Happy New Year! It’s that time in every winter when people commit to improving their health, habits, and lives. One of the most popular resolutions each year is to lose weight. Too much weight can be hard on the heart, joints, and more – and that’s just as true for your pets. So, the first blog of 2025 will be about helping your pet lose weight.
Obesity in Dogs and Cats
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of pets in the United States are obese. Why is this a problem? Overweight pets live an average of two and half years fewer than pets of a healthy weight.
The Easy Part of Helping Your Pet Lose Weight – Food
The good thing about helping your pet lose weight is that you control everything that goes into their bodies – barring the occasional unplanned bit of food someone dropped on the ground!
Human Food
Unfortunately, many of us overindulge our pets with human food. That’s certainly understandable! When your dogs stare at you with puppy-dog eyes or cats go full Puss-in-Boots, it can be challenging to say no, but you must be strong!
While occasional table food may be ok for some pets, you should always be aware of not only which foods are bad for dogs and cats in general, but what food your pets can handle.
While you can find many lists of foods you should never feed your pets at various sites across the internet, your pets have their own health profile that may include limitations related to allergies, age, and weight.
When in doubt, don’t treat your pets with human food or put it off until you can ask your local veterinarian.
Treats
Have some healthier treats on hand to help prevent yourself from giving in to your pets’ asks. These can be human foods approved for dogs and cats or specific pet treats.
But helping your pet lose weight isn’t just about giving them the right food; the right amount also matters. So, pay attention to the number of calories in treats and subtract the necessary amount from their regular meals to compensate.
The Right Pet Food
Choosing high-quality pet food is one of the most important aspects of keeping your pet healthy. But it can also be overwhelming! If you need help picking, Dr. Spangler and Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic staff can help.
Many pet foods are available specifically to meet your pets’ specific nutrition needs, including weight loss. Sometimes, switching a pet to a low-calorie food can be challenging. We can help with the transition.
The Sometimes Difficult Part of Helping Your Pet Lose Weight – Exercise
The trickier part of helping your pet lose weight is getting them to move. It’s funny; sometimes it feels like the first few years of their lives, we’re trying to figure out how to contain all that energy, and afterward, you want to help them move!
Of course, many dogs and cats are very active on their own. But others need encouragement.
Winter can be especially challenging because you may not be as excited to take a long walk with your dogs. Try to resist the urge to be stagnant! Bundle up and keep your pets warm too (and protect their feet from ice-melting chemicals).
For cats, or for when you can’t get your dogs out on a walk, consider indoor activities like play. Check out our previous blog on fun things for your pets to do indoors.
Conclusion
We all want to keep our dogs and cats healthy, but sometimes, that means not giving them what they want in the moment. If you need advice on helping your pets lose weight, Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic is here to help.