Here at Northwest Animal Hospital, we are proud to offer nutritional counseling to keep pets at a healthy weight. If your pets are too big, we offer counseling to get them back to the weight they should be.
Obesity is becoming a problem for our pets. “People food” is often given as a treat, but it is not very healthy for them! Between “people food” and overfeeding, pets are paying the price by becoming too heavy. If you want healthy pets who live a long time, it is important to monitor their weight. Diet and exercise are the keys to a healthy life.
Obesity is growing into a big problem. Many studies show more than 50 percent of dogs weigh too much. Cats are even worse. More than 60 percent of cats weigh too much. Birds are often obese because their owners simply allow them to eat as much as they want.
Well-meaning people try to cut their pets food. However, that is not always helpful because then their pets don’t get enough nutrients. Because of this, owners need to watch how much their pets eat and make sure they are getting enough exercise.
There are times when owners need to change their pets’ diets. This is especially true with older animals who are less active. They need a diet with less fat but more protein and fiber. It is also important to adjust their feeding schedules, especially after a pets are neutered and stop being as playful as they were as puppies. Leaving food out all of the time does not always work. Instead, owners need to feed meals that are measured. There are times when a low-calorie food is helpful.
Pets that are overweight, especially those that are obese, can have a lot of health problems. They often live several years fewer than pets that are at a healthy weight. For this reason, there is no time like today to make sure that your pets are on the way to healthier lives.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today if you have any questions or concerns, or would like to set up an appointment to talk about your pets’ weight.
