Pet Obesity
By Dr. Maria Krenz, DVM – ZimmVet
Multiple factors lead to pet weight gain. Heavy pets have more problems with arthritis, and they are at higher risk for diabetes, heart disease and many other ailments. Preventing weight gain and obesity in your pet can add years to their lifespan, creating more time to spend with your special friend.
Measure your Pet’s Food
Pet owners need to take control of their pet’s calorie intake. Most pets, if left to eat as they wish, will overeat and become obese, even as early as 6 months of age. The pet food bag gives a guideline of how much to feed your pet. The key is to measure the food for the weight your pet should be, or its ideal weight. Your veterinarian can help you determine the ideal body weight and calculate the appropriate calories for your pet.
Separate Feeding
Feeding can be difficult in multi-pet households. Each pet should be separated during feeding to make sure they are eating the correct amount and type of food for their size. Pets should be fed the correct food based on their life stage: Puppy/Kitten, Adult or Senior. Dogs over 50 lbs should be fed a large breed dog food. Pet food needs to include a grain. There are many tools available to help with multi-pet feeding. Having separate kennels for each pet to eat in can work. A newer product on the market Sure Pet Feeder (surepetcare.com) is linked to a microchip or tag and only opens for the pet linked to the feeder.
Treats
Many pet owners are feeding the correct amount of pet food, but their pet is getting too many calories from other sources. It is common, especially with small dogs, for owners to be giving 2-times or more of their daily calorie needs in treats. People food, dog treats, rawhide bones, dental bones or anything a pet ingests, counts toward their daily calorie allowance. Your veterinarian can help you calculate how many calories per day in treats your pet can have, which is normally no more than 10% of their daily calories. For small dogs this can be as little as 10-20 Calories per day, larger dogs may be able to get 100-200 Calories per day in treats.
Inactivity
Keeping your pet active is an important part of managing your pet’s weight. Older pets that are having joint pain can struggle with activity. Getting an older pet on appropriate pain management can help to get them more mobile again. Winters can also face a challenge to stay active. If your pet doesn’t like spending time outdoor in the cold consider a daycare facility that has indoor play space like ZimmVet.
Other Tools
Your veterinarian can help you formulate a weight management or loss plan for your individual pet. Other treatments may include blood testing for diseases such as hypothyroidism and prescription weight loss diets. Adjusting the food intake of your pet can be a challenge if you have multiple pets. However, your veterinarian can help you work through problems to create a solution for a healthy weight for your pet.
Disclaimer: This written content is meant to be educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a veterinarian about medical advice for your pet.
