Tuesday, 06 July 2010 13:36
Written by Jess Saba
The other day I brought my friend's puppy to the vet for his shots. As we were waiting for the veterinarian, my attention fixated on a poster of an immensely obese dog. The poster warned against feeding your pet too much, rewarding him with too many high calorie treats and accidentally feeding him pet "junk food".
Some studies have suggested that over 40% of American household pets are overweight.
Pet obesity is caused by overfeeding your pet. To help your pet lose weight make sure he is burning more calories than he is consuming. This simply means feeding him less and exercising more. Additionally, make sure to avoid giving him too many treats.
Overweight pets tend to have shorter lives, joint and bone issues, cardiovascular, digestive and cirulatory problems.
Is your pet overweight?
Since each breed has a different ideal weight, ask your vet how much your dog should weigh to stay healthy. If you think he might be carrying extra weight check to see if you can feel his ribs without applying too much pressure. If you have trouble counting his ribs you may want to ask about a weight reduction plan.
What you need to know about maintaining a healthy weight for your pet:
- Pets gain excess weight simply from eating too much. The best way to help your pet lose weight is to monitor his food intake
- Make sure you are providing high quality food. The best pet food is meat based and high in protein.
- In a large household make sure your family knows your pet is on a diet. No feeding from the table.
- Owners and their families tend to feed their pets too many treats. Purchase smaller low calorie treats and only provide a few everyday.
- Play more fetch. Increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. Take more walks, toss a few more tennis balls and introduce your pet to new friends.
