While you’re at it, put down the potato chips and share a carrot with your pooch. For cats, try a flake of salmon or tuna when you’re feeling generous. Be sure not to feed dogs a full apple or banana, as they have high sugar content. These naturally nutritious tasty tidbits are a healthy option for many dogs. Pets (and people) need to learn to earn extra goodies.Īs an alternative to highly-processed store-bought treats, try offering baby carrots, green beans, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, sliced apples and bananas or ice cubes. Instead, use treats only as a reward for good behavior. Be cautious of “guilt-treating” – the practice of giving your pet a treat because you feel guilty leaving them home alone. Break treats into peewee pieces and divvy them out whenever your pet earns it. As few as 30 extra calories per day means your pet gains over three pounds in a year.īetter yet, dogs don’t do division. Many pet owners feed the proper amount of food but sabotage their efforts by adding one or two snacks throughout the day. Whatever treats you give, be sure to count those additional calories. I like single ingredient treats such as sweet potato, salmon, and blueberry bites or functional treats that provide a bonus such as helping to keep teeth clean or promote mobility. Choose low-calorie, no-sugar goodies that provide a health benefit. Too many pet treats are what I call “calorie grenades” laden with sugar and fat blowing up our pet’s waistlines and destroying their health. If you’re going to give your pets extra goodies, make ‘em count. After you calculate how many calories your pet needs, determine how much food you should feed each meal – and measure it.įirst off, I’m not anti-treats. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has done studies to show that feeding as few as 10 extra tiny kibbles of food per day can add up to a pound of weight gain per year in indoor cats and small dogs. Even worse, some pets, especially cats, are fed an “all-day buffet” that results from the “just keep the bowl full” feeding method. Too many pet owners simply fill the bowl or “guesstimate” how much they’re feeding. ** +70 ** Of course, each pet’s metabolism is different so be sure to consult your veterinarian before starting a diet.Ī pet parent’s single greatest tool in the fight against excess weight is a measuring cup. Add 70 and you’ve got a general idea of how many calories you should be feeding a typical inactive, indoor spayed or neutered dog or cat weighing between 6 and 60 pounds. Another good starting point is to use this formula: Divide your pet’s weight by 2.2. Instead, ask your veterinarian to calculate the proper number of calories your pet needs each day. That means if you have an older, spayed or neutered indoor lap potato you’re probably feeding 20% to 30% too much if you follow the food’s instructions. And don’t think you can trust the bag feeding guides are formulated for adult, un-spayed or un-neutered active dogs and cats. If you don’t know how many calories your pet needs each day, you don’t know how much to feed. Try these seven tips to trim excess pounds from your pet and keep them trim. How can you slim down your super-sized pet, keep them fit and reduce their risk of developing many serious diseases? The answer may be easier than you think. This means almost 80 million pets are at risk for developing crippling arthritis, debilitating diabetes, catastrophic kidney and heart disease, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer. Ward, find him on Facebook or at According to the latest veterinary surveys, over half our nation’s dogs and cats are overweight. Ernie Ward lists seven great (and perhaps unexpected) ways to help your pet lose weight.
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