Just like humans, our pets can suffer from obesity. As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to make sure our animal companions stay at a healthy weight. Not only does obesity limit your pet’s mobility, but it can also lead to a host of health problems and make your pet more susceptible to disease. Here’s what you need to know about pet obesity and how to prevent it.

What Causes Pet Obesity?

There are a number of factors that can contribute to pet obesity, including genetics, age, activity level, and diet. For example, some breeds of dogs are more prone to weight gain than others. Some older pets may be more likely to be obese because they tend to be less active and have a slower metabolism. Additionally, pets who don’t get enough exercise are also at risk for weight gain. Finally, an unhealthy diet is one of the main culprits behind pet obesity. Just like with people, if pets eat too much food and consume too many calories, they will gain weight.

The Dangers of Pet Obesity

Pet obesity can lead to a host of health problems in both dogs and cats, including joint pain, orthopedic issues, respiratory difficulties, gastrointestinal problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. One of the best ways to prevent these problems is by keeping your pet at a healthy weight.

Tips for Preventing Pet Obesity

The best way to prevent pet obesity is by feeding your pet a healthy, quality diet and making sure they get enough exercise. When it comes to diet, talk to us about how much food your pet needs each day and what type of food is best for their specific breed and health condition.

Please note that most pet food manufacturers recommend too many calories per day for both cats and dogs, so we typically do not recommend feeding as much as is listed on the nutrition label on pet food bags/cans. Also, if your pet is always begging for food, you may want to switch to an over-the-counter or prescription weight loss diet (as long as it has fewer calories per cup or calories per can compared to your pet’s current diet) so that your pet can have a higher fiber diet and feel more full (but not at the expense of ingesting more calories). For pets that will eat vegetables, you can offer this as high-fiber, low-calorie supplements or alternatives to a portion of their regular food. (Avoid choking hazard shapes/sizes if you are feeding firmer vegetables). Even cats will often eat vegetables if they have feline Fortiflora (a nicely flavored probiotic powder) sprinkled on top! Please note, though, that if your pet is gaining weight inappropriately (despite calorie reduction and/or increased exercise) or newly has a noticeably increased appetite, these can be signs of important health concerns, so please give us a call.

When it comes to exercise, take your dog for a walk or run every day, or play fetch with them in the backyard. If you have an indoor cat, invest in some toys that encourage them to move around and stay active. If you have questions about the right amount and type of exercise for your pet, please schedule an appointment with us.

Pet obesity is a serious problem that can lead to numerous health complications down the road. As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to do everything you can to prevent your furry friend from becoming overweight or obese. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your pet at a healthy weight throughout their life. We’re here to help each step of the way!