Concerns for Overweight Pets

We all hear about obesity problems in people, but what about our pets? Pets can also develop obesity problems and there are real health risks associated with having overweight pets. It is becoming more common to find animals of all types that are becoming obese if they are not fed properly. They also need to get enough daily exercise. According to recent research, 50 percent of dogs and almost 20 percent of cats in the United States are overweight pets. This means that as pet owners, we need to step up and take charge of the health of our pets.

These extra pounds that overweight pets carry around can begin to develop into serious health problems. They can start to develop problems with their internal organs, joints and muscles. The extra weight can make pets feel lethargic and not want to exercise which causes them to gain more weight.

Most pet owners make the mistake of giving their pets too many treats throughout the day. It is fun to spoil our pets and show them how much we love them but we need to be concerned about their health and well being first. Overweight pets are not going to stay as healthy and we need to take care of them. Don’t feed your pets too much table food. This is another leading cause for overweight pets.

Some of the more severe kinds of health problems that overweight pets can develop include:

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  Heart problems


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  Diabetes


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  Increase of risk of cancer


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  Problems with the skin and hair


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  Shortened life span risk


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  Respiratory problems
  
  If you fear that your pet is overweight, there are some things that you can do to help get them back to a more healthy weight. Make sure that you are not feeding them too much. They only need to eat enough to get the vitamins and minerals that they need and for energy, monitor how much they are really taking in and cut back if needed. Make sure you give your pets enough exercise and play with them. Instead of giving your pets treats for a good deed, reward with them with a new toy or an extra long walk. Play with them and show them that you love them by making sure that they do not become overweight pets.
  
  Ask your vet if they recommend a special food that is lower in calories for your pet to help them get back down to a healthy weight, they can also help give you ideas on what to do to help keep your pets healthy.