There have been some news items popping up recently concerning overweight pets. According to a number of veterinaries, there are reportedly a large number of pets that could do with some kind of weight reduction. The consequences of this are other serious health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.

The First Step

The first step to solving the problem of overweight pets is to have your pet’s health checked at the vets to determine if there is something other than overeating that is causing the weight gain. Once your pet has been given a clean bill of health, ask the opinion of your vet in regards a feeding and exercise routine so that your pet can lose some excess pounds.

Exercise

How much food your pet should be eating and how often he eats depends on how active your pet is and how much exercise he gets. Be sure he is active enough to burn off any additional weight he is carrying. If he is alone all day, maybe he gets bored and eats to pass the time. Try increasing the length of his daily walks and try playing with him in the backyard. Maybe you can think of other things he likes to do to entice him to become more active - any physical activity will be beneficial to his well being. If overweight pets are extremely overweight, it is important to increase their activity level slowly –step up the walking or playing routines gradually so your pet has time to adjust.

If your pet stays in doors most of the time, be sure that there is enough room for him to run around inside. If he is confined to mostly sitting or laying down and there’s not much you can do about it, then he needs to be taken out more often.

Food

Pet food usually has serving guidelines on the package, but you also need to consider how much exercise your pet gets every day and adjust the portions accordingly. Be sure that the type of food you give your pet is nutritious and healthy. Even cut the treats down if necessary - doing this slowly will make it a lot easier. Healthy substitutes can also help reduce the weight.

For pets to live a long and healthy life, wholesome food is important for their health. Having an ideal weight will help keep pets energetic and happy, which in turn will add years to their lives. Illness can be averted to some degree by reducing the food and increasing the activity of overweight pets. Take time to look into your pet’s well being and he will be your companion for many years to come.