I have heard of a condition in people called Syndrome X. Can you tell me something about this?

Do I need to worry about my dog or cat developing this type of problem?

Syndrome X is a big problem in people. It affects a large portion of the population. People with Syndrome X are overweight, have diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

The main cause of these disorders is a poor diet, typically high in carbohydrates, preservatives (high-fructose corn syrup) and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (present in just about all processed foods) and low in high-quality protein, fibrous carbohydrates, vegetables and fruits, and healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Diet change, weight loss and exercise can help many people with Syndrome X.

To date, this specific syndrome has not been identified in pets. However, many pets are overweight, and the increasing incidence of diabetes is troubling.

As is true with people, improper diet and lack of exercise contributes to these health problems. I would encourage you to make sure you have your pet examined at least annually (twice a year if your pet is 7 years of age or older) plus blood and/or urine testing to screen for problems such as diabetes.

Have your doctor discuss proper nutrition and set up a regular exercise program.

DEAR READERS:

Here are some tips to help make your pets safe at home.

• Don’t feed chocolate to pets. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate can be poisonous to many animals. In general, the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. Vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity and increased thirst, urination and heart rate can be seen with the ingestion of as little as 1/4 of an ounce of baking chocolate by a 10-pound dog or cat.
• Keep your pet on its normal diet, even on special occasions or when company is present. Any change of diet can give your dog or cat severe gastrointestinal upset.
• Don’t give pets holiday leftovers.
• Keep pets out of the garbage.
• Do not give your pets alcoholic beverages.

— Dr. Shawn P. Messonnier, author of the “Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats,” is a veterinarian and pet care advocate.