In the last 15 to 20 years the percentage of overweight and obese pets has gone from approximately 30 percent to more than 50 percent.
No pet owner wants to hear that their beloved pet is overweight or obese. Unfortunately, many pets are overweight and it can be very detrimental to their health. Overweight animals are prone to numerous health problems such as diabetes, urinary tract infections, skin and coat problems, respiratory problems, heart disease, increased blood pressure, skeletal stress, decreased stamina, heat intolerance, digestive disorders, decreased liver function, decreased immune function, increased risk of cancer and decreased quality and length of life.
Obesity will develop when the energy intake is greater than the energy requirement. An otherwise healthy animal will gain excessive weight when it consumes unnecessary amounts of food. Most pet owners feel that the way to make their pet happy is by feeding them. Many times the owner does not realize how much they are actually feeding their pet because they forget to take into consideration all the treats given throughout the day as well as those little tastes of " human food" from their plate.
Unfortunately the pet food industry has misled people into thinking that a healthy pet will always eat every meal eagerly. Many times owners will entice their pet to eat by adding extra food such as human food to the diet. Sometimes a pet will not want to eat all of their food and that is OK. The owner should know that if a good quality food is provided and there is access to fresh water, the pet will eat when it wants to. This is better for the pet than having it eat when the owner wants it to eat. Trying to get the pet to eat all of its food every day can lead to a weight problem.
Some breeds of dogs tend to be more likely to have a weight problem. Several examples of these are Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Labs, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards. Owners of any of these breeds should be very observant of their diet.
One should be able to feel the ribs and the backbone of their pet with only a thin layer of fat between the skin and the bone. The pet should have a visible waist when looking down on it. If a pet is determined to be overweight or even obese then a weight loss program should be considered. Before beginning any type of diet, it would be wise to have the pet examined by a veterinarian. Depending on the health of the pet, diagnostic tests may need to be preformed to rule out any underlying health issues that can lead to weight problems. An example of this is thyroid disease that can lead to weight gain.
The first step to weight loss in the pet is picking a goal of how much weight the pet actually needs to lose. The weight loss should be gradual and the food should be carefully measured every day. How much food the pet needs daily to reach the goal should be calculated by a veterinarian. Treats have to be figured in to the amount of calories consumed by the pet. The treats should not make up more than 10 percent of the pets daily calories. It is best if the food is a formulated weight loss diet so it will have the proper amount of nutrients while having fewer calories. Only decreasing the amount of a regular food fed can decrease the amount of essential vitamins and minerals the pet receives which can lead to health problems. Daily exercise is also a very important part of the weight-loss program. Playing with a cat and walking a dog on a regular schedule will help achieve the weight goal. Owners need to be prepared for the pet to initially beg for treats and even possibly refusing to eat the diet food. It is very important for the owner to stick with the plan and not give in to the pet. One needs to remember that this weight loss is for the health benefit of the pet. Puppy and kitten owners should begin healthy habits early on by feeding a good quality puppy or kitten and do not ever start the bad habit of feeding table food.
Remember that loving your pet includes you doing everything possible to help them live long healthy lives and this includes keeping them at a healthy weight.