How many of you have stuck with your New Year’s Resolution? I gotta admit, I’m struggling – but not failing. One of the top resolutions I had was to lose weight and get healthy. I hadn’t noticed how chubby I had become until I tried to fit into my Christmas sweater a month or so back. Oy. I was stuffed into it like a sausage and couldn’t breathe. Mom had to buy me a new one. So embarrassing. This blog goes out to all of the more portly dogs and cats out there…
The numbers of overweight and obese pets are on the rise. 59% of dogs and 61% of cats are on the plump side. Unfortunately many humans who have portly pets do not recognize when their furry companion is overweight, with a good number of them feeling that their pet has a perfect physique.
There is a pretty cool way for your people to see if you are chubby or not. Have them make a fist and rub the knuckle area. This is what your ribcage should feel like when your mom or dad gently rubs you.. You should be able to feel each rib individually without pressing too hard. Unfortunately my ribs and my sister Connie’s ribs are covered in a squishy layer of fat, more like the palm of your hand. Yeesh. Connie agreed to model for this blog post…what a brave soul.
Being obese or overweight can cause many health issues for dogs and cats, including joint problems (leading to loss of mobility), diabetes, heart disease, urinary problems and even some cancers. Just learning this makes me want to count my kibble closer. I don’t want to bring problems on myself when this is something my mom can help me control.
The earlier in life that we catch the scale’s numbers trending upward, the better the chance that we have to lose the extra weight. Did you know that most pets gain weight after they are spayed or neutered? Apparently the metabolism slows down after the hormones are gone. Huh, who knew? I didn’t get spayed until I was 5 or so, which may explain why I was so skinny in my youth. Ideally, it’s best to get your pet on a diet plan when they are young, to avoid gaining those pesky pounds in the first place.
If that doesn’t happen and we plump up, have no fear! Your vet can look at what you are eating and figure out a plan. Your humans need to be honest about all of the tasty bits that you get for this to be successful. Even that wonderful morsel of pill paste has calories and must be accounted for. I know that I definitely get a few too many treats. To help shave calories out of your diet, there are tasty diet kibble options that are available, or you could modify what you currently eat. Your vet will look at the best options for you, calculate your calorie needs, and even help your humans figure out the best portion sizes for each meal. When we put together my diet plan, my kibble quantity stayed the same but at lunchtime I don’t get as many snacks as I used to. I will admit, it is a struggle but the end results will be worth it. Bikini body here I come!
It’s never too late to start eating healthier and exercising. While it does not sound appealing at first, think of how good it will feel to shed a few pounds and run around the yard this summer chasing squirrels!
Later,
Linda Lou, “could stand to lose a few ounces,” Blog Dog
The numbers of overweight and obese pets are on the rise. 59% of dogs and 61% of cats are on the plump side. Unfortunately many humans who have portly pets do not recognize when their furry companion is overweight, with a good number of them feeling that their pet has a perfect physique.
There is a pretty cool way for your people to see if you are chubby or not. Have them make a fist and rub the knuckle area. This is what your ribcage should feel like when your mom or dad gently rubs you.. You should be able to feel each rib individually without pressing too hard. Unfortunately my ribs and my sister Connie’s ribs are covered in a squishy layer of fat, more like the palm of your hand. Yeesh. Connie agreed to model for this blog post…what a brave soul.
Being obese or overweight can cause many health issues for dogs and cats, including joint problems (leading to loss of mobility), diabetes, heart disease, urinary problems and even some cancers. Just learning this makes me want to count my kibble closer. I don’t want to bring problems on myself when this is something my mom can help me control.
The earlier in life that we catch the scale’s numbers trending upward, the better the chance that we have to lose the extra weight. Did you know that most pets gain weight after they are spayed or neutered? Apparently the metabolism slows down after the hormones are gone. Huh, who knew? I didn’t get spayed until I was 5 or so, which may explain why I was so skinny in my youth. Ideally, it’s best to get your pet on a diet plan when they are young, to avoid gaining those pesky pounds in the first place.
If that doesn’t happen and we plump up, have no fear! Your vet can look at what you are eating and figure out a plan. Your humans need to be honest about all of the tasty bits that you get for this to be successful. Even that wonderful morsel of pill paste has calories and must be accounted for. I know that I definitely get a few too many treats. To help shave calories out of your diet, there are tasty diet kibble options that are available, or you could modify what you currently eat. Your vet will look at the best options for you, calculate your calorie needs, and even help your humans figure out the best portion sizes for each meal. When we put together my diet plan, my kibble quantity stayed the same but at lunchtime I don’t get as many snacks as I used to. I will admit, it is a struggle but the end results will be worth it. Bikini body here I come!
It’s never too late to start eating healthier and exercising. While it does not sound appealing at first, think of how good it will feel to shed a few pounds and run around the yard this summer chasing squirrels!
Later,
Linda Lou, “could stand to lose a few ounces,” Blog Dog
