Jan 24 Newsletter

JANUARY NEWSLETTER

Weight Loss in Pets

New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for us – our furry friends may need to make lifestyle changes as well.

Weight loss in pets can seem daunting, but there are a few simple steps that you can take to help them start shedding those pesky pounds:

1. Cut back the calories!

Calories consumed needs to be less than calories burned.

Call us and we can help determine your pets ideal weight, and help calculate the amount of calories your pet should be consuming in a day.

Every bag of pet food should have a calorie content per cup of food (kcal/cup). There are lower calorie / “lite” options, that are generally higher in fiber to make your pet feel fuller. There are also prescription diets (i.e. Hill’s metabolic, Royal Canin Satiety) that are specifically formulated for weight loss.

Remember – treats count too! Keep the treat allowance below 10% of daily calorie allotment.

2. Exercise!

BRISK walks for dogs – no lolly-gagging around! Use head halters to help with distraction during walks. Keep a brisk pace for optimum calorie burn.

Engage in play with your dog or cat 10-15 minutes twice daily – use toys, balls, squeakers, laser pointers.

Move the food bowl upstairs or downstairs, rotating the location to make your pet work for their food.

3. Other tips:

Give your pet affection instead of food when they beg. Let playtime displace chowtime! Even better, distract your begging dog by going for a walk or playing with them.

It may help to feed small meals frequently. You can divide their total calorie allotment per day into 4-6 smaller feedings. Make sure and pick up food in between meals to eliminate snacking.

See our list of healthy, low-calorie snacks!

4. Weigh-ins

It will help guide your pets weight loss if you recheck their weight. Stop in monthly to weigh them and it will help guide their progress.

Keep in mind, if you are being strict and taking these steps, and aren’t seeing any weight loss, ask us – your pet could have an underlying issue such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease.  Our veterinary team is happy to assist you with any questions.