Got an overweight pet? Take our test to find out and get them back in shape
Has your cat become plump around the midriff and ribs? Does your dog seem less into games and struggle to jump into the car lately? If this sounds familiar, your pet might benefit from losing some weight.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeding our furry friends excess food or sharing human treats with them over the Xmas season. A few years of intermittent lockdowns probably haven’t helped either.
Pet obesity is a common problem and can pose serious health risks. It’s estimated that at least 40% of Australia’s cats and dogs are overweight. It’s important to identify if your pet is carrying extra weight and take steps to deal with it. We want them to feel energetic, happy, and live a long healthy life.
What does obesity mean for your pet?
Overweight pets live a less active, shorter, and more medically-challenged life. The list of health risks associated with pet obesity is long and sobering:
heart disease
diabetes
neurological disorders
susceptibility to infection
increased surgical and anaesthetic risk
respiratory problems
cancer
early onset of mobility and joint problems such as arthritis
skin problems
reproductive disorders
Take the tubby test
Here’s a check list to help you work out if your pet is overweight.
Can you still see or feel their ribs, spine and waistline?
Is their abdomen sagging?
Has their face become bigger or rounder?
Are they reluctant to go for a walk or be active?
Do they seem to tire easily?
Are they panting excessively?
Are they waddling when they walk?
Do they need help getting in and out of the car?
Do you give your pet table scraps or leftovers in addition to their normal meals?
Does your pet keep eating as long as there is food in the bowl?
Sound like your pet is overweight? Here’s how you can help them.
Weigh in with your vet
Visit your vet for a check up and weigh in. They’ll tell you if your pet is obese based on their size and breed. Remember that weight guidelines are different for every breed.
Your vet can prepare a weight management program tailored to your pet’s specific needs and ensure you are helping them lose weight safely.
Get them moving
Exercise is important but no need to go hardcore. Ease into regular, gentle exercise that suits you and your pet — walking, running, swimming (with a life jacket in deep water), chasing balls — there are a myriad of ways for you both to get moving.
Measure portions every time
Ignore the over-sized food bowl and don’t compare your pet’s appearance to other animals around you, as nearly half of them could be overweight!
Remember that a feeding guide on pet food packaging is just that, a guide. An animal’s nutritional requirements will vary based on current body condition, exercise regime and age. Often, the amount your pet needs will differ to the instructions on food packaging.
Stick to the weight management plan you agreed on with the vet and measure every meal and treat.
Slow down the guzzling
Does your pet gobble meals down in seconds? Try using slow feeder bowls and interactive or puzzle feeders to slow them down while stimulating their brains and keeping them active.
Bulk up meals with fibre
Some pets may seem fretfully hungry on their diet. Consider fortifying their meal with high fibre veg like zucchini, pumpkin, carrot or cauliflower. Your dog will feel fuller and more satisfied for longer. Don’t go overboard though and keep measuring.
Pull back on the treats
It doesn’t take many extra calories to blow your pet’s weight loss program. Factor treats into their daily calorie intake and think carefully about what’s in the treats you give. Many store-bought pet treats are highly processed with low nutritional value.
Give them minimally processed, low calorie treats. Try small portions of fruits and vegies like carrot, apple, strawberries, cucumber, watermelon or zucchini.
Break the table scraps habit gently
Weaning off the ritual of feeding table scraps can be hard for some family members. Try keeping a container of carrot and apple slices on hand instead so the bonding can still happen. Avoid human foods like dairy and processed stuff which are not meant for their digestive systems.
It’s best to discourage begging at the table from the outset. Once the habit starts, it’s a hard one to stop. If you want to address it, put your dog in a crate, another room, or outside for family meals. Or you could try feeding them their own food at the same time!
Your time is way more valuable than food
Your attention is 100 times more valuable to your pet than food. Instead of connecting through food, go outside for a play, go for a walk or chuck a toy around together.
Get the whole family on board
Weight loss takes consistency, patience and a united front. Feeding can be an integral part of the human-animal bond and pleading puppy dog eyes will be hard for some family members to resist.
Talk together about your pet’s health, how uncomfortable your pet is feeling, and what it could mean in future if the weight is not managed. Put a chart on the fridge to track your pet’s progress with eating and exercising so the family feels involved.
Weight problems are not always food-related
Most pet obesity is simply caused by feeding more calories than needed and lack of exercise, meaning the extra calories are stored as fat. With help from your vet, you can easily reverse the weight gain by tweaking their diet and increasing physical activity.
However, a small portion of pets may be overweight for other health reasons. Some might also be underweight, which will need to be investigated.
It’s best to see your vet about weight issues to rule out underlying health problems and get professional help forming a safe, achievable weight management plan for your pet.
The takeaway is golden advice we can all live by! Eat only the calories we need, move every day, live well, and touch base with a health professional now and then to see how we are tracking. May you thrive in long, healthy relationships with your pets.