Dieting for the furry family members
The same survey said that 80% of us had given up by January 10th.
That's the worst news so far this year for our pets, because obesity is an astonishingly common health problem among dogs and cats.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reports that, in the United States 55% of dogs and 54% of cats are obese.
Unfortunately, that's directly due in many cases to our own poor eating and exercise habits, because our furry friends are at the mercy of the environment we provide for them.
Don't know if your pet is overweight?
Ask your veterinarian, or make your own estimate of their body condition score using the information provided on many websites, including the one hosted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
In my experience, if you think they might be overweight, they probably are.
But how do we design a weight loss program for a pet?
Dieting for a pet is about the same as it is for us. They need to take in fewer calories – or burn more.
There are two ways to reduce calories.
Your pet can either eat less volume of the food they are eating now, or they can eat a lower calorie food.
You should never try to put your cat on a diet without consulting a veterinarian because they can become extremely ill or even die if their food intake is reduced too drastically or too quickly.
For healthy dogs, though, it is acceptable to decrease their food by 1/4 to 1/3 to begin a diet.
If you choose to change a dog to a diet food, beware of the same hidden traps that we find in our "diet" foods.
Some that are labeled as low-fat can be extremely high in carbohydrates.
Some that are labeled low calorie but are filled with indigestible fiber like sawdust!
Be diligent about reading labels and making comparisons to be sure you're getting a healthful food with lower calories.
Finally, we can encourage pets to increase their activity.
Most dogs are eager to take walks with you or engage in games.
Some are not very athletic and need to start slowly with activities that are not too strenuous.
Even cats can be encouraged to play with lasers and favorite toys.
One person I know takes his cat on a hike before each feeding by carrying the food in the bowl on a circuit through the house before putting it down for his cat to eat!
Weight loss in pets takes perseverance, creativity and planning, but won't it be worth it to see your pet in a bikini this summer?
Dr. Berry owns and operates the Skillman Animal Clinic which offers medical and surgical services for dogs and cats.
The clinic is located in the Lake Highlands Plaza shopping center at 9661 Audelia Road, Suite 340.
Readers can submit questions to Dr. Berry by commenting on her articles or emailing .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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