Your fat cat may be contentedly singing “My Lovely Lady Lumps” to herself all day long, but you and I both know that while we want our pets to have good self-esteem, obesity is a health concern in ourselves as well as our pets. Obesity-complicated illnesses range from arthritis and orthopedic injuries, spinal disc disease, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, liver dysfunction, and urinary tract disorders. Though vital, Weight loss can seem overwhelming. However, simply implementing a few easy changes in your dog or cat’s diet and activity can soon yield slimming results.
Low-Calorie Snacks
Many pet owners are unaware that some traditional pet treats contain a lot of “empty calories” (many calories without much nutritional value). I mean, I once had a client whose dogs ate Chef Boyardee® canned pasta, for goodness’ sake! A treat once in awhile is just fine, but some of us blindly toss our begging pets more treats than we even realize… and those calories add up (especially when you’re a tiny Chihuahua receiving up to 50% or more of your daily calories from treats!). Here are some tricks on how to keep your pet fit while still lovingly “spoiling” him or her with treats:
- Replace store-bought dog and cat treats with pet-friendly fruits and vegetables instead. Many pets like the crunchy texture of these healthy snacks, and the increased fiber and water content (in comparison to most dried pet treats) help your pet feel full. Plus, you’ll probably end up saving some money in the long run! Alternatively, instead of feeding these yummy foods as treats, you could replace a portion of your pet’s meals with some mixed in veggies instead. Some examples include:
Magnolia loooooves herself some watermelon!
- Green beans (cooked, unseasoned)
- Cucumbers (but not to spook your kitty!)
- Zucchini and Squash
- Carrots
- Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Lettuce and Spinach
- Pumpkin (cooked, unseasoned)
- Sweet potato (cooked, unseasoned)
- Bananas
- Apple slices (discard the core & seeds)
- Watermelon (discard the peel & seeds)
Keep in mind that not all fruits and vegetables are healthy snack replacements for your pet. For instance, dogs and cats can choke on whole peaches and plums or their pits and should never, ever consume onions, garlic, grapes, or raisins. Click here to read more about foods that are toxic to your pet. And for additional tips on pet-safe snacks, read here.
- Swap out your dog or cat’s current brand of treats for low-calorie pet treats instead. Low-calorie store-bought treats for dogs include Caru™ Softy ‘n Tasty Treats, Fruitables® Skinny Minis, and Lickety Stik®. Reduced calorie options for cats include Wellness® Pure Delights and Blue Buffalo™ Kitty Yums.
- Portion control, portion control, portion control! Your pet can still enjoy his or her favorite treat brand even if it is high in calories… as long as it is enjoyed in moderation and you are mindful of the calories when feeding them to your pet. Start by simply breaking the treat in half… or even in quarters. If the calorie amount is not listed on the treat’s packaging material, call the manufacturing company for full nutritional information. For additional tips on portion control, read on under “Feeding Toys.”
Still concerned about your pet’s weight and diet? Speak with your vet today to assess whether or not your pet can benefit from a prescription weight loss diet.
Click here for the nutrient requirements of dogs and cats and to learn the pros and cons of homemade, raw, and vegetarian diets.
More Exercise
This one is a no-brainer, but sneaking in more daily exercise can actually be fun!
See?! That hilarious bulldog enjoys exercise a helluva lot more than I do (although yoga pants in a cute cat print are quite enticing). So other than additional or longer daily walks, how can your pet get more exercise?
Indoor treadmills: If you’re short on time due to your mad dash to the office or to pick up the kids, consider investing in a doggie-safe indoor treadmill. This device provides your dog with exercise while you are free to work on other chores or projects in your home.- Turn meal times into fun games: During feeding times, take a handful (or even all of your pet’s food) and use it as rewards for tricks or commands that your pet accomplishes. Or hide several morsels all around your house and have your pet play “hide-and-seek” to search for it all. This activity will provide fun exercise, mental stimulation, and best of all… FOOD!!! Be sure to check out The NoBowl Feeding System™ for cats, which simulates your feline’s natural instinct to hunt.
Toys: Toys are a wonderful non-caloric way to entertain your dog or cat and get your pet up and moving. Balls, squeaky toys, and tug-of-war toys are excellent for keeping your pup occupied. And for your kitty, cat trees allow climbing activity while batting wands and other dangly toys as well as laser chasers and toy mice can amuse them for hours. Just be careful with strings and ribbons as well as hair ties and rubber bands, for ingestion of these items by a curious feline can pose a life-threatening foreign body risk. For additional cat toy ideas, visit The Indoor Pet Initiative from the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. And for a limited time, use promo code “FALLCATS” at Meowingtons to save 50% on cat toys and more!
Feeding Toys
Is your pet an ultra-finicky eater who snubs his wet nose at the smell of pet-healthy fruits and veggies or other low-calorie options? Does he insist on his favorite brand of high-calorie treats despite your having read this article to him? M’kay, if he’s gonna be that insistent on eating his doggie “fast food,” then we gotta at least make him work for his reward and control his portions as discussed, right? How can we do this? With feeding toys! Feeding toys (also called “food toys”) are specialized toys that require your pet to manipulate the device in order to have a small treat dispensed out of it. This keeps your pet mentally stimulated, provides exercise, and aids in portion-control. Dr. Megan Shepherd of Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and discussed some of her favorite feeding toys at a recent veterinary conference:
- KONG® Wobbler Treat Dispensing Dog Toy: KONG® brand products tend to be more durable for your rambunctious dog or cat. See a similar KONG® Wobbler Treat Dispensing Cat Toy here; it contains catnip to entice your kitty to play with it even more!
- Food Cubes: A treat will only be dispensed from a small hole in the cube if the toy is tipped in a certain direction.
- Treat Dispensing Balls: Your cat or dog has to bat these treat-filled balls around your house or fenced-in yard to receive a treat.
- Treat Puzzles: You’ll be renaming your pet “Einstein” after he or she figures out how to move the pieces on this interactive puzzle game to uncover a treat… all while building his or her IQ!
- The NoBowl Feeding System™ for cats: Created by veterinarian Dr. Liz Bales, this feeding kit is the world’s first indoor hunting system for cats designed to increase exercise, reduce stress, and enrich your cat’s overall well-being.
Still curious about how you can further fight pet obesity? Visit the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
Wondering why your dog has suddenly put on weight despite no change in appetite? Is he or she more tired than usual and developed skin or ear infections and hair loss? Talk with your vet about thyroid gland testing to assess for Canine Hypothyroidism, a cause of weight gain in dogs.
I bet you and your cat or dog feel more svelte just having read this, huh?. 😛 CLICK HERE FOR The Meowing Vet‘s ARTICLE ON THE NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF DOGS AND CATS. And check out our in-depth article on Pet Obesity and Weight Loss. In the meantime, if you have any questions about weight loss for your pet, feel free to contact us.
– Maranda Elswick, DVM
Disclaimer: As with any weight loss diet and exercise plan, please consult with your pet’s veterinarian to determine that the aforementioned suggestions are safe for your pet. Consult with your vet to assess your pet’s body condition score to determine what your pet should ideally weigh. Rapid weight loss is unhealthy; instead, weight loss should occur in a slow, controlled manner at 1-2% of your overweight pet’s body weight per week. Additionally, any drastic dietary changes should be evaluated by a veterinarian to determine if your pet’s new diet remains balanced and accounts for your his or her nutritional requirements.
