Far too many dogs and cats are overweight. Overweight pets are at greater risk of health problems. They are more likely to suffer from heart problems, arthritis, diabetes and back problems.
How do I know if my pet is overweight?
You can easily tell if a dog or cat is too fat by feeling the ribs. The ribs should be palpable and only have a slight fatty underlay.
How can my pet lose weight?
Obesity results from consuming too many calories and not burning them off through sufficient exercise. In other words, there is an imbalance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure. Therefore, the easiest and most effective way is to feed better, low-calorie food and give the animal more exercise.
New types of food should be introduced gradually to avoid digestive problems.
In addition to a low-calorie diet and sufficient exercise, the following should be observed:
Divide the daily ration into several small portions so that hunger does not build up and lead to overeating. Many small portions instead of a few large ones will distract an animal that is used to eating a lot.
Do not feed snacks and treats between meals.
Never give your pet leftovers from lunch. Our human food usually has too many calories and too few nutrients and is not suitable for pets.
The nutrition programme should be combined with regular exercise and movement to stimulate the animal's metabolism. Start with short but frequent short walks, which are gradually extended.
