RVers
and their pets can spend too many hours driving and sitting. Frequently
that daily walk is replaced with sitting outside on folding chairs
relaxing after a long day on the road. Are your pets overweight?
Obesity
has become a national epidemic. According to the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention, 64 percent of Americans weigh more than they
should and veterinary sources agree that at least half of all dogs and
cats are overweight. Just like with people, pets who are overweight are
more likely to have arthritis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
respiratory problems, pancreatitis, weakened immunity, anesthesia and
surgical complications and most importantly, a shorter life. Disorders
related to obesity are the fourth leading cause of death for dogs
according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Pet
owners are the last to admit that their pets are overweight. These pets
include dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and reptiles, all of whom are
suffering from this overweight epidemic. Dog and cat owners are likely
to say the pet appears overweight because of all the hair or because he
is all muscle. Neither is very often the case.
Dogs
and cats should have a waistline just like we do. Stand over your pet
while he is standing. Behind the ribcage, there should be a narrowing.
If there is none, your pet is overweight. Now place both of your thumbs
on your dog's backbone. Hopefully you can find the backbone. Run
your fingertips on both sides along the rib cage. You should be able to
feel the ribs and there should be a slight indentation between the
ribs.
So
now you know the truth. If your pet is overweight, changes need to be
made to get him back in shape. The first step is to look at the total
amount of food your pet eats each day. For the best health, dogs should
be fed twice a day. Measure all the dry food, canned food, extra stuff
you add and the treats. This is his daily intake and if your pet is
overweight, it is too much. So some cutting back is in order.
Begin
the cutting with treats and extra stuff we put in the food dish. Dry
food is essential. A little canned food is okay but keep it to a
tablespoon or two. Whatever else you add needs to be reduced or
eliminated. There are good things you can add to their food dishes
while cutting back like green beans and carrots. Avoid gravy, cream and
cheese sauces.
Treats
should be healthy and all natural. Avoid artificial coloring, flavoring
and preservatives. Dog biscuits are a good treat but not too many and
not too big. Most dogs like raw carrots and they are basically calorie
free.
Feed
your dog two meals a day -- making one of those meals just dry food. If
your pet is overweight, cut back a little each week until you can see a
difference. It is really important to feed a high quality food. If you
have a young dog that is overweight, it is much better to cut back on
the amount of food rather than feed a diet food. Diet food has more
filler and less high quality ingredients.
There
are two ways to control and reduce weight in people and their pets;
reduce the food intake and increase exercise. This is not exactly
rocket science nor is it a closely guarded secret. All of us are aware
of this remedy but we would rather put our trust in some faddy new
diet. Millions are spent each year on fancy weight loss programs and
special diet foods. Most of these are not successful.
Obesity
is a huge problem for both people and their pets. Pets on the go for
days on end can easily end up overweight. Take a close look at the
waistline and do the rib check. A little less food and a little more
exercise might be just what the doctor would order.
With questions or comments, contact Christy Powers at cpwrather@earthlink.net.
