Pet Obesity - Part 2

Posted on 12th Nov 2009 @ 2:41 PM

While we are worried about grain-free or raw diet, we forget about weight balance and exercise for our pet. Let alone cooking, cleaning and other daily chores, I admit that at the end of the day all I want to do is to sit in front of the television and watch my favorite shows. It is tough take your dog out for a long walk or intense exercise after coming back from work. So let’s look at easy ways to prevent our pet from obesity.

In our subconscious, we know that our pet needs exercise regularly but what do you do when you can’t? Have you felt guilty that you skip taking your dog out for a walk? I do and as a result, I try to make up by giving my Yorkies treats. Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical services at Kansas State University, believes that giving your pet too much treats is like people with junk food because typical treats contain high calories and they lack of nutrition. She recommended that you shouldn’t give treats more than 10% of your pet’s daily calorie intake and you should stick to the serving suggestion stated on the label.

Also watch out the feeding portion. There are some people who leave a bowl of food out all day for their dog. If a dog knows when to stop, it won’t be any problem but most of the time the dog ends up either developing finicky behavior or over eating until there is nothing else. A better way to feed your pet is to follow the feeding guide. Normally the label shows daily feeding amount. If you feed your dog twice a day, split the suggested amount of food into 2 portions. For puppies, they need to eat perhaps 3-4 times a day so you split the food into 3-4 portions and use a portion for each feeding. This way your pet won’t be over fed.

Believe it or not, challenging your pet’s brain is another way that helps. Tony Buffington, a professor at Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition believes that stress has something to do with pet obesity. Being inactive and bored promote weight gain in your pet so he suggests Foraging devices or food puzzles to make dogs and cats work for their meals, stimulating their bodies and brains at the same time.

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