The life of pets in winter is very simple. In addition to eating and drinking, it is to find a warm place to sleep. This is how the day passed. In addition, many owners feed them a lot of delicious food, so they become fat. But owners may not know that many serious diseases are currently associated with pet obesity, many of which shorten their lives. When spring comes and the weather is getting warmer, it is necessary for owners to increase the amount of exercise for their pets, so that they can join the ranks of slimming. Harm and causes of obesity

Obesity is mainly caused by excess nutrition and lack of exercise.

Homemade feeds tend to make pets fatter than specialty foods. Obese dogs are prone to circulatory and respiratory diseases. Their tolerance for physical activity and resistance to infection is also reduced. Obesity in dogs can trigger diabetes, liver disease, arthritis, allergies, skin diseases, and more. Obesity in cats can lead to urinary problems, diabetes, liver disease, and increased grooming difficulties, which can lead to skin diseases. Moreover, veterinarians experience many inconveniences when performing various routine examinations and diagnoses on obese pets. They have a higher risk of complications during anesthesia and surgery, and are more likely to rupture after surgery.

Some pets' obesity is not seasonal, but formed from the growth period, and they also need to lose weight. Generally speaking, at some point in life, an obese animal will enter a stage of appetite flare-up and eat more than the body needs. The ingested energy is deposited to form fat and gain weight. During the subsequent appetitive quiescence phase, fat is retained, but weight remains relatively stable even with normal or even decreased appetite. This situation may confuse some pet owners, and it is difficult to understand why their pets are overweight without overeating. If dogs and cats are overweight from infancy, it often leads to obesity in adulthood, because excessive diets during growth lead to an irreversible increase in the number of fat cells that adult pets increase in size. Obese puppies develop a habit of constant begging as adults.

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

Some dogs and cats are quite overweight, while others are not. Body weight is a useful indicator, and an animal is generally considered to be overweight if it exceeds 15% of its normal ideal body weight. Standard weights for purebred dogs can be a valid basis for determining the ideal weight, but not necessarily for crossbred breeds. Most healthy cats weigh between 3-5 kg, but some cats with larger bones, especially neutered male cats, can weigh a lot more.

In normal animals, you should be able to feel the ribs just below the not too thick layer of fat, and you should see a distinct waistline behind the rib cage when looking down from the top. Fat animals do not have a waist curve because the layer of fat under the skin thickens. In cats, fat usually accumulates in the groin to form an apron. Obese dogs and cats have bloated stomachs due to the accumulation of large amounts of fat in their abdomens. Your veterinarian will distinguish between obesity and other factors, such as pregnancy, ascites, or enlarged abdominal organs.

Weight Loss Program

Ask a Veterinarian

A veterinarian should conduct a physical examination before starting a weight loss program on an obese animal. Your pet may need medication, possibly a An underlying disease causes weight gain. A veterinarian will use methods to determine if your pet is gaining weight.

Determine a goal

Find out the ideal weight your pet should have. Keep in mind that the initial weight goal you want to achieve can be an ideal weight or a 15% reduction from your current weight.

Meal Plan

Weight loss can be achieved by controlled reductions in the caloric content of foods. To this end, you can use commercially available low-calorie pet food, or reduce the original food intake. It should be tried a few times before finalizing an eating plan. The selected feeding program should be implemented for at least two weeks, after which the feed will be further reduced based on effect.

The dog's weight loss program is a 12-14 week period of daily feedings that contain 40% of the calories needed to maintain target weight. Cats should be fed food containing 60% of the calories needed to reach their target body weight for 18 weeks of weight loss. Never adopt an overly restrictive weight loss program on a cat, as doing so is potentially dangerous and may even have fatal consequences. Divide food into two or three small portions each day. This reduces hunger and allows each meal to be fully consumed. During the weight loss phase, pets will definitely feel hungry. No matter how pitiful his face begging for food, don't budge! This principle is also explained to your friends and neighbors, convincing them that it is in the pet's best interest.

Weighing regularly

The progress of your pet weight loss program should be carefully tracked. Weigh yourself once a week, preferably at the same time of day and on the same scale. Show your weight changes on a time-based graph to boost your confidence and motivation. Pay attention to your pet's expressions and regularly touch the body's fat layer. Consult your veterinarian regularly to determine if you need to modify your weight loss plan.

Get more physical activity  Although it is not possible for most animals to lose weight through exercise alone, gradual increases in physical activity should be encouraged. Never force a severely overweight dog into excessive exercise, which can put unbearable stress on the heart and lungs. Dogs over 25% of their target body weight should be taken on slow walks every day. Be careful not to allow your cat to obtain additional food through wild picking, predation, or begging from neighbors.

Prevents Repeated Gaining

Once your pet reaches the target weight, take care to maintain the ideal weight. For dogs prone to obesity, it is best to feed branded foods and pay attention to weight to find the optimum amount. Instead of repeating the same mistakes and returning to the habit of overfeeding, adjust the diet according to the amount of activity.