How much is too much? The tough subject of obesity in pets, and how to help prevent it.

To date, well over half of pet cats and dogs are overweight by veterinary standards. Similar to dog years, for each additional pound that our pet puts on, that pound is equivalent to approximately 10 human pounds. There’s no doubt that over feeding your pet is easily done, but the question is how do we help to prevent it?

1. Start to incorporate wet food into your pet’s diet. It may sound like a simple switch, but wet foods contain a much higher moisture content which leads to a pet that gets fuller, and stays fuller, longer.
2. Try adding in veggies such as green beans and carrots to your pet’s food. These fiber rich vegetables help to fill your pet up faster and keep them slim & trim!
3. Substitute your pet’s treats for items like their kibble or other healthy snacks like apples or carrots. Most pet owners are surprised to find that when they get excited about giving their pet something (whatever it may be) their pets get just as excited about getting it!
4. Take a look at your pet’s food. Are you still using a high fat puppy or kitten diet when your pet may be over a year old now? If your pet was recently fixed, then you may need to cut down on the amount you’ve been feeding due to your pet’s newly decreased metabolism. If your pet is now considered senior, he or she may be in need of a lower fat, higher fiber food. These examples and more are common issues pet parents run into on a daily basis.
5. Why not simply use weight loss food? Though this is always an option, the average weight loss formula tends to cut some corners. Although there is no relation between weight gain and the protein levels in your pet’s food (in fact just the opposite), the average weight loss formula drastically cuts down on the protein percentages and exponentially increases the amount of plant-based protein it contains. While plant-based protein sources are a good source of fiber and can be good in moderation, they tend not be absorbed as well by your pet’s GI tract or can be used as a filler. Thus, where as a typical high protein grain free food has a higher absorbency rate, your average weight loss pet food tends to pass through your pet’s system more quickly and with a lower rate of absorption due to its low protein/high fiber content.

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