Like their owners, many American pets are overweight. In fact, 55 percent of dogs and 53 percent of cats are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. And similar to their owners, all that extra weight spells health trouble. Arthritis, back pain, kidney disease, and even diabetes afflict our pets just as they do heavy humans.
The reasons our pets are getting pudgier are similar to why we are: bad diets and too much sitting around, animal experts say. But Rex doesn’t have to live out his years overweight and gimpy from arthritis. Just like us, he can change his ways — from eating better to exercising more often. But he needs your help. Here’s how to get Rex from hefty and sluggish to lean and lively.
1. Be choosey about food
Just as we do when we shop for ourselves, we should read the labels on pets’ food. Many brands now contain less meat and more soy, corn, and wheat, which can help pack on the pounds. Brands that list meat as the first ingredient are best, veterinarian Ernie Ward tells LiveScience.com, and vegetables and barley are good sources of carbohydrates. Also, avoid foods listing meal or by-products as ingredients, as well those with the preservatives ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, warns Prevention.com.
2. Offer veggie treats
A single, high-calorie treat like a packaged cheese or beef snack can contain one-fifth to one-fourth of a small dog’s daily recommended calories, according to WebMD.com. Substitute fatty treats by offering Fido whole foods like raw broccoli and carrots to crunch on instead. However, not all foods are safe for pets to eat so talk to your veterinarian. For example, garlic, onion, raisins, and grapes can prove toxic for canines.
3. Control portions
Don’t rely on food labels when trying to decide how much to feed your pet because his nutritional and caloric needs depend on how active he is, his size, and the type of food he is eating, Prevention.com says. Discuss the matter with your veterinarian. Be especially careful when feeding cats because they can become very ill if they are not getting enough food.
To make eating fun and make the meal last longer, consider packing food into a feeding toy that releases it little by little.
4. Exercise to boost mood
Inactive pets not only have more medical problems, shorter lifespans, and are more expensive to care for, but they also are more likely to become anxious or depressed because a sedentary lifestyle alters brain chemicals affecting mood, according to Prevention.com.
"Aerobic activity for as little as 20 to 30 minutes a day balances norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin levels, resulting in a better, more stable mood," veterinarian Ernie Ward says. Such activity also will make Spot less likely to tear up the sofa.
5. Walk with confidence
Walking your dog should be an enjoyable experience, and if it is, you and your dog are more likely to get regular exercise. Consider some of the walking tips dog behaviorist Tamar Geller shared with the Today show:
• Make it a positive experience. Screaming “heel” doesn’t help keep your dog at your side, but using the word “close” and offering a small treat when she follows will reinforce the good behavior.
• When teaching your dog to walk on leash, don’t use a retractable one and be sure to keep the leash at the same length all the time so she knows you are in control.
• Hold your ground when she pulls the leash and only resume walking when she stops pulling.
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