Obesity is a growing epidemic among many species, and our nation’s cats and dogs are not safe from this weighty health threat. In fact, more than half of the pets in the United States are overweight or obese, with 59% of dogs and  61% of cats classified as too heavy in the latest survey from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).

Although a few additional pounds may not seem like a big deal, consider how much extra baggage a single pound puts on a 10-pound cat. That’s a whopping 10% of their body weight! Obese pets are at an increased risk for a multitude of health problems, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Urinary issues
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension
  • Respiratory disorders
  • Chronic skin infections
  • Endocrine diseases
  • Anesthesia and surgical complications
  • Heatstroke
  • Decreased life span
  • Poor quality of life
  • Some cancers

A lean pet is a healthy pet. If you’re struggling to help your pet shed those extra pounds as easily as they shed fur, try our All Breed Pet Care team’s tips for successful weight management.

#1: Learn how to properly assess your pet’s body fat

Many people—around one-third of pet owners—do not realize their pet is too heavy. While the number on the scale is a good starting point, it does not tell you much more than what your pet weighs. However, knowing your pet’s weight is important for monitoring their progress and for calculating their calorie requirements. 

Instead of assigning an arbitrary number to your pet based on their breed or breeds’ average, learn to assess their body fat using a body condition scoring (BCS) system. Knowing what your pet’s current BCS is, and what they should look like, is the best way to determine if they are at a healthy weight.

A pet with an ideal body condition should have a clearly visible abdominal tuck, an hourglass-shaped waist, and easily palpable ribs, spine, and hips. If your pet has a drooping belly, rounded waistline, or skeletal prominences that are covered by a thick layer of fat, they’re too heavy.

#2: Calculate your pet’s caloric needs

While the guidelines on your pet’s bag of food are a good starting place, they’re just that: guidelines. Often, your pet’s specific needs will fall within that range, but the lower and upper limits may be different by a significant amount. 

Instead of feeding your pet whatever the bag of food suggests, determine how much they actually need to maintain a healthy weight. Use a pet calorie calculator that factors in your pet’s weight, BCS, age, lifestyle, and target weight to learn how much food they need.

#3: Measure out portions correctly

Once you know how many calories your pet needs each day to lose, maintain, or gain weight, check the number of calories in a portion of their food. So, if your 20-pound dog needs about 600 calories per day, and their food contains 400 calories per cup, they would need about one and a half cups of food each day, leaving room for treats.

After determining how much food your pet should have, divide that amount into two or three meals. Feeding your pet the entire amount all at once hinders proper metabolism and digestion, and can leave them feeling too full, then too hungry.

When scooping out your pet’s meals, use an actual 8-ounce measuring cup—not a coffee cup, Tupperware container, or any other scooping device. Accurately measuring your pet’s food will ensure they receive the correct number of calories for a healthy weight.

#4: Implement a regular exercise program

Too few pets receive the daily activity they need to maintain strong muscles, healthy joints, and a lean physique. If your furry pal has been a couch potato for some time, slowly start an exercise program to avoid injury. Start with 10- to 15-minute sessions of a low-impact activity like walking, before increasing length and intensity. The key to ensuring your pet is active is to choose exercises you both enjoy, such as playing a game of fetch or bolting around an agility course.

#5: Identify health problems that interfere with your pet’s weight loss

If your pet is struggling to lose weight, despite their new diet and exercise plan, they may have a health problem that is getting in the way. Potential causes that slow your pet’s metabolism or limit their mobility include hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease, and osteoarthritis, all of which are manageable conditions. 

Although you may get frustrated with your pet’s plateaued weight loss, do not drastically cut their food. Feeding your pet too few calories and too little food overall can lead to serious, potentially fatal, health problems, such as hepatic lipidosis and nutrient insufficiency. Instead, discuss healthy weight-loss diet options with our team to help your pet lose weight safely.

Losing weight is a challenge, no matter your species. Let our All Breed Pet Care team help your four-legged friend shed those extra pounds by creating a customized exercise and nutrition plan. Give us a call to schedule your pet’s appointment.