![]() ![]() Finding Fun Activities: Staying active will also help keep pets at a healthy weight.For example, avoid feeding pets table scraps that are high in fat and calories, and limit your pet’s treat consumption to up to 10 percent of their daily calories. ![]() Mindful Treating: Our video shares some simple feeding and treating tips to help keep your pet at a healthy weight.Everyone in the household is responsible for keeping pets safe and healthy and should accurately keep track of how much food a pet is getting each day to avoid overfeeding. Practice Portion Control: At home, it’s important for pet owners to practice portion control with cat and dogs and ensure that they are measuring out the recommended serving size for their pet.Regular Veterinary Visits: Pets should see a veterinarian regularly for check-ups, at which time owners can ask about nutrition and discuss weight-loss and management plans, if necessary.Maintaining a pet’s healthy weight requires a combination of proper nutrition, activity and preventive care. How to Help Pets Achieve and Maintain a Healthy Weight While diets labeled these ways may have lower energy in the form of calories or fat, they must still meet the minimum requires for pets at an ideal bodyweight and may not meet the needs of an aggressive weight loss plan. This includes language such as “light,” “low-calorie,” “low-fat,” “ reduced calorie,” or “reduced fat.” AAFCO’S label guidelines include specific language to help regulate claims for weight-loss or weight management pet foods. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) creates model pet food regulations and label guidelines that can be adopted by states. In addition, some pet food labels will feature that the product is lower in calories or fat. It is important for pet lovers to consult with their veterinarian when determining a weight-loss plan before simply feeding less of the pet’s regular food, as this can deprive dogs or cats of important nutrients. These foods can help reduce caloric intake but still ensure your pet receives the right amounts of essential nutrients. These pet foods will include specific variations to help your pet, such as increased fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients to help your dog or cat feel more satiated and fuller, reduce begging, and maintain muscle, while reducing caloric intake. ![]() The Role of Diet in Reaching a Healthy WeightĪfter identifying a potential weight problem, a veterinarian may recommend that a cat or dog switches temporarily to a weight-loss or weight management pet food to help achieve a healthier, more comfortable weight. Some of the major health risks, which can cause your pet discomfort and decrease their quality of life, include: In the United States, it is estimated that 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight or obese. When considering slipping your pet a human snack from the table, remember that an overweight or obese dog or cat may suffer from serious related health issues. Why is it important to keep your pet at a healthy body condition? Remember, maintaining a healthy weight can help improve your pet’s quality of life. A cat or dog’s stomach should never hang low to the ground. A pet’s waist should be easily determined when looking at him or her from above, and an upward slope of the stomach should be visible when observing pets from the side. While these tests can be done at home, a trusted veterinarian is still the best resource to help advise on whether a dog or cat is at a healthy weight.Īs a general rule, pet owners should be able to feel a cat or dog’s ribs with minimal fat covering them. To determine if your pet is at risk of becoming overweight or obese, try an at-home body condition check or learn how veterinarians perform the knuckle-test. However, pet lovers should still pay close attention to their pet’s body condition (also known as physique) and work with a veterinarian to identify potential weight problems early. There is no “one-size-fits-all” healthy weight for pets, and, depending on a cat or dog’s breed, height and age, the recommendations for ideal weight will vary. What a Healthy Body Weight Looks Like for Pets In this post, we help explain what a healthy weight may look like and break down some ways to help achieve or maintain an ideal body condition for your dog or cat. One important step toward long-term health and well-being is ensuring your pet is at a healthy weight. As pet lovers, we look for ways to help promote our dog or cat’s quality of life. ![]()
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