Our Fat Pets Leave a comment

There’s no doubt that we all love our pets, and most people love to spoil them rotten, especially when it comes to slipping them a treat here and there. But all those treats are adding up to some very overweight animals, and it’s become a real problem.

A new poll finds that half of dog and cat owners admit they give their animals food if they beg for it, while another 25% say they overfeed their pet at times because it makes them happy. And that’s resulting in a lot of fat pets. Believe it or not, some estimates suggest that 59% of dogs and 52% of cats worldwide are overweight, although owners don’t even realize it. In fact, the survey finds that only 25% of dog and pet owner believe their pet is overweight, which shows how big the disconnect is.

The big issue is that owners don’t realize how bad it is to overfeed one’s pet. The reality is that over 60% of animal owners don’t know that overweight pets are more likely to get diabetes and suffer from orthopedic issues, which will reduce their quality of life, and increase their risk of heart disease and shorter life spans.

HELPING YOUR PET BURN THE EXTRA POUNDS

If a dog or cat is overweight, cut their food intake by 25 percent, Dr. Dobies advises, and increase their exercise level gradually day by day.

“Don’t leave it up to the dog,” he says, “but make sure he gets out on the leash. Gradually you want to build up to a 30-minute walk, twice a day.”

It’s harder to force cats to exercise, he adds, so play with them more if you can, with kitty toys or a laser pointer, for example. But also recognize that cats are at their most active when the sun is rising and setting, so if you can play with them during these hours, you’ll be most effective.

Dr. Dobies also cautions against letting your kitty lose weight too fast. Rapid weight loss can lead to fatty liver syndrome (hepatic lipidosis), which can cause her to go into liver failure.

Having your pet exercise may also mean you don’t have to reduce his cat or dog food as significantly, especially as his endurance builds up — and maybe soon you’ll have an hourglass figure, too.

Keeping You and Your Dog Healthy.