It’s no secret that obesity is a major problem. Around one in three adults in the United States is obese.
But humans aren’t the only ones carrying too much weight. Many of our pets, too, are overweight. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, more than fifty percent of dogs and nearly sixty percent of cats in the United States are overweight or obese.
And much like people, overweight pets suffer some pretty serious consequences. Obese dogs often get arthritis and may have shorter life spans, while overweight cats suffer from asthma, high blood pressure, and gall bladder disorder.
So, what’s going on? Obviously, cats and dogs alone are not to blame. After all, our pets don’t cook their own meals. Not surprisingly, the problem lies with how and how much pet owners feed their pets, and how little regular exercise many pets get.
We all enjoy rewarding our pets with treats. But just like with humans, indulging pets with too many food rewards can cause serious weight gain, especially if the dog is allowed to wander around the yard instead of going on walks, or the cat mostly lies around instead of being engaged in active play.
The solution, then, is pretty simple. Don’t feed your pet table scraps and indulge them with too many treats. If you have a cat, get it going by chasing a laser pointer or cat toy. If you have a dog, take it on regular walks.
Your pet loves you no matter what. But they’ll be especially happy if you keep their weight in check.
