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Obesity epidemic is now plaguing our pets

31/5/2014

5 Comments

 
Picture
Photo Credit: las - initially (Lori Semprevio) via Compfight cc
No one can escape the fact that an increasing proportion of people in western countries are becoming overweight or obese. Most of us are well aware of the health problems stemming from obesity and we make allowances to keep our weight in check.  What we do not seem to realise is that, according to recent research, our faithful household pets seem to be also packing on the pounds! 
The latest statistics of pets who are overweight or obese are quite astounding. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), around 45 per cent of all pets in the UK are considered unhealthily overweight. To be precise, the percentage of pets that are overweight or obese are as follows: dogs (45%), cats (40%), rabbits & guinea pigs (28%) and caged birds (15%). The Australian Veterinarian Association claim that dogs (45%) and cats (40%) are overweight or obese in Australia. Unfortunately the majority of pet owners surveyed by PFMA and AVA do not believe their pet is actually fat! Denial perhaps? Pet owners generally remark that they find their pets 'cuter' or 'sweeter' if they are more of the rotund variety then athletic and slim. Yes... maybe Jabba-The-Hutt kitty looks cuddly, but we are sure that he is not exactly ecstatic with carrying around the excess baggage.

The issue with having overweight or obese pets is that, just like a human, your pet's quality of life deteriorates due to associated health problems. Pets who are overweight are more likely to suffer from a variety of illnesses including:  cardiac disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, respiratory issues, cancer, arthritis (early onset), skin problems, reproductive issues and premature ageing. Furthermore, since your overweight pet is more prone to being sick, owners end up seeking veterinary assistance more often than people with healthier pets.  Quite an unnecessary financial burden in the long run! 

A way to improve the situation is to adhere to a strict diet for your pet. Only feed them a certain portion of food twice a day, morning and night. Yes.. they may stare at you with their baby blues or whinge...but don't give in! Select foods that are low in fat and contain all the necessary nutrients and vitamins to maximise their health potential. 
Another factor is to up the amount of exercise your pet undertakes. If you own a dog, take them for regular walks. If possible, go to a park where they can be let off their leash and run around. Perhaps you can get in on the action yourself and play catch with your dog so you get a workout as well!  Don't over exert your dog at the start, around 20 to 60 minutes of walking each day is a good idea. Then as your pet becomes more fit, increase the intensity of their workouts. 
For cat owners, engage more with your cat by tossing them balls or have him/her chase after a bit of string or laser pointer. Aim to play with your cat in 10 to 15 minute intervals a few times a day, particularly if they are kittens or young adults.
Overall, PFMA generally recommends to exercise your dog 7 hours a week, your cat 5 hours a week and 4 hours for rabbits.  We guarantee that if you invest time in boosting your pet's physical well being, they will be a much happier and lively pet. You may also see an improvement in your physical self! 
If you are unsure where to begin or whether your pet's weight is actually unhealthy, we strongly advise contacting your local veterinary clinic for a thorough medical examination of your pet. Here at Concord Veterinary Hospital we have extensive experience with assisting our patients to formulate an adequate dietary and fitness regime for their pets. Overall, if you take care of your pet then everyone wins: your waistline, your pet and your wallet.
5 Comments
here are the findings link
23/5/2016 07:35:15 pm

They truly do great work, my first dog and myself took a classes there and she learned, or should I say, I learned a lot, it really helped raising her into the beautiful dog she became

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emotional support dog letter link
22/10/2016 03:14:54 pm

Now, I'm not saying that every last decision we make can be considered a mission statement on The Kind Of Person We Are; rather, it is the collective sum of our actions that makes that statement.

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Amy N link
8/9/2017 08:27:51 am

It is clearly evident that obesity has increasingly become a common health issue faced by many Australian pets today. What even more concerning is that a lot of pet owners still don't take this problem seriously. Some recognise that their pet is overweight at some point but then simply shrug it off. Many have little understanding of healthy diet for pet and the potential diseases caused by what seemingly just ax extra few pounds. This leads to overfeeding, which is the main contributing factor to obesity. There is also a misconception by society that chubby pets are cute. Being a pet owner myself, I have been through the experience of being told my cat Mason was fat. It was hard to accept. I did a lot of research on the issue and realised how serious it is. I know the struggle of putting your beloved animal on a strict diet and cutting his favourite treats. It took weeks, (could be months for some others), but we made it and Mason is now happier and healthier than ever. With a passion for animal and the determination to make changes to this problem, I have created a media campaign called 'Obesity Ain't Cute' aiming to raise awareness on pet obesity and encourage pet owners, especially young people like me, to make changes in feeding practice. Check it out if you share the same passion with me.
https://fitandhealthypetsofaustralia.wordpress.com/.
https://www.facebook.com/obesityaintcute/

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this is the best veterinarian around link
10/9/2017 01:53:51 am

Your pet is a loved and valued member of your family, which is why you want to be careful in selecting a veterinary hospital. The veterinarians and support staff will have many opportunities to work with you and your pet; so you want to find a hospital where the staff have the medical expertise, but also excellent people and animal skills. More importantly, one of the most unfortunate mistakes you can make as a pet owner is to wait for an emergency to find a veterinary hospital. So here are some tips for how to choose a veterinary hospital.

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how to keep house clean with pets link
7/7/2018 04:26:10 pm

Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks.

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