October 2015 – Why Managing Your Pet’s Weight is So Important
Proper weight management is just as critical for pets as it is for people. A healthy weight contributes to a healthy body.
Following are some of the health risks of an overweight or obese pet:
- Osteoarthritis
- Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart and Respiratory Disease
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
- Kidney Disease
- Many Forms of Cancer
- Decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years)
Recent studies have shown that 53% of dogs and 58% of cats are overweight or obese. Many pet parents may not even realize their cat or dog has a weight problem according to new research from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). That’s why it is critical pet owners rely on their veterinarian for guidance and understand an overweight dog or cat is not a healthy pet.
Feeding a healthy diet is important, but do you know how many calories your pet should eat in a day? Following are some recommendations:
Daily caloric needs
10-lb. cat – 275 calories
10-lb. dog – 300 calories
20-lb. dog – 500 calories
50-lb. dog – 1,200 calories
Do you measure your pet’s food? Free feeding dry food has been proven to be unhealthy and self-defeating for most pets. Do you know how many calories were in that tasty treat? The amount of calories in treats is a major factor in the rise in pet obesity.
We recommend having your pet’s weight and health condition evaluated by your veterinarian. Your vet can help you design a weight loss and/or weight maintenance diet that is right for your pet.
To learn more and find access to additional information such as Body Condition Score Charts for dogs and cats, read our Blog, Pet Obesity a growing problem.
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