During the winter months many of us seem to pack on a bit of extra insulation around our midriff. Our pets are also added with this expanding waistline. It is difficult to resist those adorable puppy eyes or smooching of your cat around your legs, looking up at you lovingly. A few extra treats can lead to obesity in pets, and us! This is a growing problem (no pun intended) where is it considered 55-64% of cats and dogs worldwide are now considered overweight. New Zealand has the third highest adult obesity rate in the world. The accompanying hand chart will help you asses your pets body condition.

The SPCA science team in 2012 conducted a study by collecting just on 50,000 medical records from vet practices and found more than a quarter of dogs and a fifth of cats were overweight in New Zealand. This issue is enlarging where more pets today are diagnosed with being obese, it is a weighty issue. One that a lot of pet food companies are starting to cash in on with ‘weight control diets’.

There are several health complications that come with this extra weight. Not only will it impact their overall quality of life, but it will significantly reduce life expectancy in both dogs and cats. Those extra pounds as also accompanied by many preventable diseases. The extra weight on their skeletal system will assist osteoarthritis and joint issues earlier. Making exercise a more painful less enjoyable experience. A vicious cycle.

Pets are more likely to develop diabetes, heart issues and respiratory distress. Constipation and/or urinary tract disease/ urinary bladder stones can also be more frequent if pets are overweight. Cancer will develop easier and faster in a pet with added pound than their leaner counterparts. Obesity is now recognized as a disease in the medical field as it has such a significant impact on functional impairment and the quality of our pet’s life. October 13th is now World Pet Obesity Day.

Swimming is a great way to exercise without putting strain on those overburdened joints. Hydrotherapy in warm water can help to shed some pounds. Measuring out their food intake and switching to a species appropriate diet will help immensely. Instead of reaching for that treat, a cuddle, play with their favorite toy or a healthier snack like a carrot will all aid in bring your pet back to a healthy ideal weight. Where not only can they enjoy life but thrive. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for sheading these extra layers of insulation. Contact me if you would like to share in this life invigorating information for your pet.