Great Rover Road Run combats canine obesity

According to a recent Surgeon General’s report, nearly two-thirds of American adults and one-third of children are overweight or obese. A 2010 survey from the Association on Pet Obesity Prevention indicates 53% of cats and 55% of dogs also exceed the healthy weight limit.

Those findings come as no surprise to LSU School of Veterinary medicine students. During their clinical rotations, students frequently find their patients to be clinically obese based on these five criteria:

• ribs and other skeletal structures are difficult to feel under a thick covering of fat;

• fat hangs from the abdomen;

• tail base is thickened;

• the animal doesn’t have an obvious waist when viewed from the side or above; and,

• the animal is markedly broadened when viewed from above.

Dogs who have any combination of these symptoms may be at increased risk for reduced life expectancy, diabetes, joint problems, muscle tears, hip dysplasia, tracheal collapse, difficulty breathing, anesthesia complications during surgery and skin and heart disorders.

The big problem in preventing pet obesity is many owners simply fail to see the harm in indulging their best buddies in an extra treat or a little leftover from the dinner table. However, since pets are generally weigh under 100 pounds, it doesn’t take a lot of extra weight to aversely affect their health status.

For example, a 19-pound cat whose ideal weight is 10 pounds is comparable to a 5-foot, 4-inch woman carrying 131 pounds more than her ideal weight of 145. Likewise, a 45-pound dog with 23 pounds of pudge is similar to a 5-foot, 9-inch guy sporting 368 pounds, nearly 200 pounds over his healthy limit.

Just as with their owners, the antidote for overweight animals is diet and exercise. To draw attention to the country’s canine obesity epidemic and provide an opportunity for the city’s hounds to run around, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and Hill’s Science Diet host the 18th Annual Great Rover Road Run.

On March 18, the 5K race for competitive runners—without dogs—begins at 8 a.m. at the vet school and winds through the LSU campus. The one-mile fun run for dogs and their owners follows down Skip Bertman Drive follows at 9:15 a.m.

For the safety of canine and human runners, neither female dogs in heat nor aggressive animals are allowed on campus. Dog participants must have proof of current vaccination and be controlled on a six-foot, non-retractable leash.

Awards will be presented to the first-, second- and third-place age-division winners in both the 5K run and one-mile fun run. After the race, water and refreshments will be available for all participants along with a “doggie bag” and t-shirt. After the races, vet students also offer a low-cost dog wash and several local non-profits provide information booths.

Proceeds benefit the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The advanced registration is $15 either the 5K run or the Fun Run, or $20 for both races (or $20 and $25 respectively on race day).

For additional race informational or registration forms, click http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu or call 578-9900.

For more information on pet obesity, visit the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, http://www.petobesityprevention.com/, or

The American Veterinary Medical Association, www.avma.com.

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