Pet weight gain and neutering – are they connected? Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, veterinarian and owner of Case Veterinary Hospital,

Pet weight gain and neutering – are they connected?

Neutering not only helps to control the pet population, but it also decreases inappropriate elimination and destructive behavior, as well as decreases or eliminates the potential for many health problems.

Some owners notice that their pets gain weight in the months following the surgery, but research has not proven a direct relationship between neutering pets and subsequent weight gain. Though some pet owners report that their neutered pets have gained weight, we should not assume that one caused the other. Most pets are neutered at 6 months of age, which is the stage in their life in which they may begin to gain weight regardless of whether they are neutered. The bottom line is that our pets, like us, will gain weight if they consume more calories than they use.

Some pets may “slow down” somewhat once they are neutered. Sometimes, this is one of the reasons a frustrated owner of a particularly hyperactive or destructive pet chooses to neuter. But that only means that that particular pet needs to be given fewer calories to combat weight gain. The benefits of neutering pets far outweigh the slight possibility of needing to reduce their food consumption or increase their exercise.

Make the choice to have your pet neutered, then focus on maintaining a healthy weight if weight gain even becomes an issue.

Pets gain weight because calorie consumption exceeds calorie expenditure. Simply put, they’re eating more than their activity level requires.

There are three areas in which this balance can be adjusted:
1. Decrease the amount of food our pets eat by focusing on portion control.
2. Change their diet to a food lower in calories.
3. Increase their exercise.

Your veterinarian can help you determine the correct amount of food that your pet requires, which is very dependent upon the type of food being fed. Often, owners are unknowingly giving their pets twice the recommended daily allowance, which would pack the weight onto any pet – neutered or not. There are many commercial diets available with fewer calories, increased fiber, or specific protein and carbohydrate ratios formulated to encourage weight loss. Your veterinarian can prescribe an appropriate diet tailored to your pet’s specific needs.

Keeping your pet at his or her ideal weight will have a tremendous impact on their health, comfort and quality of life. Being fit decreases the potential for diabetes, heart disease and many other health-related issues. Carrying less excess weight also alleviates stress on joints thereby decreasing arthritis pain as our pets age.

About the author: Dr. Carla Case-McCorvey, veterinarian and owner of Case Veterinary Hospital, grew up in the business that was first begun by her great-grandfather in 1909. After graduating from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999, Carla followed both her grandfather and father and now enjoys being the 4th generation (yet first woman) to run the family practice, which is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in Savannah, Georgia.

For more information about Savannah’s full-service small animal hospital, Case Veterinary Hospital, go to www.casevet.com