Tips for helping your pet lose weight in a healthy way!
Recent studies have shown that one in four dogs are obese- thats not a good ratio! Considering some families have four dogs or more, I would say many families and pets must be affected. So lets explore a few ways to facilitate weight loss for your pet…
First, think about what all the famous diet programs tell you- eating smaller meals throughout the day is better than having three large heavy meals in a day. When your pet is obese, its important to try a diet food, my recommendation is checking with your vet for some options. I know from my own vet tech experience that vets can prescribe diet food for your pet, or you can check the aisles for whatever food you already feed, and get the lower calorie version. Since you are giving a diet food you may feel like you can give them more- this is not the case! Just like for us, eating a whole tray of low fat cookies is still eating a whole tray of cookies! And we can’t have that!
Also, make sure everyone in your house, including visitors, knows that your pet can no longer have any treats or table scraps to ruin its new healthy lifestyle. It does your pet no good to put them on diet food if they are receiving the rest of their calories at your dinner table.
Pets are like people when it comes to exercise. You wouldn’t go to the gym for the first time in quite a while and run for 45 minutes, lift weights and do a spin class! You would be lying on the floor in about ten minutes! Well, comparatively, so would your dog. To ensure that your pet is getting a good workout and not overdoing it, start out slow! Don’t take them on a four mile jog when they haven’t even had a walk in a month. Begin with short walks, and over time extend the time you are walking and increase your speed. Once your pet has gotten used to the daily walks, you can try to jog with them- make sure that your pet can handle that kind of exertion, and that they have seen a vet and had a healthy check up. And always watch for signs of sunstroke, or dehydration, and fatigue, by being aware of the signs your pet is giving you. Rapid breaths, halted moving, laying down-these are all signs that the pet is overexerted and the exercise needs to cease.
These are some simple tips that will really help you begin to walk down a healthier path with your pet. Like dieting for people, its better to have everyone in your home aware of the diet and supporting it! Lets make sure your pet is getting the healthy food and exercise it deserves!
training tip of the day!
Are you considering getting a dog, or a puppy? First of all, I always recommend visiting the pound, there are wonderful animals there who need to be rescued into a loving family. Once you have your furry new addition, and you have chosen a healthy dry dog food (see my obesity page for more information regarding food tips), its time to consider training! Potty training can come easily to some pets, and can prove very difficult for others. I recommend starting to train as soon as possible, for both potty training and behavioral training. Positive reinforcement while training is what I recommend; training is not code for torturing your pet!! Also, training your pet to have healthy habits, such as tooth brushing, is great to start as early as possible. By doing this, your pet will be used to having their teeth brushed, and their mouth is free of plaque and gingivitis- and later in life you can avoid paying for a dental for your pet. Also, please PLEASE get your doggie toothpaste/toothbrush from a Veterinarian, or trained professional–people toothpaste is a big nono!!As a vet technician, i saw many cases of older pets with really bad plaque, and their health was weakened because they were constantly swallowing unhealthy bacteria from their own mouths. Had their owners started training with tooth brushing at an early age, or using healthy chews recommended by Veterinarians. I know it sounds odd, brushing your pets teeth, but try it! It can be a fun thing to do with your pet, and will establish a routine that will come in handy to you later in life.
Jail time for owners of morbidly obese pets!
Click on this link to learn more about the individuals who were prosecuted for overfeeding their poor pet!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-419560/The-11-frac12-stone-dog-cruelly-overfed.html
Obesity Statistics:
Did you know?
In the United States, about 40% of dogs - around 17 million - are considered overweight (5 percent to 20 percent over ideal weight) or obese (20 percent or more over ideal weight), according to 2002 data from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Research has showed that obesity in pets can lead to a shortened lifespan as well as affecting the pets health overall. Pets being overweight or obese has been associated with increased risk of serious diseases in dogs such as heart disease, respiratory conditions, arthritis, and cancer. Lastly, obesity can affect your dog’s quality of life by making exercise and play much more difficult. These are frightening statistics, but obesity can be overcome with simple life changes for you and your pet.
Wow, what can I do?
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s quite a challenge for many dog owners to find any time at all to make sure their pets are receiving an adequate amount of exercise coupled with a healthy diet. That is totally understandable! But when obesity gets in the way with your dogs quality of life, which is essential to your pets overall happiness and comfortability, it becomes a problem. As a pet owner myself, I know that it can be difficult and even frustrating to find time to get exercise in for yourself, let alone your pet. And those treat givers, or table scrap givers, often complain that its hard to break that treat giving habit already established with their pet. Routines can be healthy in pets, and substituting healthy treats for the bacon treats, perhaps with something like the CET chews found at any local Vet Hospital, or a healthier treat (some dogs love carrots!its worth a try!) can make all the difference with your pet. Sure, you’ll get some sad puppy faces, but by doing this remind yourself that you are increasing the time you with have with your pet! That is a great motivator.
Another thing to try with your pet is to not have the food available 24 hours a day. They may act like their starving, but the reality of it is that they can get fed once in the morning, and once in the evening and get their entire food intake for that day. When feeding your pet, actually read the label and give the pet the exact amount required for their weight class. You may feel silly using a measuring cup to measure your pets food, but again, a healthier pet is the main goal. Overdoing it with the feeding is always an easy way to increase your pets chances in weight gain; so reign it in, and give your pet only what they need. Also, be sure to be feeding your pet healthy food, such as Science Diet, Eukanuba; your veterinarian may have also suggested actual diet food which can be helpful. I hope these tips are helpful, and as always, feel free to contact me with any additional questions you may have.
