Even though we love our adorably “chonky” cats and dogs, most pet parents know that obesity is harmful to their health. It’s widely known that overweight and obese pets are at higher risk for diabetes, breathing issues, and joint pain. But there are many hidden, lesser-known complications of obesity in pets to watch out for.
In honor of National Pet Obesity Day, an awareness holiday started by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), learn how excess weight can affect a cat or dog’s health in surprising ways - and how we can protect pets from developing these health issues.

5 Unexpected Complications of Obesity in Cats and Dogs

1. Increased inflammation.
Pets that are overweight have been shown in research studies to have more chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout their whole body. Research in both human and animal studies suggests that overeating causes the body to produce an immune system response, which normally helps defend against illness and injury. But in obese pets, the body is always in defense mode, leading to chronic inflammation that increases their risk of inflammatory conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. Fortunately, studies also suggest that weight loss is highly effective in reducing chronic inflammation in pets.

2. Cancer.
Obesity puts pets at greater risk for developing certain cancers, including breast and bladder cancer. This is because of the inflammatory response in which fat cells release cytokines. Cytokines are a chemical that signals the cells to divide rapidly, which can lead to the irregular cell growth seen in cancerous tumors and lesions. What’s more, obese pets are at higher risk for cancer that spreads because fat cells can quickly metastasize.

3. Surgical complications.
Obese pets are considered at high risk for complications during and after surgery, even for routine procedures like dental cleanings. They typically need a higher dose of anesthetic due to their weight, but may also have compromised lung, kidney, and heart function, which will already be under surgical stress during the procedure. Their organs may have a harder time filtering out anesthesia and medications. As a result, they often take longer to wake up after surgery and can experience post-surgical complications like organ failure, delayed healing, and infection.

4. Anal gland impaction.
Your pet’s anal glands should naturally expel fluid every time they defecate, but excess fat around their hind end can prevent this from happening, leading to impaction, which can lead to infection and rupture. Obese pets also tend to have trouble scooting and licking themselves to relieve the pressure.

5. Skin and coat issues.
Extra body fat can get in your pet’s way when they try to groom themselves. Moisture, fecal matter, and dead skin can build up in skin folds and other areas that the cat or dog is unable to reach themselves. To make matters worse, decreased immune function can make it harder for your pet to fight skin infections if they do occur.

Fighting Obesity Complications in Pets

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight can be difficult. Having an overweight or obese cat or dog is not something any pet parent should ever feel ashamed of, especially when it comes to asking for help.
Inflammation, hormonal changes, and insulin resistance seen in overweight pets can make it difficult to help your pet lose weight, even with the right diet and lifestyle changes. Exercise can be painful for pets with mobility issues. Reducing your pet’s caloric intake needs to be done with care to prevent inadequate nutrition, which can be just as detrimental to their health as obesity.
Thankfully, many of the above complications of obesity in pets can be reversed when pets lose weight in a healthy way. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to come up with a weight loss plan that’s safe and effective for your pet.