Obesity in cats and dogs

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 available. Too much food and too little exercise, along with a low metabolic rate, can make your pet bloat quickly. One in 10 cats is overweight. Four dogs out of 10 are overweight. Why is this a cause for concern? You love your pet fast as much as slim. 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 from heat stroke 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:

1. Check your dog or cat for extra weight by feeling their sides; You should be able to feel the ribs easily. If there is more than ¼ 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.
2. Know your pet’s weight and keep track. 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 easily lift in your arms. First weigh yourself. Then hold your pet in your arms and step on the scale. Subtract your weight from the combined weight of you and your pet.
3. Check with your veterinarian before putting your dog or cat on a diet. In general, reduce caloric intake to 75 percent of what an animal of your weight should 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) instead of 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.
4. Try feeding an overweight dog or cat more often. Take the daily ration and divide it into three meals, for example.
5. 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 do in the house or garden. Older dogs may just need to be taken for walks. Other dogs may chase balls or sticks. You can also take your cat out for a walk on a leash, if you use a harness instead of a collar, which could choke him.
6. Do not feed your animal from the table and try to stop giving it snacks like 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 soft-hearted but uninformed family member sneaking in pet treats. Convincing 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.