Fat cats and pocket pets

Dear Dr. Forsythe: I’m very worried about my cat, Mr. Snookems, who is getting fatter and fatter.  He is now up to 25 pounds and doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.  I have had him tested by more than one vet and he is in decent health (for a five-year-old cat).  I have also had him on low calorie food as well as restrict his diet.  The trouble is, he just lays around all the time and I think he has a really slow metabolism, just like I do.  What should I do?  Is there any good medicine I can give to get the weight off him?  I’m getting desperate.  – Chubby cat owner.

Dear Chubby cat: Thanks for addressing this issue, because it is an important one.  Some cats begin putting on weight after they get to be a few years of age, and by age five or six look like a bloated tick!  This extra weight is menacing to a cat’s health and usually shortens the life span considerably.  In addition to problems with mobility and general health problems such as diabetes, fat deposits congeal around the heart and lungs and reduce the cat’s ability to expand the lungs to breathe fully, a condition sometimes called “Pickwickian Syndrome”.

I recommend that you continue a strict regimen of Hill’s R/D food, and measure out the precise amount according to your veterinarian’s suggestion.  Avoid giving any extra treats and make sure Mr. Snookems is not sneaking treats from the neighbor or hunting extra snacks such as mice, rats, voles or birds.  If so, keep him under house arrest for a full month until his first regular weigh-in back at the veterinarian’s office.  Reduce the R/D rations by five to ten percent and monitor his weight carefully by religiously following a monthly weigh-in at the veterinary hospital using the same scale.  The only way to keep Mr. Snookems from looking like the Christmas turkey this year is to be very strict and careful ‘round the clock.  Most importantly, get several different cat toys and engage him in fun activities that cause him to run and chase different toys.  Try to exercise him for 10 full minutes in the morning and evening.  I have a strong feeling that all of these efforts will cause a gradual but consistent weight loss for him, and I hope you can stick with this and see some positive results.  For although Mr. Snookems is undoubtedly adorable in his plump state, we MUST consider his future health when making good decisions for him.  Good luck and keep me informed as to his progress please. – Dr. F

Dear Dr. Forsythe: I heard that most veterinarians don’t really know very much about reptiles or small animals such as rats or iguanas.  Is that true? I have a lot of small pets such as a corn snake and a chinchilla.  I don’t ever know where to take one of them when it is sick because of what my friend told me.  It seems like small animal veterinarians should have some knowledge of such animals.  Otherwise should I take my exotic animals up to UC Davis?  A couple weeks ago I had a sick Cockatiel and I called seven veterinarians before I found one that was willing to even take a look at her.  – Sign me, Skeptical

Dear Skeptical: I disagree with your friend who would make a blanket statement saying that most veterinarians don’t know very much about reptiles or small animals such as rats or iguanas.  Although veterinarians have varying amounts of knowledge and skill (just like human physicians do) our overall breadth of knowledge tends to be rather vast as a professional group.  When veterinarians attend school, they usually have the ability to specialize or “track” in a category of interest such as “small animal” or “exotic animal” or “food animal.” Even with the enormous amount of information required of veterinarians to practice medicine, none of us can be experts on all animals and in complete details.  Therefore, most veterinarians rely on extensive resourses when working up cases (in other words, we “look things up”).   I happen to enjoy small animals and pocket pets and have learned much about them during my years in practice.  My attitude has also been “whatever it takes” which has enabled me to undertake challenges that others may be less apt to undertake.  It all depends on the doctor’s comfort level and experience.  I completely understand how frustrating it must be to call so many different places before you were able to find help for your bird, but keep in mind that most veterinarians are just trying to be cautious and want to make sure they can offer the best care for your pet. I don’t think I’d assume that all veterinarians are blissfully ignorant based on the experience you’ve had, but rather keep in mind the complex differences in the myriad of small “pocket pets” that get sold, and how impossible it would be to be a specialist for each and every small animal type. – Dr. F.