Is Your Pet Overweight?

OUR SOCIETY is becoming increasingly overweight and so are our pets. Similar to humans, overweight pets have a much higher risk of disease and other health problems. Veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren shares her expert advice on the causes, issues and remedies for overweight dogs and cats.

- BY Dr Katrina Warren

Causes

Put simply, weight issues occur when a pet consumes more kilojoules than they use. Owners are a key part of the problem because they ultimately decide what and how much the pet eats. Other contributing factors include:

Lack of exercise Regular exercise helps keep dogs in shape, as sedentary dogs are more likely to gain weight than active dogs. And, as cats no longer need to hunt for their food, they typically enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, lazing around indoors.

Ad-lib feeding Food should always be adjusted to a pet's energy requirements. Yet many owners provide constant access to food, assuming the pet will regulate its own intake. This is especially true of cat owners.

Too many treats It's easy to fall into the trap of feeding your pet whenever they beg for food. However, all those snacks add up to extra kilojoules.