Obesity is a growing concern for dogs and cats. Recent studies show that 30-40% of pets in the United States are overweight and 25% are considered obese. Obesity can lead to many serious medical conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and respiratory problems. In general, an obese animal will have a significantly lower life expectancy than an animal at a healthy weight. Regular exercise, feeding the appropriate amount of food, and limiting treats are the easiest ways to keep your pet at a healthy weight. If your pet does become overweight, there are many things you can do to help.
Appropriate Food Intake
Over feeding plays a big role in obesity. It is important to feed the recommended amount of food for your pet’s ideal weight. It may be necessary to change your pet’s food to a “light” formula.
Scheduled Feedings
If you are currently feeding your pet “free-choice”, it may be beneficial to begin timed, scheduled feedings. If any table scraps are being given, they should be eliminated.
Treats
Treats should be limited to healthy, low-calorie snacks such as ice cubes, popcorn, carrots and green beans. Treats can also be given that will benefit the animal’s health, such as dental treats. It is important to remember to include the calories of the treats in your pet’s daily calorie allotment. Treats should not make up more than 10% of your pet’s diet.
Increase Activity Level
Increasing your pet’s daily activity level can also help them to lose weight. Taking your dog on a daily walk or playing fetch are both great ways to burn calories. Having your cat chase a flashlight beam or toy is a good way to get them moving. You can also hide their meals in various places around the house to have them move around and “hunt” for their food.
It is very important to remember that weight loss should be a gradual process. Dogs and cats should not lose more than 1-2% of their body weight per week. Losing weight too fast can lead to serious medical problems.
Please contact us to schedule a consultation and enroll in our fitness challenge. Let us provide your pet a safe and effective weight loss plan!
How can I tell if my dog is overweight?
A quick way to check if your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat of your hand. If you can only feel the ribs with difficulty, your dog probably needs to lose weight.
General Guidelines
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Ideal Weight
Easy to feel ribs without excess fat covering. Viewed from the side, belly is tucked up. Viewed from above, a noticeable waist in front of the hips.
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Overweight
Difficult to feel ribs with excess fat covering.
Viewed from the side, belly has minimal or no tuck. Viewed from above, no waist in front of the hips.