6 Ways to Keep Your Pet Trim

Obesity is a huge issue among many of our furry patients. More than half of domestic dogs and cats are obese or overweight! Those extra pounds carry some very serious health risks, such as heart disease, liver and kidney trouble, and bone/joint problems, to name just a few things. Here, Virginia Beach, VA vet lists some ways to keep your pet from becoming obese.

Playtime

Dogs and cats are very playful when they are young, but tend to slow down as they age One way to keep your pet active is to play with them. Even spending a few minutes a day holding a laser pointer for Fluffy to chase or tossing a ball or stick for Fido will help! (Plus, pets are adorable when they’re hard at play.)

Portion Control

Did you know that even giving your animal companion ten calories too many each day can cause them to gain a pound a year? That’s a lot for a dog or cat! Pay attention to portion sizes.

Weigh-Ins

It’s much easier to nip weight gain in the bud than it is to put a chubby animal on a diet. Monitoring your pet’s weight can be very helpful with this. The easiest way to do this is probably to weigh yourself, then pick your furry pal up and weigh yourself again. The difference between the numbers is your pet’s weight.

Resist the Sad Eyes

Many of our furry patients have their humans firmly wrapped around their paws. If your pet has you trained to feed them on demand, you may need to steel yourself a bit. Just remember: you aren’t doing your dog or cat any favors by overfeeding them!

Explore

Fido and Fluffy are both quite curious. Use this to your advantage! Change up your dog’s walking route regularly, or take him to parks. As for cats, they are better off staying indoors. However, some kitties do enjoy being walked on leashes. Give it a try! You can also just offer your kitty things like newspaper tunnels to explore.

Limit Treats

Treats are a great way to make our furry pals happy, and just help them feel loved. However, this can be a slippery slope. Keep snacks to about 5 percent of your pet’s daily intake.

Please reach out to us, your Virginia Beach, VA vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!