Jenny's Jottings: Obesity in pets
The festive season is over and many of us are now hoping to shed a few pounds. But what about our pets?
The incidence of obesity in dogs and cats is rising at an alarming rate. This is worrying as excess weight predisposes to illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, and can reduce an animal’s life expectancy. Unfortunately, many owners are unaware that their pet is overweight.
Running your hands along a dog or cats side, you should be able to feel its ribs using only gentle pressure. If you need firm pressure to feel the ribs then there is a good chance the animal is overweight. When looking down at a dog’s back from above you should also be able to see a ‘waist’ in a normal sized animal.
A major contributing factor to obesity is feeding too many treats. If we want to lose weight then avoiding the fatty snacks in between meals will help. It is the same principle for our pets so cut down on the titbits! Also choose food that has fewer calories and less fat. There are special diets available that are designed for this purpose.
Exercise is often easier to control in dogs than in cats. If your dog needs to lose weight then take him for more walks. Don’t forget, this will help your waistline too! If your dog walks at your pace despite being off the lead then try introducing games like ‘fetch’ to encourage increased activity. Cats can be more challenging especially if they spend most time indoors. Try to engage your cat in play and encourage as much movement as possible each day.
Many veterinary practices run weight loss clinics where you can receive support and advice. It’s easy to give in to those big pleading eyes that animals seem to have, but I think the prospect of a more active and healthy pet makes the hard work worthwhile.
By Jenny Jones BVM&S MRCVS, vet at Borrajo’s veterinary clinics.
