Does this fur make me look fat?

Dear Dr. Forsythe:  My husband and I are trying to decide if our Labrador “Tess” is too fat. She has recently started looking a little thicker than she used to, but we aren’t feeding her any more, so we aren’t sure if she needs to go on a diet. What is the best way to make this decision?
Worried parents

Dear Parents: I use a nine-point scale to look at a pet’s “body condition” score. “One” is very skinny and emaciated, and “nine” is very fat. A score of five out of nine is the ideal.  To test your pet, press in on her rib cage on both sides at the same time with a few fingers and you should be able to feel her ribs by applying gentle pressure. If not, she may be a little on the tubby side and it may be necessary to reduce her rations and slim her down a bit. In this case she probably would get a score of about seven by me.
Conversely, owners who can either see the ribs or feel them without applying any pressure at all along the thorax very likely have an emaciated pet. Perhaps I would score this pet as a three out of nine. This can be due to undernourishment, parasites, or disease. If you suspect your dog or cat is either above or below an ideal body condition score, contact your veterinarian for an assessment in order to make sure there is nothing serious going on.
Changes in weight and body condition are often the first indicator of a health problem.  For example, an increase in a dog’s weight can indicate the onset of hypothyroidism in some cases. Often such dogs also show changes in their skin and coat which help alert the owner to seek veterinary care, but the signs are so subtle the only clue may be a ballooning of the weight. Fortunately, low thyroid is fairly easily managed once it is diagnosed, and pets feel much better when their systems return to normal and they trim back down with the help of a thyroid supplement.
It may be that your Tess has just put on a little winter weight, but perhaps she needs to be checked for thyroid disease. Once you determine her body condition score, you will have taken the first step towards knowing whether she needs to taper down a little. It may be she just needs to eat a little less and move a little more. If you and your veterinarian have real trouble finding the ribs, you may decide to check the thyroid as well, just to be safe and really know why Tess is tipping the scales in the upward direction. Thanks for a good question.
Dr. F.

Dear Dr. Forsythe: My beautiful cat recently developed dark speckles under her mouth and chin. They look like little black heads but they don’t really seem to bother her. They look pretty gross so I don’t even let her come and rub her face up against me any more. I thought I could use witch hazel on it but she won’t hardly let me even touch it. I’m getting worried it could be some weird infection or fungus. What do you think could be going on and could it be serious?
Likes nice skin

Dear Likes nice skin: You are describing something which sounds like feline chin acne, which is a common yet stubborn problem in many cats. If this is what your pet has, it is a condition that results in areas where secondary infection invades areas rich in sebaceous glands. In my opinion, no cat should have chin acne left untreated: it just goes against the cat’s nature of being beautiful, gleaming creatures who revel in their naturally gorgeous status as “eye candy.” It is well worth having your veterinarian check it out to also rule out the possibility of the condition being a yeast infection, contact dermatitis or even the fungal infection “ringworm” rather than a simple case of acne.
Usually chin acne responds well to benzyl peroxide shampoos applied locally one to two times daily and rinsed well. There is also a Mupirocin gel your veterinarian may prescribe to help reduce secondary infection while the condition resolves. I have had several clients ask if they can use their own Proactive skin products on their cats. I do not recommend this because several of the ingredients in the product line are potentially toxic to cats. Thanks for the question. I predict your cat’s complexion will clear up very soon once you’ve taken action and she’ll be cover girl ready soon.

Dr. F.