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Owners are unwittingly making pets fat, here’s how


Joanne Richard
Special to The Weather Network

Monday, December 11, 2017, 12:33 PM -

Owners are unwittingly making their pets fat.

Sure, tubby tabbies, chubby puppies and heavy hamsters may make you chuckle, but an overweight pet is anything but cute. It’s unhealthy and life-limiting. Pets are overfed and under-exercised, just like humans.

“It’s painful on joints and it puts our pets at risk for a host of other health diseases, it can shorten their lifespan, and decrease the quality of life they have when they are living it,” says Mikkel Becker, dog expert at fearfreepets.com.

And with wintry temperatures not far off you can bet your best friend will happily hibernate with you, so now is the time to come up with a plan to stem winter weight gain and fight off boredom. Three pounds may not sound like a lot, but when it’s a small cat, that weight is significant, and comparable to a human putting on an additional 50 or 60 pounds.

“That extra pound, two, three or ten makes a dramatic difference in how your pet feels.”

For many pet owners food equals love, but you’re barking up the wrong tree with that assumption. There are plenty of other ways to show our animals love that don’t have to do with food. The fall is a good time to establish rewarding them with activity and not treats to keep them in tip top shape. Reach out to your veterinarian and get guidance for a healthy weight and weight loss plan for your dog or cat.

Measuring your dog or cat’s food is essential. Free feeding can equate to free expansion of the waist line. Instead, measure your pet’s meals and portion out as per your veterinarian’s recommendation and the recommended guide on your pet’s food bag. Using a kitchen scale to weigh the kibble is as fast as using a measuring cup and is the most accurate way to measure your pet’s food. Don’t guestimate. Feeding as few as 10 extra kibbles of food per day can add up to a pound of weight gain in indoor cats and small dogs within a year, reports Dr. Ernie Ward, author of Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter – A Vet’s Plan to Save Their Lives.

Be sure to count those additional calories. Ward reveals that as few as 30 extra calories per day means your pet gains three pounds in a year.

Exercise is a critical part of the wellness equation. Increase exercise with fun activities, like food puzzles, hiding portions of tiny sized treats, playing games and taking time outdoors together to go on a walk, says Becker, adding that friendly felines too can enjoy walks when taught to wear a cat harness that’s attached to a leash.

Your veterinarian can recommend a type and number of treats that can be incorporated into your pet’s daily caloric intake.

The backyard is never exercise for a dog; this is especially true in the winter time when the dog almost immediately wants to come back inside, especially dogs with shorter coats and less hardiness outdoors. In addition to long walks, getting dog friends together is a great energy burner. Even better, make your dog your workout partner – the benefits will extend to both ends of the leash. Don’t forget their boots and jackets on cold days, and build up gradually.

On days when the weather keeps you in, boost your pet’s activity level with fun games, suggests Becker. Try a soft toy game of fetch with a dog or cat, tossing out pieces of kibble for them to chase and gobble down, and making a homemade agility course out of items in your home.

“If you have stairs, consider rewarding your cat for following with tiny pieces of treat or kibble to create a modified stair master. Or, play games of tossing the kibble or toy up and down the stairs for a fun game of search that also builds muscles and burns calories.”

Measuring your pet’s daily allotment of kibble into a separate container in the morning and only using this kibble for games will prevent overfeeding.

WATCH BELOW: How to really road trip with your pet


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