Veterinary Medicine - January 2009 - (Page 13)

Leading Off Prevention: Our best strategy for fighting obesity and its ill effects Steven C. Budsberg, DVM, MS, DACVS O besity is turning out to be one of the great challenges facing medical professionals and the public in the 21st century. Although the potential short- and long-term effects of obesity are welldeﬁned, our efforts to halt this growing problem appear to have had little effect on the expanding size of pets in our companion-animal population. because of owner noncompliance with feeding and exercise recommendations.1 Hence, continued efforts to combat obesity have also included the introduction of new pharmacologic agents aimed at weight reduction such as the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitors. Given the poor overall results with owners facilitating weight loss in their It is paramount that we attack obesity prevention with the same vigor that we put forth for other preventable diseases. As an orthopedic surgeon, I am well aware of data showing how obesity shortens my patients’ life spans, contributes to serious musculoskeletal conditions, and exacerbates the chronic, debilitating clinical signs of osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, I see far too many cases in which weight management is the most difﬁcult component of osteoarthritis therapy for owners to implement. Studies conﬁrm that weight-reduction programs are often unsuccessful mainly pets, I strongly believe that advocating for obesity prevention in growing puppies and kittens is how veterinarians can have the greatest positive effect on weight management and reducing the potential for developing musculoskeletal diseases, including osteoarthritis. We have tools such as body-scoring systems and speciﬁc diet information to educate our clients on what is the proper weight for a dog or cat reaching skeletal maturity and how to maintain that weight. And we have Steven C. Budsberg, DVM, MS, DACVS Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 plenty of opportunities to reiterate this important information during early-life visits for vaccinations, deworming, and even spay or neuter procedures. Thus, with motive and opportunity, it is paramount that we veterinarians attack obesity prevention with the same vigor that we put forth successfully for other preventable diseases, such as heartworm infection, distemper, and dental conditions. REFERENCE 1. Gossellin J, Wren JA, Sunderland JA. Canine obesity: an overview. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2007;30(suppl 1):1-10. VETERINARY MEDICINE January 2009 13

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - January 2009

Veterinary Medicine - January 2009 Contents Leading Off Letters Research Updates Idea Exchange A Modified Subconjunctival Enucleation Technique in Dogs and Cats Local and Regional Anesthesia Techniques Author Guidelines Product Preview CE Form/Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - January 2009

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