You can help combat pet obesity by feeding your pets healthy foods and making sure they exercise.
October 14th is Pet Obesity Day. A healthy diet and weight management matters for both pet parents and their fur babies. Reports show that in 2018, 60% of cats and 56% of dogs were obese in the United States! Today, we’re going to talk about the numerous risks that come with pet obesity as well as the best ways to treat this problem.
Pet Obesity Risks
Obese dogs typically live two years less than their healthier counterparts. Obesity can also bring on inflammation throughout the entire body. As a result, your pets run a higher risk of developing arthritis, diabetes, cancer, liver problems, and joint pain. Obesity occurs when not enough energy is being burned off, coupled with high caloric intake. Just as their human counterparts, pets become more prone to obesity the older they get.
If you want your pets at a healthier weight, and more importantly, to live longer, our team can help with that! We offer nutritional counseling along with designing exercise programs for pets and providing Under Water Treadmill sessions.
Treatment
The best way to treat pet obesity is to talk to one of our friendly and experienced veterinarians. They are the best resource! Calorie control is significant when it comes to weight management. Nutrition labels exist for a reason. You always want to pay attention to how many treats you’re feeding your fur babies each day. Also, avoid feeding table scraps to your pets! Overall, consistency is critical when managing a pet’s weight. It’s helpful to keep a measuring cup by their feeding area to control how much they’re eating, and make sure that you’re feeding them the same amount of food each day.
Another part of tackling pet obesity is exercise. Make sure that your pet (as well as you) moves. Even amid a pandemic, exercising is more than possible, and it matters to stay consistent. For dogs, we recommend Under Water Treadmill sessions because they’re excellent on joints, especially those affected by arthritis and inflammation. This low-impact exercise helps with pet obesity and enhances recovery processes stemming from arthritis, muscle tears, and so much more! For cats, there are numerous interactive toys that can help them to shed some pounds.
What Foods Should I Never Feed My Pet?
Not only does feeding your fur babies the right foods help them maintain a healthy weight. It also stops them from developing food poisoning. Here are a few foods that you should never feed your fur baby under any circumstances.
- Sweeteners (especially those containing Xylitol)
- Anything with Caffeine of Chocolate In It
- Onions, Garlic, and Chives
- Raw or Undercooked Food (Except for Vegetables)
- Grapes and Raisins
Here at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital, We’ll Treat Your Pets Like Family!
Mount Carmel Animal Hospital has been serving the Northern Baltimore/Southern York community for over 30 years and is proud to be an independently operated, small animal practice committed to excellence in veterinary medicine and client service. From grooming to wellness services, along with Canine Life Skills Training Courses, and surgical procedures, we have the expertise that will best serve the needs of you and your pet. Contact us at 410-343-0200 and follow us on Facebook!
Keywords: pet obesity, weight management, cats and dogs
Picture Caption: Pugs are a breed that is at a higher risk for pet obesity.
Hootsuite Caption: October 14th is Pet Obesity Day. Today, we’re going to talk about the numerous risks that come with pet obesity as well as the best ways to treat this problem.