Pet obesity management: beyond nutrition

Deborah Linder; Megan Mueller

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.004

Pet obesity management: beyond nutrition

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2014 Jul;44(4):789-806, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.004. Epub 2014 May 5.

Authors

Deborah Linder¹, Megan Mueller²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. Electronic address: deborah.linder@tufts.edu.
² Center for Animals and Public Policy, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.

PMID: 24951347
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2014.03.004

Abstract

Excess weight has been associated with many clinical and subclinical conditions that put a pet's health at risk. Successful weight management programs extend beyond standard nutritional management and incorporate an understanding of human-animal interaction. Understanding the processes and dynamics of human-animal relationships can be a useful tool for practitioners in developing successful treatment plans for their clients. Obesity is a nutritional disorder requiring lifelong management; however, when veterinarians go beyond standard treatment to include an understanding of human-animal interaction, it is also one of the few conditions in veterinary medicine that is completely preventable and curable.

Keywords: Client communication; Human-animal bond; Human-animal interaction; Nutrition; Obesity; Weight management.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
Animals
Cat Diseases / psychology
Cat Diseases / therapy*
Cats
Dog Diseases / psychology
Dog Diseases / therapy*
Dogs
Human-Animal Bond
Humans
Obesity / psychology
Obesity / therapy
Obesity / veterinary*
Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*