It’s important to know where you are starting from. Start by making an appointment with your veterinarian to weigh your pet and conduct a health check to make sure there are no underlying health conditions. Determine how much your pet currently weighs If you discover that weight gain has become a problem for your pet, here are six steps you can take to get things back on track: 1. When running your hands along their body, you should be able to feel the ribs and hips without pressing hard. At their ideal weight, dogs and cats will have a proportioned, slightly hourglass body shape when viewed from above, a slight tummy tuck, and a thin covering of body fat over the ribs and spine. Here is a link to one for dogs, and here’s another for cats. If you’re not sure about your pet’s weight, consulting a body score chart is a great way to check. Fortunately, we can help avoid these conditions by keeping their weight at a healthy level. For some people, extra weight on their pet may just mean more to love, but it’s important to understand that even just a few extra pounds can lead to health problems such as heart disease or diabetes down the line. They’ve been staying at home too, and likely enjoying extra snacks like the rest of us. The same is true for pets, especially those in cities without yards to play in. And now, as we are seeing the first signs of getting back to normal, albeit a new normal, many of us are thinking about ways to address those extra pounds. The unintended consequence of this may be weight gain. Over the past few months, as we’ve been collectively working to keep our communities safe and healthy, many of us have been spending more time indoors, and likely been a little less active. These tips will help you address pet weight gain and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Limit intake to a maximum of ten percent of your dog’s overall diet,” she says.ĭiana Bocco is a full-time writer and adventurer, whose work has been published in Discover圜, Yahoo!, & Popular Mechanics. Otherwise, Adolphe suggests using human foods as treats, not as a main part of the diet, to avoid weight gain. “If you have a pet that needs to lose weight, 25 percent of the main meal could be removed and replaced with these additions with no problem,” Morgan says. You can, according to Morgan, replace some of your dog’s regular food with low-calorie veggies to help in the weight-loss process. You should also be careful not to add too much of anything to prevent an accidental calorie increase. “Too much of a good thing can still cause gastrointestinal upset,” Morgan says. When introducing new foods into your dog’s diet, do it one at a time so you can easily identify any that cause tummy trouble.
“Make sure to avoid sugar-free peanut butter that contains artificial sweeteners as these can be highly toxic to your pup,” Adolphe adds. Peanut butter is high in calories, but Adolphe says it can be used as an extra-special treat stuffed into your dog’s favorite toy to keep him occupied or to help him swallow his not-so-favorite medication. If you’re already feeding raw or homemade food, or if you’re looking to start your dog on a homemade diet, here are eight things to add to the mix for increased nutritional benefits: Pumpkin “Many veterinarians are not comfortable making homemade recipes for dogs, but there are many nutrition experts joining the field, so they have become easier to find,” she says. It’s important to discuss your options with a veterinarian if you’re going to feed a homemade or raw dog food diet, and Morgan says you have to be careful in your search.
While these dogs usually are okay health-wise (Morgan suspects it’s because many of them are also fed commercial dog treats that have vitamins and minerals added), a more nutritious, well-balanced meal will allow your dog to thrive instead of just survive. Judy Morgan, a certified veterinary food therapist, holistic veterinarian and author. “Many dogs on homemade diets are fed chicken and rice or hamburger and rice for years by their well-meaning owners,” says Dr. Are you feeding your dog a raw or a homemade diet? If you’re just feeding her meat and grains, it’s surprisingly easy to skip important nutrients she needs to remain healthy.
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