Health Tips: Overcoming Fat and Diabetes in our Dogs and Cats

Obesity in pets is a rising cause of health problems in the US today. What can you do to make sure your pet stays healthy? Here are some pet health care tips.

Dogs:

Slow and Steady Wins the Race:
Be careful not to get excited when your pup goes through a growth spurt and over feed him. Slow and steady is best for a dog's orthopedic health. Instead of feeding your growing puppy nutrient-packed food, vets recommend adult food instead.

Too much of a Good thing can be Bad:
Vitamins and supplements always sound like a good idea, but giving your dog too much may cause nutritional imbalances.

Dieting Tips:
If your dog is already overweight, and you want to help him shed sound pounds, help your dog feel full by substituting part of his meal with green beans or plain canned pumpkin. Both are rich in fiber, not in calories.


Cats:

The "Catkins" Diet
To ward off diabetes in your feline try "the catkins diet." 40 to 45 percent protein, 40 to 45 percent fat, and only 3 to 5 percent carbohydrates. You can also try canned cat foods which are closer to this ratio than dry. It may be more expensive than dry food, but your cat's health is worth it!

No Crash Dieting!
Never make your cat "fast." Not feeding your cat within 24 hours may result in a life-threatening situation.




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The Next Fat Epidemic - Your Pet?!

Well according to ABC News, that's exactly it! Just when you thought you could never give too much love to your pet... YOU CAN!
They interviewed this doctor from the UK and I quote, "British TV veterinarian Joe Inglis estimates that 60 percent of pets in the United Kingdom are overweight. "I think it's the biggest health problem affecting our pets," he said." I think that's a bit much! Especially since I know the ridiculous measures these "expert doctors" have invented for us humans, that label a perfectly healthy "weighted" individual - obese. While there is definitely some worthwhile alarm, I just can't get all up in arms about the whole thing enough to really care. What does kill me is seeing how many children as fat as they are. So lob in pets and that makes a gruesome twosome.
Now just when you thought it was a moral issue, apparently you can be charged for animal abuse. Here's a quick example: "When the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) discovered Rusty, an 161-pound Labrador, it took his owners to court. The judge likened poor old Rusty to a walrus, and fined his feeders $2,000." Now that's scary....


Come join us in the web's most dynamic and fun online pet community at www.planet-pets.com and keep your finger on the pulse by signing up free to our monthly online newsletter, The Scoop today!