4 Easy Steps to Help Your Pet Loose Weight

In the United States, pet obesity is on the rise. In 2013, a survey taken by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported that approximately 53% of pets are suffering from obesity, and  22% of owners believe their pet is at a normal and healthy weight. Although your overweight ball of fur may seem happy, but with obesity comes other serious and unwanted diseases and illness that can become life threatening.  If you are willing and ready to help your dog or cat lose those some weight, here are four steps to help shed those extra pounds.

1. Less food

Start off by reducing your pets food intake by a quarter cup every 2-3 weeks. So say if your dog eat 2 cups of food a day you would reduce the amount to 1 ¾, then to a 1 ½. If you are concerned about how much your dog should be eating, ask your vet what they would suggest for your pets weight.

2. Lower calorie foods

Contrary to popular believe, canned food has been found to have less calories than dry food, so starting your pet on a canned food diet will greatly reduce their calorie intake. If canned food is a little to pricey, try to find a dry food that has fewer calories than your previous food. Always check the label of your pets food for the best ingredients such as real meat and less grains.

3. Make Them Work for It

With free feeding being a thing of the past, veterinarians and dog behaviorists are suggesting making your pets work for every kibble. Whether it be through food dispensing toys like KONGS or by earning their food throughout the day by doing tricks such as “sitting”. Not only is this a good way to feed your pet, but it also helps with training.

4. More Exercise

Of course, more exercise always helps. If your couch potato only goes for one walk a day, try to work in another walk or maybe one long run. If you are a parent, this is a great way to get your kids involved by sending them out to play with the dog or getting them to play with the cat and his or her toys.

If you are at all concerned with your pets weight, be sure to talk to your vet for any further weight loss tips that are specific to your pet. Remember that weight loss isn’t easy for humans and it’s not all that easy for pets either so have patients. Helping your pet lose the weight will not only make your pet healthier but also prolong their life spans, so it is definitely worth all the effort.