For many pet owners, there’s nothing better than seeing your pets eyes light up or their mouth-licking expression of satisfaction after you’ve given them dinner or offered them a treat. It can be easy to show our love to our pets through food and before we know it, we’re dealing with an overweight pet.
But reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight for your pet is important to their overall health and has many benefits. It reduces risk of disease and injury, as well as contributes to a better quality of life and a longer life expectancy! Keeping your pet at a healthy weight lowers his/her risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, kidney disease, and some forms of cancer.
It can also reduce the risks of injury to bones, joints and muscles that are associated with excess weight. If your pet has arthritis, keeping him/her at a healthy weight makes it easier to manage the discomfort associated with joint pain. Because excess weight can reduce your pet’s life expectancy by more than two years, keeping your pet trim gives them the best chance of a longer, healthier, and pain-free life.
If you suspect your pet is overweight or aren’t sure what a healthy body weight is for your pet, our vets can help! They can assess your pet’s weight and overall health and will have an honest conversation with you about your pet’s weight. They can also make recommendations regarding your pet’s weight, diet, and exercise. A healthy body weight isn’t a number on a scale, it’s about healthy body composition and even a modest reduction in weight can significantly reduce your pet’s risk of life-threatening diseases.
How do I reduce my pet’s weight?
It’s probably no surprise, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach or magic remedy to help your pet shed excess pounds. What works for one pet doesn’t necessarily work for another pet. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight requires a commitment to a healthier lifestyle that achieves a balance between the calories consumed and the calories used by the body for normal functions and activity. In simplest terms, weight loss involves reducing your pet’s caloric intake and increasing their activity level to burn more calories. Be patient. It often takes longer to lose weight than it did for your pet to gain it.
Put your pet first
Working with your veterinarian, make an honest assessment of your pet’s health and weight. Does your pet have any medical problems that have been caused – or made worse – by excess weight? Is your pet’s weight putting him/her at a higher risk of disease or problems? Focus on what matters – your pet’s good health and long life.
Make a family commitment
A commitment to reach and maintain a healthy weight for your pet requires a commitment from the entire family – a weight loss plan isn’t going to succeed if one family member sneaks your pet extra food. Remind your family that there are many ways other than food to demonstrate and express their love for your family pet.
Feed a nutritious and healthy diet
Eliminate table scraps and fattening, high-calorie treats; keep food treats to a minimum, if any, and focus on healthier food and treats (like carrots or Lean Treats); and don’t give into the sad, begging eyes. It may help to slow your pet’s food consumption by using a special bowl or food puzzle that makes it harder for them to gulp their food, or by using toys that dispense food in small amounts (be careful to keep the total daily amount of food within an acceptable amount). Smaller, more frequent feedings may also be of benefit to your pet’s health. Feed your pet a balanced, nutritious pet food. Consult with your veterinarian about the best food choice for your pet’s condition.
The recommended feeding amount printed on the pet food label might not be appropriate for your pet. Consult your veterinarian about the amount and frequency of feeding that’s right for your pet.
Set goals
Work with your veterinarian as a team to develop realistic goals for reducing your pet’s weight in a healthy manner. Rapid weight loss can result in serious health problems, so ask your veterinarian for recommendations for healthier eating and exercise that will produce a reasonable and safe rate of weight loss based on your pet’s overall health.
Make it fun
Being more active and living a healthier lifestyle benefits the entire family. Find activities you enjoy that can include your pet, and the journey will be more enjoyable for all of you.
Monitor and record progress
Once you’ve set reasonable goals to achieve and maintain your pet’s healthy weight, be sure to monitor and record your pet’s progress. As with all weight loss programs, there will be successes and there will be missteps. By monitoring and recording your pet’s progress, you can determine what’s working and what’s not effective, and make adjustments as needed to the program.
Maintaining your pet’s healthy weight gives your pet the best chance of living a healthier, longer life as a beloved member of your family. To schedule an appointment for your pet and to talk to one of our veterinarians today about your pet’s weight, call 540-776-0700.
