Dieting Tips for Your Pet

Posted on December 1, 2009 by Lynne Hudlow

The other day my friend called me upset because she came home from the vet basically with the news that she has a fat cat. She was ridden with guilt and concern because she is aware that she may overfeed and over-treat her kitty. I know how easy it is for us all to carry a few extra pounds from time to time, especially during the holiday season, but even a few extra pounds on a cat or small dog can lead to serious health issues.

It’s quite common for our Pets to be overweight or obese and because we provide so much for our Pets, bad news can be hard to digest. Hearing your Pet is overweight can be disappointing and at times overwhelming. While my friend could choose to blow off the news of Pele as just being fluffier, we want our Pets to be healthy and live happy and long lives. Common health issues associated with overweight Pets include arthritis, diabetes and heart disease just to name a few. Working with your Pet’s doctor to achieve and maintain a healthy weight reduces risk of these health issues. However, creating this change takes some serious dedication and lifestyle change on our part, too.

Many Pets do just fine when food is dispensed in appropriate and moderate amounts.. Some Pets will lose the necessary extra pounds just by increasing exercise. The better a Pet feels the more likely they are to be active and take care of the extra calorie burn.

If you’re in the same boat as so many of us, here are a few tips to help alter your Pet’s diet:

  1. If you are changing food, whether just the brand or the main ingredient, you should try changing over the period of a week by gradually reducing the proportion of the current food and increasing the proportion of the new food. This prevents a digestive upset that can cause diarrhea.
  2. When decreasing the amount of food you are feeding your Pet, measure exactly how much food your Pet gets currently, then start to gradually reduce that amount.
  3. Pets that get food twice a day often times do better than those with just one meal a day, even when the total amount of food per day is the same.
  4. When feeding your Pet three times a day, try morning, after work and just before bed. This timing should keep your Pet’s belly full throughout the day.
  5. While a couple table scraps or neighborhood treats might seem harmless, these extra food sources also count as calories. Look to discontinue these extra calories, and if discontinuing is not possible, find some low calorie substitutes and count that in their daily feeding. Small bites of carrot or apple are good substitutes for dog biscuits and treats.
  6. Active Pets burn more calories. Find some fun activities to keep your Pet active.
  7. Your Pets doctor can recommend a high fiber diet that contains balanced nutrition and vitamins so your Pet feels fuller and remains healthy.
  8. Plan for your Pet to lose weight slowly. Your Pet’s doctor can suggest a healthy weight loss amount over a specific period of time. This plan should make it easier for you to plan your Pet’s weight loss and stick to it.
  9. Use buddy system to help your Pet lose weight. Find a family member or friend with Pets who is dealing with the same issue. The mutual support will keep you on task.
  10. Keep in mind that your Pets most likely need and want to do more activities. And keeping your Pets active will also keep them out of trouble.

Being consistent with changes in your Pet’s lifestyle increases the odds that they will live a long and happy life.

Along these lines, I’m so excited that Dr. Denise Elliott, a board certified specialist and leader in the field of veterinary nutrition recently joined Banfield as our medical specialist in nutrition. The knowledge and expertise that Dr. Elliott brings our practice is invaluable, and I’m thrilled that she has agreed to be a regular contributor to our blog moving forward. So, be on the lookout for her entries in 2010!



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