A growing health concern and the number one issue facing our pets today is excess weight. A 2015 study found that about 58 percent of cats and 54 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight. Compounding the issue is many pet parents’ tendencies to equate food with love, sneaking a few extra treats–and calories–into their pet’s food dish every day, as well as their inability to recognize when pets are overweight. A few extra ounces on a cat or dog, depending on size and breed, can be the equivalent of several extra pounds on us.
The good news is that you can show your pet lots of love, and potentially prolong his life and the quality of it, by simply cutting back a few calories every day. In fact, a 1999 study found that when dogs were fed 25 percent fewer calories than normal daily, they lived an average of two years longer than dogs fed the higher calorie diets. Even better news is that just a small reduction in the calories a dog consumed in a day equated to fewer health issues and medications required, as well as a more active pet well into old age.
Overweight and obese pets face many of the same issues humans face when they pack on the pounds. These include diabetes, insulin resistance, arthritis, high blood pressure and cancer, all health concerns that decrease quality of life and can require medication, special diets or expensive treatments to manage.
If you think your pet may be dealing with a weighty problem, please set up an appointment to evaluate his current health and nutrition so you and your pet can enjoy many more years together!