Well, we've all been there because let's face it, it's really easy to give in to those eyes, paws, and slobbering mouths and inconspicuously (or not) hand over some food. The truth is, many pets these days are overweight. The good news is, there are varying levels to "overweight" and there are some basic solutions that can help your furiend drops some poundage. Do not leave it up to your pet - they are not self-accountable and nothing will change!
How to Tell if Your Pet is Overweight
The best way to determine whether a pet is obese is by using a system such as the body condition score. The best way to begin is to stand above your pet and look down on them. You should be able to feel their ribs but not see them. If you can see them, they are too skinny. If you can’t see their ribs, and place your hands on the side of their chest and still can’t, they’re overweight.
Both dogs and cats should also have a nice taper at their waist (between the abdomen and where the hips go into the socket). If there is very little or none at all, they are too heavy and they’ll be oval shaped. They’ll be egg shaped rather than hourglass. And a very obese pet will have a pendulous abdomen, hip fat, and neck fat, all of which are very noticeable.
Take a look at the body condition chart below. Your pet’s physique should ideally resemble a picture of an animal in the middle numbers.
Easy Ways to Help Your Pet
Simple stuff first - cut their food by 25%, and then increase their walks if they're a dog or their playtime if they're a cat. Do not tell your pet that they are responsible for it on their own, you will be very disappointed in the results.
Still struggling to get the results you want? Alter the diet even more. As a local pet store in Michigan, Wags to Wiskers consistently carries a wide variety of pet foods and many are geared towards wet management. Ask an associate for help!