The winter period and the wave of isolations that increase the desire to eat and lack of physical activity, increase the problem of overweight in dogs and cats and may endanger their health.
Dr. Paul Salon, a certified veterinarian and director of scientific relations at Royal Property Israel, explains how to identify the problem early and how to avoid it.
Overweight is a global problem in modern society, which is recognized by doctors in many developed countries.
Recently, however, it has affected not only people but also their pets.
And if people have already realized how much it threatens them, and are trying to track their diet and weight, then our four-legged friends depend only on us in this context.
Today, dog and cat owners are increasingly seeing their pets as family members and a recent survey in Israel clearly indicates a trend of upgrading from "friend" status to "child" status *.
In addition, the survey shows that Israelis like to pamper their pets and use the provision of food and snacks as an expression of affection, but the tendency to overfeed can have dangerous consequences.
More than 50 percent of pets are obese, according to Royal Canin, a premium pet food company, but only a quarter of pet owners see this as a problem.
Sometimes it is even thought that the appearance of a plump cat or dog is 'cute' and does not indicate a condition that needs to be treated.
Add to that the natural tendency to overeat in the winter and the decrease in outdoor trips and exercise and you get a phenomenon of being overweight, which can cause, among other things, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems in pets.
Cats cuddling together, Photo: GettyImages
A recent study by the WALTHAM Pet Nutrition Center and the University of Liverpool found that being overweight can shorten the lives of dogs, and in some breeds it can take up to 2.5 years from their lives.
Dr. Paul Salon, a certified veterinarian and director of scientific relations at Royal Kanin Israel, emphasizes that weight management is a broader concept than just weight control, it is, first of all, a food chosen in a way tailored to the type, age, level of activity and pet breed, and of course habit development. Eating right and healthy from an early age.
Weigh your pet regularly
About 59% of dogs and 52% of cats today are overweight.
Dr. Paul Salon explains how to identify the problem early and what signs to look for:
Weigh your pet regularly.
Only 30% of pet owners carefully monitor their weight and regulate the amount of food they eat.
Weighing can be done by veterinarians, who also check according to the growth tables of breeds of dogs and cats at different stages of life, whether the animal is at the right weight for it.
Learn carefully the breed characteristics of the dog or cat you are raising in your home.
For example, the Labrador Retriever is more likely to be at risk for obesity than any other dog, and the problem is not only in diet but also due to a genetic mutation that has spread to about 25% of the breed.
Be aware of the health of your pet.
Neutered or spayed animals tend to be overweight and overweight.
Special attention should be paid to their diet - feed only at a certain time and carefully measure the portion size.
Many manufacturers have special food series for controlling animal weight, for example, Royal Kennel has several of them (Fit 32 for moderate active cats or Indoor Appetite Control for domestic cats with a tendency to overeat or a series of light weight care for cats and dogs with a tendency to gain weight).
A dog and a cat.
Illustration, Photo: iStockphoto
What mistakes are most often made by pet owners and how to avoid them:
Love = food
.
More than half (56%) of owners give their pet a culinary treat or snack, just to show their attention and love.
This is wrong and dangerous, the consequences of overfeeding are described above.
It is better to play or pet the pet, since even this language of expressing emotions is understandable and pleasant to them and more importantly, it is calorie-free!
Encouragement with pampering
.
During training many owners give their pet pampering for proper execution of commands, for educational purposes and to encourage good behavior.
This method is really effective for educating and formulating different behavior patterns (or developing unconditioned reflexes), but you should only indulge in healthy snacks and in very moderate amounts.
It is even recommended to keep part of the daily dose in favor of positive reinforcement in training or, as mentioned, to use a caress on the head and a kind word.
Inaccurate dosage
.
Food should be given based on the characteristics of a particular pet, it is best to consider the dose, because when using a measuring cup, the error can reach 20%.
For dogs, it is best to feed them twice a day, but it is important to remember that the daily dose should be divided into two.
In cats the food can stand all day so they can eat throughout the day, the main thing is not to give them more than the personal daily allowance.
Proper eating habits of the pet must start from a young age.
Adherence to these rules will help maintain your pet’s health and longevity so that you can give each other many warm moments.
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