weight and obesity issues
Excess weight has become a major problem in modern society, both in humans and pets. Excessive obesity not only shortens lifespan, but also significantly reduces quality of life and has a significant impact on organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas. In addition, obesity can also cause metabolic problems, such as diabetes.
How to tell if your pet is overweight?
The easiest way to know if your pet is the right weight is to get a body condition score. The principle of body condition scoring is to touch the pet's ribs with both hands and score based on the feeling. Ratings range from Level 1 (extremely thin, ribs are visible, almost no fat), Level 3 (Normal and healthy, ribs can be felt, but no obvious fat is visible), to Level 5 (Overweight, obvious fat is not palpable) to the raised ribs). Because different pet breeds have different standards, body condition scoring is a more accurate way to determine whether you are overweight than relying solely on weight.
What should you do if your pet is overweight?
Once you've determined that your pet is overweight, you can record changes in his weight to see if changes to his lifestyle and eating habits are effective. Here are some specific measures:
Assess eating habits :- Healthy Eating : Is the food your pet eats healthy? Is it appropriate for their age and breed? Are portion sizes correct?
- Count Calories : Refer to the feeding guide on the pet food package to calculate daily caloric needs and record all food and treat intake.
- The key to losing weight is controlling calorie intake. Too much intake or too little burning can lead to weight gain.
- It is recommended to choose low-calorie pet food, such as Hills' Science Diet Light designed for cats and dogs, or for pets with more serious obesity problems, choose veterinarian-prescribed food, such as Hills' Metabolic or Royal Canin's Obesity.
- Add small amounts of cooked vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, pumpkin, or cauliflower to your pet, but be careful in moderation to avoid gastrointestinal upset.
- Before making changes to diet or increasing exercise, take your pet to a veterinary clinic for a check-up to make sure the weight problem is not caused by a health problem such as a hormonal imbalance, such as thyroid problems and Cushing's disease.
importance of exercise
Exercise is particularly important for weight loss, especially in dogs. The amount of exercise should be increased gradually, with a recommended increase of approximately 10% per week. You need to be cautious when formulating an exercise plan, especially for large dogs. You should first perform some gentle exercises, such as jogging, swimming, playing ball, etc. These activities can help burn fat and also enhance the interaction between the owner and the pet.
What should I do if my pet is underweight?
Pets that are overweight are more common than pets that are underweight. If you suspect your pet is underweight, check your daily caloric intake and make necessary adjustments. If weight problems persist, this may be a health warning sign. The underlying cause could be something as minor as intestinal parasites, or something more serious like kidney disease or thyroid problems. If your pet is underweight, it is recommended to take it to a veterinary clinic immediately for a check-up.
Managing your pet's weight is critical to their health. Through scientific body condition scoring, reasonable diet control and appropriate exercise, pets' weight problems can be effectively managed. Before any weight management plan, a veterinarian should be consulted to ensure the health of your pet and to avoid weight problems that may affect its quality of life and longevity.