Not just a problem for people, our pets are experiencing obesity, too, and packing on the pounds.
The 2012 annual National Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that 52.5 percent of dogs and 58.3 percent of cats are said to be overweight or obese by their veterinarians. That’s an astonishing 80 million dogs and cats in the U.S. at risk of developing any number of weight-related disorders.
The major cause of this epidemic is overfeeding. Overfeeding our pets can lead to a number of significant health concerns. Not only can obesity shorten the lives of our pets, the health risks can include diabetes or insulin resistance, joint problems, osteoarthritis, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure and heart disease, kidney and liver problems and many forms of cancer.
It is important to periodically check your pet’s weight throughout all life stages. Putting your pet on the scale is not the best way to evaluate his weight, as there is a great variance in a breed’s weight and size. Rather, it’s better to look at the appearance of the pet. This means:
- You should be able to feel the ribs easily without pressing, but you should not be able to see the ribs through the coat.
- The torso also should resemble an hourglass when viewed from above.
You can conduct these quick checks on your own, but since it can be hard for pet guardians to be objective, it’s sometimes wise to seek a second opinion.
Your local Pet Planet store offers excellent advice and weigh-ins on our convenient pet scales.
If you are faced with on overweight pet, first rule out medical reasons for being overweight.
Just like us, there is a recommended calorie intake for our pets. A small pet may only need about 300 calories a day. If we add in a couple of those tasty treats at 50 calories each, that is one third of the daily allowance. Not reducing the portion of kibble to offset the treats they receive could lead to overfeeding and weight gain.
It is important for pet guardians to understand the risks to their pet’s health if he is carrying just a few extra pounds. For example, if your little Yorkshire terrier weighs 12 pounds, and he should weigh seven, that’s like a 5-foot 4-inch woman weighing 223 pounds.
Pet Planet Ridgeview Plaza is located at 2910 N. Power Road, Suite 103, to the right of Bashas’.