Just like people, pets can become obese and develop excess body fat, which can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes or joint disease. To ensure that your furry best friend has the highest quality of life and extend their lifespan, follow these simple steps to prevent your pet from becoming obese.
Weight gain in pets is often a result of overfeeding and lack of exercise. To keep your pet at a healthy weight, you need to maintain a healthy balance between food intake and physical activity. For example, feed your dog or cat two to three meals a day rather than providing food at all times, and make sure to include at least one long daily walk or some playtime.
Maintaining a healthy weight for dogs and cats also depends on the type of food they eat on a daily basis. Choose suitable food based on the age, weight and activity level of the animal. In general, younger dogs and cats should consume more calories per pound of body weight than older dogs and cats. Animals with active lifestyles and pregnant or lactating women need more protein, minerals and calories in their diet.
In addition to diet and exercise, pet owners can regularly monitor their pet's weight by weighing them at the same time of day. This can be effective in picking up on your pet's weight gain before it becomes a more serious problem.
Being overweight can also be caused by a number of serious health problems rather than just poor diet and lack of exercise. Weight gain can be related to hormone problems, such as hypothyroidism in dogs and acromegaly in cats, which is defined as excess growth hormone production. Dogs with hypothyroidism gain weight without eating more than normal, while cats with acromegaly experience an increased appetite. Dogs and cats with Cushing's syndrome will appear to be gaining weight with their pot-bellied appearance, but these animals rarely experience weight gain.
Regardless of the cause of obesity in dogs and cats, serious secondary illnesses and health problems can develop if the animal is left untreated. Think of joint problems, such as arthritis and loss of mobility. In addition to these health problems, an obese pet may also have difficulty breathing, become fatigued from routine exercise, and not be able to properly groom themselves. While it can be tempting to spoil your pet with table scraps and extra portions of food, consider thinking twice about the consequences.
