Introduction
Clinical obesity of dogs and cats is a serious health condition which can lead to many disease processes. Obesity can affect both young and geriatric patients. As our beloved pets reach their geriatric life stage (over 8 years on average, but it depends on the breed), they do become more vulnerable to developing conditions such as osteoarthritis, dental issues, neoplasia, liver/renal failure, cognitive dysfunction and endocrine diseases (Pathak et al, 2024). Here, we will cover the most common diseases our older dogs and cats often face and will dive into how clinical obesity has its role in these.
Clinical obesity
Our vets and vet nurses body condition score cats and dogs to determine their ideal weight and body shape. Body condition scoring (BCS) is a little similar to calculating a human’s body mass index (BMI) and is a non-invasive, straightforward, but accurate method. It is commonly used in veterinary medicine to assess the amount of body fat in animals (Chun et al, 2019). A 9-point scale is often used, and we should aim for our pets to be a BCS of 4/5. Body condition scoring is not just a method to assess the weight of dogs and cats, but it can be used widely on other animals too.
The biggest underlying reason that veterinary professionals strongly advise weight loss in obese cats and dogs is due to their high risk of developing weight-associated diseases. In addition, obesity also has a detrimental effect on a pet’s overall health and wellbeing. Obesity remains the most common nutritional disorder in companion animals (German, 2006). Obesity can predispose cats and dogs to conditions such as orthopaedic disease, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease and urinary disorders (German, 2006).
A weight loss management plan will be strongly advised for patients who are categorised as obese, and this may include nutritional advice, dietary guidance and regular weight clinics with an overall aim to achieve a healthy weight goal. In canine patients (and even some cats too!) exercise and physical activity advice will also be discussed if it safe for them. In extremely arthritic patients, high impact exercises such as running and jumping would not be recommended and, alternatively, low impact exercises such as walking and hydrotherapy may be more suitable. These patients will need to have a greater focus on reducing their daily calorie intake to combat their positive energy balance. Every obese cat and dog will have individual needs, and therefore their treatment plan will be tailored specifically to them by our vets.
Diseases of geriatric dogs and cats
The diseases listed below are commonly seen conditions in both geriatric cats and dogs, in order of most common. There are some differences for each species and these will be highlighted. This list is not exhaustive and there are other conditions that occur in geriatric cats and dogs.
Osteoarthritis
Canine and feline osteoarthritis (OA) is common, with prevalence increasing with age (Wright et al, 2022). OA is a degenerative joint disease that leads ultimately to decline of a joint’s function, leading to chronic pain and lameness (Wright et al, 2022).
Interestingly, it is often more easily recognised in dogs than cats, despite felines sadly suffering from this debilitating joint condition as well. Where dogs are likely to display limping and lameness with OA which may look obvious during walks, cats often do not limp but alternatively display behavioural changes at home such as reluctance to jump onto surfaces and stiffness (Bennet et al, 2012).
Some subtle signs of OA include licking joints, regularly lying down, stiffness and decreased willingness to exercise.
Dental disease
Periodontal disease is one of the most common inflammatory diseases of dogs and recent studies suggest that it is the most commonly diagnosed disease in UK cats (RVC, 2023). Periodontal disease is also referred to as ‘gum disease’ or ‘periodontitis.’ The risk of developing periodontal disease is greater in older cats, which makes regularly checking on your pet’s oral health very important.
The common clinical signs include bad breath, red and inflamed gums, missing or loose teeth and gum bleeding. In severe cases, dogs and cats may have associated weight loss and a reduced appetite.
Cognitive dysfunction
Cognitive dysfunction is a disorder affecting geriatric dogs and cats, also widely known as ‘dementia’, and is very similar to the condition in humans. This condition is common and is characterised by an age-related progressive decline in cognitive abilities. It can become quite distressing for both pets and their owners, and your vet will discuss ways such as diet and medications in which you can help to support them.
Clinical signs in both cats and dogs can include disorientation, altered sleep-wake cycles, house-soiling, excessive vocalisation and altered behaviours (Sordo and Gunn-Moore, 2021).
Endocrine disease
A very common endocrine disease frequently diagnosed in geriatric cats is hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland over-produces the thyroid hormone. This leads to weight loss, hyperactivity, rapid heart rate and increased appetite. As hyperthyroidism causes a high heart rate in cats, this can have secondary complications and may lead to the development of cardiac disease. Your vet will diagnose feline hyperthyroidism from a blood test and following a diagnosis they will discuss management options.
Hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease, is a common endocrine condition of middle-aged to older dogs which leads to an over production of corticosteroid. Clinical signs include excessive drinking and urination, a pendulous ‘pot-bellied’ abdomen and skin thinning/coat changes. A diagnosis can be made through specific blood testing, although sometimes diagnosing this condition isn’t perfectly straight forward.
Neoplasia (tumours and cancers)
Canine and feline cancers are found worldwide and can originate anywhere in the body. Tumours (also known as neoplasms) are caused by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body, and they can be benign (not invading the tissues; usually less serious) or malignant (invading and spreading through the body – usually, although not always, more dangerous). In both cats and dogs, the risk of cancer increases by approximately 20% every 3 years (Pinello et al, 2022), so older pets are more at risk. Your vet will be able to guide, diagnose and discuss management plans if your beloved pet develops neoplasia.
Conclusion
As your beloved felines and canines reach their golden geriatric years, they become more likely to develop diseases as previously discussed. Clinical obesity does increase this risk further. Obesity is a serious growing concern in both young and old pets alike. If you feel as though your pet may be overweight or be showing any signs of the conditions mentioned above, please reach out to us for advice.
Regular check-ups are important for all pets, but even more so for our older companions. Keeping a close eye on your pet’s weight and other signs will help us to spot anything unusual at an early stage, enabling us to treat arising problems and keep your pet happy and healthy for longer!
References
Bennet, D. Ariffin, S, M, Z. Johnston, P. 2012. Osteoarthritis in the cat. How common is it and how easy to recognise? Journal of feline medicine and surgery.
Chun, J, L. Bang, H, T. Ji, S, Y. Jeong, J, Y. Kim, M. Kim, B. Lee, S, D. Lee, Y,K. Reddy, K, E. Kim, K, H. 2019. A simple method to evaluate body condition score to maintain optimal weight in dogs. Journal of Animal Science Technology. 61. 366-370.
German, A, J. 2006. The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats. J Nutr.
Pathak, A. Asediya, V. Anjaria, P. Singh, S. 2024. Chapter 23 – geriatric diseases of dogs and cats. Developments in microbiology. Pp 339-361.
Pinello, K. Amorim, I. Pires, I. Canadas-sousa, A. Catarino, J. Faisca, P. Branco, S. Peleteiro, M, C. Silva, D. Severo, M. Niza-Ribeiro, J. 2022. Vet-OncoNet: malignancy analysis of neoplasms in dogs and cats. Veterinary Science. 9: 535.
Sordo, L. Gunn-Moore, D, A. 2021. Cognitive dysfunction in cats: update on neuropathological and behavioural changes plus clinical management. Veterinary Record. 188.
Wright, A. Amodie, D, M. Cernicchiaro, N. Lascelles, B, D, X. Pavlock, A, M. Roberts, C. Bartram, D, J. 2022. Identification of canine osteoarthritis using an owner-related questionnaire and treatment monitoring using functional mobility tests. Journal of small animal practice. 63:609-618.