Give attention, not treats
Published 3:27 pm Saturday, October 10, 2009
What do you get when you cross Americans’ penchant for anthropomorphism with our propensity to declare “National Day of Whatevers”?
We get National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, to be observed on Wednesday. Everyone don their symbolic hot-dog-replica ribbons. We joke. Only because otherwise we’d have those big sad “pity puppy” eyes of bad art and be able only to weep.
Obesity is the No. 1 disorder pets suffer, and is almost 100 percent preventable, veterinarian Patty Khuly writes in USA Today. More than 44 percent of dogs and 57 percent of cats are estimated to be overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. The percentage rises with age.
The diseases our pets suffer due to their obesity should sound familiar: Osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders, hypertension, heart disease and the many kinds of cancers attributed to weight gain.
The excuses owners give for why their pets are overweight are also very familiar, Dr. Khuly writes:
“But she only eats this much!” “But he’s always hungry.” “But food is the only thing that makes her happy,” “He’ll starve.” “He refuses to walk.” “It’s my family’s fault.” “My pets have always been ‘chunky’ and they’ve never died early.”
Very familiar, indeed. Because it’s stuff humans say about themselves. And/or their overweight children. Unsurprisingly, Khuly says that broaching the obesity subject with owners is not easy. People are defensive, and she must use kid gloves so as not to offend. Just as the CDC is afraid doctors will offend children if they use the words “obese” or “overweight,” veterinarians must also couch their language, and it’s not because overly plump Fluffy can’t take the truth.
Can we admit that possibly we have some, as they say, “issues”? Doesn’t the fact that there are actually “canine psychotherapists” at work say something? Besides there’s a sucker born every minute?
Inactive people often have inactive pets. Emotionally troubled people can have emotionally troubled pets. People who treat food as the ultimate reward will have pets that do the same.
For some reason, a certain percentage of Americans find the whole “fat pet” thing funny. And of course they can be found on the Internet, where it’s considered entertainment, and not cruelty, to post photos of your outstandingly obese cat/dog.
So what does all this portend? More exercise and fewer treats for Mitzy? Or, more likely, Lap-Band for Lassie? And on TV, “The Biggest, Furriest Loser,” and one-time famous cats trying to get their figures back in Jenny Craig commercials?
