Weight Management for pets
Is your canine companion a couch potato or your feline friend a bit flabby? Your pet is not alone. More than 50% of our pets are overweight.
Carrying a few extra kilos puts our pets at risk of heart disease, respiratory disorders, osteoarthritis, and diabetes. The scary thing is that most people aren’t even aware that their pet is overweight.
Watch out for:
- When you look down from above, your pet will have lost the definition of his waist. Instead of an hourglass figure, he might look more like an egg, or even a barrel on legs!
- You can no longer ‘easily’ feel his ribs when you run your hands over his sides
- A very obese pet may have neck fat, a pendulous tummy as well as fat over the hips
Don't be tempted
It might be tempting to feed your pet human scraps as a treat but you may be doing them harm and causing excessive weight gain.
Keep this calorie translator in mind when you are having trouble saying ‘no’ to those adorable eyes!
For a 10kg dog:
- One biscuit = 1 hamburger for a human
- 30g piece of cheese = 1.5 hamburgers for a human
- One hot dog = 2.5 hamburgers for a human
For a 5kg cat:
- One potato chip = ½ a hamburger for a human
- 30g piece cheese = 2.5 hamburgers for a human
- A glass of milk = 3 hamburgers for a human
The very best way to determine whether your pet is overweight is to drop in for a weight check with us. This will allow us to score your pet’s body condition and, if necessary, start a weight management plan.
Getting your pet to lose weight is easier than you think! Physical exercise will help but it is crucial you are feeding your pet the correct diet and the right amount - something we can help you out with. There are diets available that will actually help your pet lose weight - including one to increase your pet’s metabolic rate.
Remember, when it comes to fighting the flab, we are here to help.
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