Obesity in dogs and cats has the same cause as in humans: the body absorbs more energy than it produces. Life is too easy, food too readily available. Too much food and too little exercise, coupled with a low metabolic rate, can cause your pet to bloat quickly. One in 10 cats is overweight. Four dogs out of 10 are overweight. Why is this cause for concern? You love your pet fast as much as lean. But a fat pet has a higher risk of diseases of the skin, heart, stomach, liver and kidneys. Being overweight can contribute to diabetes. It puts a load on the joints and contributes to osteoarthritis. And it increases the tendency to suffer heat strokes and lengthens the recovery time from surgery. As anyone who has owned a fat animal knows, treating obesity in pets is more difficult than preventing it. If your pet has a tendency to gain weight, try the following:
- Check for extra weight on your dog or cat by feeling their sides; you should be able to feel the ribs easily. If there is more than ΒΌ inch of fat between the fur and the ribs, the animal is overweight. You should be able to see a dog’s waist from above.
- Know your pet’s weight and track it. Most vets have a scale that you can weigh your dog on. You can also weigh your pet at home if it is light enough to be easily lifted in your arms. Weigh yourself first. Then hold your pet in your arms and step on the scale. Subtract your weight from the combined weight of you and your pet.
- Check with your vet before dieting your dog or cat. In general, reduce caloric intake to 75 percent of what an animal of its weight would normally eat. Buy low-fat foods; compare the labels. For dogs, add fiber, such as a bulking agent (Metamucil), bran, or canned vegetables (to 10-15 percent of the animal’s food). Commercial diet foods come with instructions on how much to feed animals of various sizes to safely lose weight. Change the diet in increments (change foods) rather than all at once, otherwise the animal may have diarrhea. Supplement with multivitamins. The most important thing is to discuss your animal’s diet with your veterinarians.
- Try feeding an overweight dog or cat more often. Take the daily ration and divide it into three meals, for example.
- Give your dog plenty of exercise, but increase it slowly. Do not exercise the animal within an hour after eating. Small dogs may only need the exercise they get around the house or yard. Older dogs may just need to be taken for a walk. Other dogs may chase balls or sticks. You can also walk your cat on a leash if you use a harness instead of a collar, which could cause your cat to choke.
- Do not feed your animal from the table and try to avoid snacks such as cat treats and dog biscuits, which are high in fat. Animals are very good at begging, and all your efforts to help your pet lose weight can be thwarted by a warm-hearted but uninformed family member who sneaks pet treats around. Convince family members that it is an act of kindness to help the animal lose weight. Be hard of heart. If you give him treats, calculate the calories.