An Interview with Dr. Ernie Ward
Dr. Ernie Ward is known as many things: award-winning veterinarian, husband and father, media personality and now author. His new book, Chow Hounds – Why Our Dogs are Getting Fatter – A Vet’s Plan to Save Their Lives is due in March by HCI Books, publishers of the best-selling “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series, “The Beverly Hills Diet,” “The Ultimate Pet Lovers Guide” and more. We sat down with Dr. Ward to discuss his new book, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and the problems of overweight pets.

1. How did you become interested in pet obesity?

My own journey is an amalgam of my love of veterinary medicine and human health. Early on I recognized the power of nutrition in creating and preserving human health, most notably my own. As I learned more human nutrition, I began applying these tenets to my pet patients. I also became active in endurance athletics, specifically Ironman triathlon, and became a certified personal trainer and USA Triathlon accredited coach to learn more. My primary goal as a veterinarian is disease prevention. Proper nutrition and lean body mass are essential ingredients for optimal health. I’ve always believed that health isn’t merely the absence of illness; it’s about achieving the best you can be. When I began taking this approach with my veterinary patients, using food as medicine, I began seeing dogs walk without pain, diabetics discontinuing their insulin and cancer patients living longer than expected. Food truly is the best medicine.

2. How many overweight dogs and cats do we currently have in our country?

Since 2007, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has conducted a nationwide survey of veterinary clinics to determine the current number of overweight pets. In 2009, this study estimated 45% of all US dogs and 57% of all cats were too heavy. That equals approximately 35 million dogs and 53 million cats that need to lose weight.

3. What are some of the causes of pet obesity?

If I could identify the biggest contributor to the current pet obesity epidemic it would definitely be treats. Today’s treats are pumped full of fat and sugar, making them highly desirable but extremely unhealthy. In fact, this added sugar and fat causes changes to a dog’s brain chemistry leading me to call treats “Kibble Crack.” It is not uncommon for me to see indoor dogs that consume over half of their required calories each day in the form of goodies. Combine high-calorie treats with an essentially inactive lifestyle and obesity develops.

Dog owners don’t often understand how many calories are in those tiny treats; I call them “calorie grenades” for that reason. For example, if you feed a 10-pound dog one Milk-Bone Gravy Bones for Small and Medium Size Dogs dog biscuit, it contains 45 calories. That doesn’t sound too bad until you realize that a dog that size probably only needs about 200 to 220 calories each day. That single biscuit equals 21% of the total calories that dog should eat in a day! If an average human were to eat an equivalent amount of calories, they would need to eat two Krispy Kreme Chocolate Iced Glazed Doughnuts. Imagine if you did that two or three times a day; you’d be obese in no time!

4. How does obesity affect a pet’s health? It’s life span?

The first line in my book is: “We’re killing our dogs by making them fat.” I’d go as far as to say we’re raising the first generation of pets that won’t live as long as their parents. The major health risks associated with obesity in dogs and cats include arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory problems and many forms of cancer. In addition, weight-related disorders not only cause needless suffering, they also cost pet owners tens of millions of dollars each year.

5. What should a dog owner feed their dog to help it lose weight?

Choosing a weight-loss diet isn’t a one-size-fits-all proposition. There are many considerations including the dog’s current health status, amount of weight that needs to be lost, taste and textural preferences and the owner’s interests and abilities. In general, I recommend feeding a Hybrid Diet: alternating a commercial diet food with home-prepared nutritious, low-cal meals. In “Chow Hounds” I provide specific guidelines, recipes and examples of how to feed your dog a healthy weight-loss diet in addition to my top commercial food choices.

6. Are dog owners concerned about the food they feed?

You bet, and with good reason. After the 2007 pet food recall, pet owners started rethinking their dog food choices. Home-prepared or store-bought? Big or small manufacturer? Canned or dry? While it’s good that dog owners are asking more questions, the trouble is that the government oversight has changed very little. In my book I discuss how dog food is made, inspected and regulated. The results may be shocking (and saddening) to pet owners.

7. How can pet owners help keep their pets fit?

The simplest way to keep your dog fit is to walk daily for a total of 30 minutes. Walking not only benefits your dog but you’ll gain health improvements as well. Strive for a 15 to 18 minute per mile pace to get your dog into its fat-burning zone. In the book I outline specific distances and speeds for various breeds and fun and fat-burning games and activities.

Cats don’t jog; they’re optimized for sprinting. To get your cat moving, tap into its predatory instincts by playing “find the food.” Try dividing the food into small bowls placed throughout your house. Have your cat watch as you “hide” the bowls. Your cat will “hunt” the food throughout the day. This is one of the best ways to get corpulent cats on their feet and burning calories.

8. Do you think pet owners know their dogs are overweight?

People’s perception about excess weight must shift from simply viewing love handles as unattractive to recognizing that their flabby waist is a noose choking their health. A cat’s sagging stomach is a deadly ball-and-chain and a dog’s thick mid-section is a hormone bomb factory waiting to explode.

In this age of cost-cutting and health reform, we must take responsibility for our health and that of our pets. The simplest thing anyone can to do to avoid illness is eat a healthy diet and exercise daily. As a veterinarian interested in obesity, my job is to educate people about their pets. If they learn a little about their own health in the process, everyone wins.

9. How did the book come about?

I’ve been writing veterinary journal articles and lecturing on pet obesity for the past ten years. Many vets asked me if there was a book on obesity they could give their clients, and there wasn’t. The team at HCI was familiar with my work on The Rachael Ray Show and Animal Planet and were very interested in the idea of a pet weight loss book written by a veterinarian. After talking with a couple of other interested publishers, I chose HCI because of their passion and long history of successful diet books.

10. What’s next on your agenda?

In addition to my clinical practice, I’m excited to get started on my next book. There’s so much information I want to share with pet owners to help them better care for their four-legged loved ones. Whether it’s in my clinic, at a conference or on television, my goal is to help pets and people live longer, healthier and more meaningful lives.

You can find Dr. Ward’s book at all major book-sellers and on Amazon.com. For information on pet obesity, visit www.PetObesityPrevntion.com and about Dr. Ward at www.DrErnieWard.com or follow him on Twitter (@DrErnieWard) or Facebook (Dr. Ernie Ward).