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Pet Obesity: What You Can Do For Your Overweight Dog or Cat

October 12, 2022

By Brooke Sloate

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We love our pets, big or small. A few extra pounds? That’s just more to love! But it’s actually very unhealthy to have overweight cats and pudgy pups. Obesity has become a big health problem in the U.S. not only for humans, but also for dogs and cats. In fact, studies show that nearly 60% of dogs and cats in this country are classified as overweight or obese.

To put this in perspective, just one extra pound on a small dog is like 10 to 15 pounds for us. For larger dogs, one pound is like an extra five pounds in a human body. And, extra weight can lead to a whole host of problems including joint problems, diseases like diabetes mellitus, respiratory issues, and even a decreased life span, according to the AVMA. They report the lifespan of overweight dogs is up to 2 ½ years shorter, on average.

Even five pounds above your dog’s ideal weight can put him at risk for developing some serious medical conditions like:

  • Joint Issues

  • Arthritis

  • Type 2 Diabetes

  • Respiratory Issues and Heart Disease

  • Chronic Inflammation

  • Many Forms of Cancer

The bottom line about pet obesity: You have an unhealthy pet, high medical bills, and often a reduced life span for your fur baby.

Contributing Factors to Overweight Pets

There are many things that can contribute to overweight dogs and cats:

  • Genetics - Some dog breeds have a genetic tendency towards obesity, such as Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Beagles, Labs and others.
  • Neutering - Pets that are neutered tend to form more fat cells, which slows their metabolism, contributing to weight gain.
  • Age - Older dogs and cats are less active, have less energy, and need fewer calories. They have different nutrition requirements than when they were younger.
  • Children at Home - Kids in the house may be providing extra “snacks” when they either spill their food or purposely feed their pet the food THEY don’t want to eat!
  • Exercise - Many pets simply don’t get the exercise they need to burn off calories and ensure a healthy overall life.
  • Overfeeding and over-treating - Don’t mistake treats with love. Show your pet other ways you love and appreciate them.

You can't do anything about genetics, or age, and neutering is important if you're not breeding. BUT, you CAN control overfeeding and over-treating.

Solutions: Pet Obesity Prevention

So, if you have a pudgy pet, what can you do? To help them lose weight, the formula is simple: Fewer calories in + more calories out = weight loss.

Before starting a diet, you should always consult with your veterinarian. Vets are the best resource for helping you create a plan to control, monitor and improve your pet’s weight in a healthy way. There are a number of reasons why your pet may be overweight, so, it’s best to see your vet. They can rule out any undiagnosed medical conditions and provide information on a nutrition plan that’s best for your fur baby.

Some things you should know about food when it comes to obesity in dogs and obesity in cats:

  • If they just need to lose some weight, you don’t necessarily need a prescription diet. You just need a diet that’s lower in fat, slightly lower in protein and preferably higher in fiber. For instance, if your pet has only gained a few pounds, and you’re feeding him good, healthy nutrition, you can probably just offer less of it.

  • If their food is not highly digestible or nutrient dense, it’s a good idea to get them on better quality nutrition like pawTree. Think of it like this: You wouldn’t feed your kids McDonald’s every day. Their main nutrition should be healthier. Same for your pets.

  • If you switch their food, switch to a lower fat, lower protein, and higher fiber diet.

  • Allow seven to ten days to transition to the new food, each day feeding less and less of the old food until they’re 100% on the new food.

  • When feeding them, if they act like they are still hungry, add some canned pumpkin to their bowl. Pumpkin is high in fiber and will help them feel full.

  • If you are FREE feeding, STOP. Put down the bowl for 20 minutes and then pick it up. Don’t let them graze all day out of boredom. No self-feeders! You can also use food puzzles to slow down their eating.

  • If you have a multi-pet household, try and feed them separately and make sure the overweight pet doesn’t eat the other pet’s food.

  • Follow Feeding Guidelines: Don’t overfeed. Feed according to their breed and ideal weight. Reduce snacks between meals.

Now that we’ve covered food, what about treats ?

  • You can still give them treats, just make better treat choices. Our pawTreats are freeze-dried or try our dry-roasted meat treats. They are all-natural, grain-free and made with simple ingredients. For example, we have one called, Freeze-Dried Chicken, Apples & Kale, and that’s ALL that’s in them.

  • You can also bake treats at home with healthy ingredients. You can make them whatever size you want, even really small ones.

  • Treats should not exceed 10% of your pet’s diet, and probably less when they are trying to lose weight.

  • Just feed them better, nutritious treats.

  • Limit the number and how often you treat: When giving treats, look for guilt-free, minimal ingredient treats.

What about exercise?

  • Help them to move more.

  • Use toys, balls, laser pointers, or anything that they are interested in enough to chase.

  • Take them for walks fast walks. Or to the park to run around and play.

  • Increase exercise safely. Regular walks don’t just exercise your pet’s body, they also provide mental stimulation. Ask your vet about the best types of activities based on your pet’s breed, age, gender and current physical condition to avoid injuries.

You can help your beloved pet to lose weight and give them a better quality of life. Avoiding obesity in your pet starts with healthy eating and exercise. We can help you incorporate a pet customized nutrition plan into your daily routine that really works for overweight pets. It’s not a strict pet diet; rather, it’s a lifestyle change!

Real-Life Example

Let me give you an example of my dog, Coco.

I was working for a pet food company and brought Coco with me to work every day. She’d leave my office and wander the halls. I didn’t realize she was working my colleagues for treats! Needless to say, she gained a lot of weight. I took her on walks three times a day, fed her healthy food with no over-treating, and stopped at the vet’s office weekly to weigh her.

This really can work, and it’s not that hard!

Remember, our pets add SO much to our lives and we want them with us as far as long as possible. Pet obesity awareness is important for any responsible pet parent.

By Brooke Sloate

About Brooke…

Brooke Sloate, Director of Product Development at pawTree LLC, is passionate about solving problems for pets and creating products that truly make a difference to pet parents. With more than 20 years of experience in the pet industry working for a variety of pet companies prior to pawTree®, including Nature's Variety®, Hill’s®, Mars®, Petmate®, Applica® and Sergeant's®, Brooke has developed a wide range of innovative pet products including pet food, treats, and pet accessories. Brooke enjoys the unconditional love of her family of Shih Tzus and responds by spoiling them every chance she gets!