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Obesity is defined as the accumulation of excessive amounts of adipose (fat) tissue in the body. It is one of the most common conditions that we see in pets. There are a number of things that can predispose a pet to being overweight or obese. These include genetics, being spayed or neutered, being on a diet that is too high in fat or calories and also living a non-active lifestyle. So how can you determine if your pet is overweight? The first thing to do is look at the ribs. If you cannot feel the ribs when you slightly press over the side of your pet's chest, then your pet is most likely overweight. Pets that are overweight also can have extra fat accumulate around the tail and typically do not have a waist. When examining your pet, Veterinarians can use one of two scales to determine the Body Condition Score of pets. The first scoring system is a scale of 1-5 with 3 being ideal weight and 5 being obese. The other scoring system is a scale of 1-9; when 4.5 is ideal weight and 9 is obese. Why is it so bad for our pets to be overweight? They are predisposed to a variety of health conditions such as diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease and they can overall have a decreased life expectancy.  What can pet owners do if they feel that their pet is overweight?
First, talk with your veterinarian about your pet. It is important to have your pet examined to ensure that they are otherwise in good health. With your help, your veterinarian can help you develop a weight loss plan. This includes calculating the amount of calories your pet needs based on their ideal weight. It will also include a discussion about activities to do with your pet. Sometimes a diet change may be beneficial. It is always a good idea to decrease the daily amount of treats and snack that may be 'human' food. Sometimes one treat can be the equivalent to humans eating a candy bar. Some owners may feed 4-5 treats per day (that would be 4-5 snicker bars in a day!) Ways to increase activity include daily walks, daily trips to a dog park and playing fetch for our canine companions. For cats, we recommend moving that food dish around to different spots, using toys that encourage movement and provided cat trees or places to climb. Veterinarians are there to help pets live as long as possible. They can help you determine the best plan for your pet. There are wonderful stories of pets losing weight and feeling like young puppies again just from the weight loss. Visit petobesityprevention.org for other ideas and resources. Source: The Growing Problem of Obesity in Dogs and Cats1-3 Alexander J. German4
19 Comments
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The fact that the Sphynx is a hairless cat is only a small part of why we are Sphynx lovers. Sphynx cats and Sphynx kittens have very unique personalities. I really do not consider myself an owner of Sphynx cats, because really, my Sphynx cats and Sphynx kittens own me! Sphynx cats and Sphynx kittens love their owners unconditionally. The Sphynx has so much love to give and is willing to love anyone that will allow them into their lives. 2/13/2020 02:53:26 am
Great article. thanks for sharing this information. It is quite difficult to identify the obesity in pets. but this article has good suggestions about it. Thanks for sharing this article. 3/25/2020 12:24:19 pm
I totally took an impromptu blogging vacation recently, too! It’s really nice to get to live out in the world without feeling tethered for a while Having lots of new things to write about it always a plus, too! It sounds like you had a great time visiting with family and friends. Hope your eye is feeling better 3/31/2020 02:16:04 am
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I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. Thank you for this! You know, like all the tutorials say not to do? I love love love! the look, but it hasn’t really help up well and we’ll be covering it with something else, probably this summer. But I would not be opposed to trying it in a bedroom, where it wouldn’t receive nearly as much of a pounding as in a kitchen. Here’s my post about the floor, both making it and the update: I had no idea that, as you mentioned, pets are really good at hiding any pain they may be feeling. Also, like you said, preventing a problem is way easier then fixing one. I am not sure the last time my dog went in for a physical. I should probably get him in, and checked up to make sure everything is all good. 12/20/2020 11:13:44 am
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