these attacks.

Hope this helps.
Dr. Donna Spector

“Empty calories” and “fillers” are big buzzwords in human and pet nutrition these days. Click here to learn why it is important to avoid these ingredients and how to make better choices for your loved ones.

Back in 1986, Halo’s philosophy of using all-natural ingredients you can recognize and understand, well, it just seemed fringe in the pet world. Now, in Nutrition Business Journal’s Animal Nutrition Industry Overview, the coverage of Halo and our philosophy is pretty extensive!

The publication talks about Halo part owner Ellen DeGeneres on QVC, where “the comedian even convinced QVC host Caroline Gracie to eat some of the Halo food, which is made with human-grade meat and other ingredients.” Further, it notes that “DeGeneres, who has said publicly that she invested in Halo in 2008 because she believes it is the best-quality pet food on the market, also talks the brand up on her popular show…”

The journal covers “Smart treating” as a major trend with pets, quoting yours truly, “’Just as with humans, we can’t forget that the snacks between meals count, and that if we’re eating empty calories we’re not serving our overall health,’ Yaskulka added. ‘We’re definitely seeing customers start to understand the same concept with pets and how smart treating can fit into overall nutrition programs.’ In May 2009, Halo unveiled its new Liv-A-Little’s Healthsome line of functional dog and cat treats. Halo’s new Antioxidant Liv-A-Little product is made with cranberries, yogurt, pumpkin and green tea, while the Skin and Coat version features Halo’s Dream Coat natural food supplement, which contains essential fatty acids.”

Our own Dr. Spector also addresses pet obesity in the issue, saying, “’Obesity is tied to many conditions, especially in cats and some dogs,’ said Donna Spector, DVM, a veterinary advisor for Halo Purely for Pets. Commercial pet food is one culprit for the added weight, Spector added. ‘Many foods use corn and rice as fillers. It is less expensive, but it has a high glycemic index and turns rapidly into sugar. It is very similar for humans.’ To help address this issue, pet nutrition companies are offering foods made with no corn or rice.”

Click here for complete coverage of Halo in Nutrition Business Journal.