People are not the only ones with weight issues. Pets also battle the bulge and some are losing the battle to obesity. Animals do have food issues. Have you ever had your dog or cat stare soulfully at you while you eat? Do they hear the refrigerator door miles away and come running? Have they ever tried to steal food?
Animals often have issues with food because their owners also have food issues. If you don’t exercise, chances are your pet is not exercising. If you indulge in treats too often and see your pet staring lovingly at you while you do, you likely toss them a treat too or even feed them from the dinner table. Pets are dependent on their owners for food, water and shelter. Therefore, if they are fat, it is likely because you allowed them to get that way.
Approximately 40 to 60% of pets in the United States are classified as obese by their veterinarians. While the tiniest percentage may truly have health issues that cause their overweight problem, most of the time it is the owners who are at fault. By feeding your pets table scraps, treats at every turn and any time they look “cute,” you are promoting unhealthy obsessions with food.
Ask your vet what the primary care should be for your pet – and then stick to it! It could be as simple as reducing the amount of food you give them eat day. Of course, bypassing table scraps and treats are important too. Overweight animals develop arthritis and weakened spines. Some pets become paralyzed because they are too fat and their bodies just can’t support them anymore. Diabetes and heart problems are additional issues pets face when they are obese. These health problems are the same things humans face as well.
There are plenty of healthy ways to satisfy your pet’s food obsession as well as banish pudginess:
1. Seek the advice of your veterinarian first. Talk about what type of food your pet should eat. How much should your pet ideally weigh? What physical activities can help your pet lose weight? Walking your pet around the neighborhood or playing catch with a ball or Frisbee not only gets them exercising but it gets you moving too. The likely side effect is that you lose weight too!
2. Do not give your pet people food. Except for the occasional hot dog or piece of cheese to disguise vitamins and medications, pets need specially formulated pet food for them as human food is too fatty and does not give them the nutrients they need for optimal health.
3. Read food labels on your pet’s food. Choose brands that use all natural ingredients. Avoid preservatives like BHT, ethoxyquin and BHA along with meal or by-products that are filling but totally devoid of nutritional value.
4. Make meal time an adventure. Purchasing a feeding toy helps your pet burn a few calories by making them work for their food. These feeding toys release the food slowly, forcing them to consume the food slowly which means they do not swallow a lot of air or still feel hungry afterward. Their stomachs eventually shrink and they become more satisfied with less food; plus they are engaged by the toy, making their time pass by more enjoyably.
If your pet is like a member of your family, treat them as you would treat your child. Make sure they get the healthiest food and get them moving! Measuring food portions and exercising are the two best ways to banish pet pudginess.
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