OBESITY AWARENESS

October 13, 2021 National Pet Obesity AWARENESS Day

By Elizabeth Parker

When you have pets, you are constantly trying to think of ways to show them just how special they are and how much they are loved. When weather and time permits, we may show them by taking them for a walk, playing ball or taking a ride to their favorite park. But other times, we give them what us humans have found comfort in as well. Treats!

Who doesn’t love that sinful treat every once in a while? Of course, we all do. Pets will rarely say no to some extra food.

There is, however, one thing we need to watch out for and that is pet obesity. It may take a while to even notice that your pet has packed on a few extra pounds. After all, they aren’t complaining about it and don’t have to fit into their clothes like we do! They’ll never tell us that they are watching their weight or getting ready for the summer.

So, as pet owners we have to watch for them. When a pet is active, a few extra morsels of food or some tasty treats might not matter too much. If your pet is inactive, or approaching their senior years, the weight piles on easily and this can lead to problems down the road.

Like humans, pets get arthritis. The difference is they will mask their pain for as long as they can and are very good at hiding it! The extra weight only adds to their discomfort and if it worsens, we need to start them on pain medication.

While this might not seem so bad, some dogs don’t tolerate pain medication, or it makes them tired, which circles back to them not being able to exercise and gaining even more weight! In addition, they can develop other medical issues such as heart problems, liver and kidney issues as well as diabetes and even cancer. These health issues can be avoided by incorporating more exercise into your dog’s routine. Or, if they are unable to exercise frequently, cutting down on the snacks or even their meal portions will make a large impact on their overall well being.

For a dog or cat to gain five pounds, it might sound like “no big deal” to us, but for them, it can make all the difference.

There are other small changes you can make as well, such as buying low calorie treats for them, or cutting your biscuits in half. This way your pet will think they are being rewarded but won’t realize that they are only getting half the portion size. You’ll still be able to shower them with love and affection and still give them some treats... but perhaps a little less often, or half the size!

It’s easy to put on weight, and it is up to us as our pets’ guardians to help them stay at an ideal size. If you are doing everything you can to keep your pet at an ideal weight and they still keep gaining, it might be time to seek the advice of your veterinarian to see if there are any other underlying issues or they can provide a better diet for your pet!

Elizabeth Parker – Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud!, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil’s Door and Faces of Deception. Available on Amazon.com!

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