Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats / Edition 1

by Todd L. Towell

Overview

Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats is a comprehensive, clinical reference for the veterinary health team, providing the necessary tools to successfully manage pet obesity.   Bringing together specialists in nutrition, internal medicine, critical care, and surgery and rehabilitation, the book provides an overview of prevention techniques, clinical management, and practical tips for implementing successful programs and educating owners.  Covering topics ranging from taking a nutritional history and body condition scoring to calculating food dosage and client communication tips, this book is a resource for both veterinarians and veterinary technicians to address the growing problem of pet obesity.  

The book begins by explaining the clinical importance of obesity, then moves on to diagnosing and preventing obesity.  The heart of the book is devoted to managing body weight, with chapters on nutritional, pharmacotherapeutic, and exercise strategies, and two unique chapters cover owner compliance and wellness programs. Practical Weight Management in Dogs and Cats offers a collaborative approach to managing weight in pet dogs and cats.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780813809564
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	10/04/2011
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Todd Towell, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM, is the manager of scientific communications for Hill's Pet Nutrition. She has over 10 years of clinical experience managing obesity-related diseases and clinical nutrition.

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Table of Contents

List of Contributors vii

Chapter 1 Clinical Importance of Canine and Feline Obesity 3
P. Jane Armstrong and Angela L. Lusby

Chapter 2 Diagnosing Obesity 23
Todd L. Towell

Chapter 3 Preventing Obesity 47
Mark A. Brady

Chapter 4 Nutritional Management of Obesity 87
Todd L. Towell and S. Dru Forrester

Chapter 5 Pharmacotherapy for Management of Canine Obesity 131
Sharon Campbell

Chapter 6 Therapeutic Exercises 149
Denis J. Marcellin-Little

Chapter 7 Owner Education and Adherence 173
Kara Burns and Todd L. Towell

Chapter 8 Implementing a Weight Management Program 201
Rebecca L. Remillard

Index 227

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Marcella Ridgway, VMD, MS, DACVIM (University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine)
Description: This is a guide to the assessment and treatment of overweight conditions in small animals.
Purpose: Though not stated, the apparent purpose is to provide a thorough yet concise, practical guide to the evaluation and treatment of overweight and obese cats and dogs. Despite the increasing prevalence of obesity in pets and the growing awareness of the negative impact of obesity on overall health, no book has specifically addressed this health issue from a practice standpoint, which this book does quite well.
Audience: It is directed at veterinarians and veterinary technicians in small animal practice and incorporates basic and detailed information to meet the needs of veterinary professionals at diverse levels of experience and understanding of the problem of obesity.
Features: The book begins with an overview of obesity in dogs and cats and a description of a number of associated pathophysiologic mechanisms, then proceeds logically to address diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. The book does a good job of incorporating clinical examples of general concepts and addresses breed differences in body type and assessing body condition score (BCS) particularly well. Practical tips that are highly useful for practicing veterinarians and technicians in assisting owners with successful weight management plans for their pets are plentiful. A summary of the major clinically relevant points appears at the end of each chapter. Chapters emphasize key points in highlighted balloons featured near the relevant descriptions. However, a simpler, less crowded font would improve readability. The pedagogical value of the illustrations varies dramatically from exceptional to minimal. A number of the figures are overly whimsical (e.g. 3.11 and 4.4) to the extent of ineffectively communicating a concept. The lack of a preface forces potential readers to rely on the cover comments to determine the intended goals and audience in deciding if the book is a good fit for them.
Assessment: Although some of the elements of the book appear to be directed at a lay readership rather than at veterinary professionals, this is an excellent clinical reference and guide to obesity management in small animal practice and an important contribution to the practitioner-oriented literature. It is particularly valuable for providing practice-directed tips and pointers and addressing the real issues in trying to assess and manage overweight pets.

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