Overweight Pets: Dangers of Overfeeding Cats and Dogs

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by Sophia Clark

Having pets is a great thing as they provide great companionship. However, it is a demanding job and comes with significant responsibilities. There are many health risks associated with overfeeding your pets no matter how much you might be tempted to offer them treats. It’s therefore vital to know your pets eating habits so that you keep them healthy.

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Let’s look at the dangers associated with overfeeding your pet:

Pet Health Risks

There are short and long-term dangers when you feed your pet more than you should. In the USA alone, the rate of overweight pets has reached its epidemic levels. About 1 in 3 cats and 1 in 4 dogs are obese according to Banfield’s Applied Research. Other diseases linked to these conditions include heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes if their weight is not well managed.

It is your responsibility as a dog owner to monitor your pet health as it does not have a reasoning ability to track its food. You want the quality of life of your pet high, and you are allowed to seek pet health advice from professionals. We all know an overweight pet is not attractive. They are unable to become active, play or exercise. You, therefore, need to do everything to keep them from getting ill.

How to Prevent Pet Obesity

You need to work together with your veterinarian to keep your pet at a healthy weight. You can visit the pet pharmacy near you, and they can advise you the best one for your pet. You need to have their weight checked each visit to the vet. In case they notice your pet’s weight increasing, they can always discuss the precautions you should take.

Your veterinarian is the right person to point you in the right direction regarding your pet health. The type of food, frequency of feeding and the appropriate amount should get discussed. You might consider reading about best dog food for sensitive stomach or something similar in the web. Also, they might ask you to exercise your pet frequently.

Pet Care Info Misconceptions

If you are a new pet parent, you need to have your facts right on pet care info. You can always assume you know what is best for your pet.

  • There is always that myth that if you leave the food out for your pet, they will only eat as much as they need. Well, you need to realize only a few pets will self-regulate how much they eat. Most of the pets will overeat as long as there is food in their bowls. You need to talk to your veterinarian on how to measure your pet’s daily food to maintain a healthy weight.
  • Another myth is that as long as the pet food packing has portions on the label, it’s accurate. It is essential to note that the portions usually indicated are based on an average pet. Pets needs do vary by as much as 25%. You can make a mistake of using a coffee can instead of a cup to measure the portions indicated. Just make sure to read a pet food label properly.
  • Also, there is a myth that just because you eat cheese, pastries, steak and other foods, then it’s okay for your pet too. The truth is that human foods with an excessive amount of fats and calories can easily make your pet fat.

Pet Medical Help

You might have done the right things, but overweight complications can happen to anyone with a pet. At times, unexpected circumstances might occur to you and cannot give your pet the medical care they deserve. You never need to worry because of your inability to afford medical care. You can always talk with your veterinarian on how to get pet medical help determined on the seriousness of your pet’s sickness.

Conclusion

Our pets are part of the family for most of us. We tend to worry about them when something’s not right with them. It is therefore up to us to make sure they stay healthy under our care. In case of a complication, it is always advisable to know where to buy pet medication.

We can avoid overweight problems if we have the right information. We all know losing weight is never easy for anyone. If we can find ways to strengthen our bonds with our pets without adding calories in their lives, the better it will be.

Have you ever had an overweight pet? Why don’t you share your experience with us on how you handled the situation in the comments section below!

About the writer: Sophia Clark
is a 2011 graduate from the NYC University with B.A. in Journalism. She is a writer from NYC who has a passion for sharing her articles with various websites. Writing & reading fiction is her hobby. The big dream of Sophia is to publish a novel someday.