Pet Obesity
Pets becoming overweight or obese is a problem of epidemic proportions! In the United States, over 50% of dogs and cats are overweight. Does your pet fall into this category? How do you know?
Some people believe that roly-poly pets are cute or just well-loved, but letting your pet become overweight greatly shortens their lifespan as well as decreases their overall quality of life.
Show your pet how much you truly love them- not with treats- but by keeping them lean so that they can play, exercise, and live longer/happier lives!
The first step is to learn how to perform an accurate Body Condition Score (BCS). This is a way of judging if your pet has a weight problem. You can learn to do this yourself or ask your veterinarian for help.
Take a look at your pet's current BCS- can you feel your pet's ribs? Does your pet have a waistline? Does your pet have an abdominal tuck? Check out the chart below to score your pet on a scale of 1 to 5. Ideally, your pet should be a 3.
Some people believe that roly-poly pets are cute or just well-loved, but letting your pet become overweight greatly shortens their lifespan as well as decreases their overall quality of life.
Show your pet how much you truly love them- not with treats- but by keeping them lean so that they can play, exercise, and live longer/happier lives!
The first step is to learn how to perform an accurate Body Condition Score (BCS). This is a way of judging if your pet has a weight problem. You can learn to do this yourself or ask your veterinarian for help.
Take a look at your pet's current BCS- can you feel your pet's ribs? Does your pet have a waistline? Does your pet have an abdominal tuck? Check out the chart below to score your pet on a scale of 1 to 5. Ideally, your pet should be a 3.
If your pet scored a 1 or 2, you can safely feed your pet more and should consider talking to your veterinarian in case there is a medical issue keeping your pet from reaching an ideal weight. Examples of health conditions that make a pet thin include: parasites, lack of proper nutrition, cancer, excess thyroid hormone, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, and cancer.
If your pet scored a 4 or a 5, then weight loss is needed! The most common reasons that pet's are overweight are: consuming too many calories and lack of exercise. Over feeding is easier than you think:
If your pet scored a 4 or a 5, then weight loss is needed! The most common reasons that pet's are overweight are: consuming too many calories and lack of exercise. Over feeding is easier than you think:
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As you can see from the chart on the left, even small amounts of human food can add lots of calories- especially in small dogs and cats.
Many pet treats also contain more calories than you might think! Be sure to check your pet treat labels- they should have a calorie count of them or a 800 number you can call to obtain this information. TREATS SHOULD MAKE UP LESS THAN 10% OF YOUR PET'S DIET! |
But I'm feeding how much the bag says!
Here's an important tip- many times the food amount listed on the back of the pet food bag is over estimated. The recommendations on the bag are often calculated for intact, actively working pets- the average household pet does not need this much food. For more information on pet nutrition, visit the "pet nutrition" section of the "pet care info" tab.
Here's an important tip- many times the food amount listed on the back of the pet food bag is over estimated. The recommendations on the bag are often calculated for intact, actively working pets- the average household pet does not need this much food. For more information on pet nutrition, visit the "pet nutrition" section of the "pet care info" tab.
So why should I care if my pet is a little pudgy?
He seems happy....
Allowing your pets to become overweight puts them at risk for a variety of awful diseases! Examples of these potentially fatal problems include: Heart disease, Joint disease and painful arthritis, Breathing problems that hamper your pet's stamina and ability to play, Life threatening diabetes, Skin disease as bacteria grows in skin folds, Painful pancreatitis, and Urinary tract infections.
He seems happy....
Allowing your pets to become overweight puts them at risk for a variety of awful diseases! Examples of these potentially fatal problems include: Heart disease, Joint disease and painful arthritis, Breathing problems that hamper your pet's stamina and ability to play, Life threatening diabetes, Skin disease as bacteria grows in skin folds, Painful pancreatitis, and Urinary tract infections.
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A recent study which followed a group of dogs throughout their lives revealed that the dogs which maintained a lean body weight lived two years longer than dogs allowed to become overweight! Who wouldn't want two extra years with their best friend? Still don't have a reason to take your pet's weight seriously? Excess weight hurts your pet's body and it also hurts your wallet! Treating chronic conditions which can be caused by obesity racks up hundreds to thousands of dollars in medication and surgery. |
Now I know that there is a problem, what can I do?
First, cut back on calories! There are many ways to accomplish this:
-take the time to measure your pet's meals accurately and cut back by 25%. If your pet seems hungry, try transitioning to a lower calorie diet. Read labels for the calorie count, pet foods labeled "healthy weight" don't always mean they have significantly reduced calories.
-cut treats into smaller pieces or offer lower calorie treats. Examples of lower calorie treats might include green beans, carrot sticks, ice cubes, pieces of watermelon or cantaloupe, etc. Talk to your veterinarian first if your pet has specific health problems to make sure that these treats are appropriate. Be aware that not all fruits and vegetables are okay- onions, grapes, and raisins can be toxic to pets.
Second, increase activity.
-playing with your pet is a great way to burn calories as well as enjoy each other's company! Play ball, fetch, go for walks, have a swim, play with a food puzzle, etc!
-indoor cats can increase their activity and bring out their natural predator instincts by "stalking" toys or food treats in the house. Don't be afraid to pull out the catnip or the laser pointer!
Still having trouble losing weight? Consider:
-talk to your veterinarian about a prescription weight loss diet
-consider having your dog checked for a thyroid disorder
First, cut back on calories! There are many ways to accomplish this:
-take the time to measure your pet's meals accurately and cut back by 25%. If your pet seems hungry, try transitioning to a lower calorie diet. Read labels for the calorie count, pet foods labeled "healthy weight" don't always mean they have significantly reduced calories.
-cut treats into smaller pieces or offer lower calorie treats. Examples of lower calorie treats might include green beans, carrot sticks, ice cubes, pieces of watermelon or cantaloupe, etc. Talk to your veterinarian first if your pet has specific health problems to make sure that these treats are appropriate. Be aware that not all fruits and vegetables are okay- onions, grapes, and raisins can be toxic to pets.
Second, increase activity.
-playing with your pet is a great way to burn calories as well as enjoy each other's company! Play ball, fetch, go for walks, have a swim, play with a food puzzle, etc!
-indoor cats can increase their activity and bring out their natural predator instincts by "stalking" toys or food treats in the house. Don't be afraid to pull out the catnip or the laser pointer!
Still having trouble losing weight? Consider:
-talk to your veterinarian about a prescription weight loss diet
-consider having your dog checked for a thyroid disorder
Click here to visit the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention website
