Weighty Matters
How to tell if your pet is pudgy and what to do:
Is my pet portly?
Can you feel your pet's ribs easily? If you have to dig around, your animal is likely too heavy.
Look at the animal from the side--you should see a tucked abdomen. A hanging belly indicates excess fat. Cats whose bellies drag the floor are often called 'swishers.'
Look at the animal from above. You want to see a moderate tapered 'waistline,' not a broad, flat back.
Weight-loss tips
Calculate calories--check with your vet for proper amount. Food label recommendations may be too much for inactive, spayed or neutered pets. Calories for many food brands are listed at petobesityprevention.com.
Measure meals--don't just fill the bowl. Try small high-protein, low carbohydrate meals two to three times daily. Look for lowcalorie, no-sugar treats or substitute vegetables and fruits, such as sliced carrots and apples for dogs, or salmon flakes for cats.
Exercise daily--for dogs, 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking or play time is recommended. With cats, try several short bursts (five to 15 minutes) of activity chasing toys or a laser pointer. Hiding food will trigger a cat's natural hunting instinct.
Source: Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
Food makers are expanding their offerings to make cutting back easier. Last fall, Nestle Purina, for example, launched "Project: Pet Slim Down"-designed to help pets achieve 1% to 2% weekly weight loss. In January, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., maker of Science diet and Prescription Diet, introduced a line of weight-reduction food systems with meals and biscuits in pre-measured packets.
Exercise is another hurdle, especially when owners don't keep themselves fit. Larger breeds such as Labradors and German shepherds need 30 to 60 minutes of active play daily, vets say, or two to three miles of walking. Smaller breeds still require about 15 to 30 minutes of play, while cats benefit from short five- to 15-minute bursts of activity like chasing toys.
The pet industry is hungry to help pets shed pounds. Sales of specialty "DogTread" treadmills costing $599 to $999 have risen 200% since Ogden, Utah-based PetZen Products LLC began manufacturing them in 2007.
At the Morris Animal Inn pet resort in Morristown, N.J., 32 dogs participated in "Fido's Fit & Spaw Retreat" clinic this January, complete with swimming and dog yoga. And in April, Camp Bow Wow, a 125-location doggy day and night camp franchise will launch a "Furry Fitness Challenge" contest for owners and pets to lose weight together.
"It goes to the dynamic of people looking like their pets," says Heidi Ganahl, CEO of Camp Bow Wow. "If the owner is focused on health, then the pets will be, too."
News publish by bykicks.net
How to tell if your pet is pudgy and what to do:
Is my pet portly?
Can you feel your pet's ribs easily? If you have to dig around, your animal is likely too heavy.
Look at the animal from the side--you should see a tucked abdomen. A hanging belly indicates excess fat. Cats whose bellies drag the floor are often called 'swishers.'
Look at the animal from above. You want to see a moderate tapered 'waistline,' not a broad, flat back.
Weight-loss tips
Calculate calories--check with your vet for proper amount. Food label recommendations may be too much for inactive, spayed or neutered pets. Calories for many food brands are listed at petobesityprevention.com.
Measure meals--don't just fill the bowl. Try small high-protein, low carbohydrate meals two to three times daily. Look for lowcalorie, no-sugar treats or substitute vegetables and fruits, such as sliced carrots and apples for dogs, or salmon flakes for cats.
Exercise daily--for dogs, 20 to 30 minutes of brisk walking or play time is recommended. With cats, try several short bursts (five to 15 minutes) of activity chasing toys or a laser pointer. Hiding food will trigger a cat's natural hunting instinct.
Source: Association for Pet Obesity Prevention
Food makers are expanding their offerings to make cutting back easier. Last fall, Nestle Purina, for example, launched "Project: Pet Slim Down"-designed to help pets achieve 1% to 2% weekly weight loss. In January, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., maker of Science diet and Prescription Diet, introduced a line of weight-reduction food systems with meals and biscuits in pre-measured packets.
Exercise is another hurdle, especially when owners don't keep themselves fit. Larger breeds such as Labradors and German shepherds need 30 to 60 minutes of active play daily, vets say, or two to three miles of walking. Smaller breeds still require about 15 to 30 minutes of play, while cats benefit from short five- to 15-minute bursts of activity like chasing toys.
The pet industry is hungry to help pets shed pounds. Sales of specialty "DogTread" treadmills costing $599 to $999 have risen 200% since Ogden, Utah-based PetZen Products LLC began manufacturing them in 2007.
At the Morris Animal Inn pet resort in Morristown, N.J., 32 dogs participated in "Fido's Fit & Spaw Retreat" clinic this January, complete with swimming and dog yoga. And in April, Camp Bow Wow, a 125-location doggy day and night camp franchise will launch a "Furry Fitness Challenge" contest for owners and pets to lose weight together.
"It goes to the dynamic of people looking like their pets," says Heidi Ganahl, CEO of Camp Bow Wow. "If the owner is focused on health, then the pets will be, too."
News publish by bykicks.net
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