One of America’s most common personal goals is to lose weight, and statistics prove there’s good reason to share that goal with our dogs and cats. Our pets can live longer and love us longer if we do. And if we don’t…?
If we let Fido eat and eat and sit and sit, the result is not good, according to statistics provided by Nationwide, the nation’s largest provider of pet health insurance. Nearly 20 percent of its members’ pet insurance claims are for conditions and diseases related to pet obesity – more than $69 million in veterinary expenses in 2017.
Similar to their human counterparts, excessive body fat increases the risk of preventable health issues and may shorten the life expectancy of dogs and cats. Exercising with our pets, when coupled with proper nutrition, just might be the perfect solution, according to veterinarians who say summertime is a great opportunity.
A change can be fun
Let the dog walk you – Try this twist for your daily walks, says Animal Planet: “Instead of walking your dog, have your dog walk you. Wherever she goes, you go. Think of your dog as a four-legged, furry, walking GPS that isn’t letting you know where the final destination will be. You’ll be amazed where the nose will take the two of you.”
Speed things up – Dr. Lucy Spelman, renowned veterinarian, educator and author on domestic and wildlife animals, told Animal Planet that running with your dog is a great activity with one caveat: “Remember it’s your dog’s outing. You should be willing to stop when the dog wants to stop – to sniff and greet other dogs and people – even if that slows you down.”
Let the dog be with dogs – For dogs, playing with other dogs is natural and wonderful exercise. Dr. Spelman noted, “If you watch a group of dogs in this setting, they create their own games and expend their extra energy the way they choose.”
Dance with your dog – Yep, run a YouTube search for ideas and really cute videos.
Limit the food – Experts advise us to measure our pet’s food for consistency along with limiting the number of treats. We should avoid feeding our pets table scraps.
Pet obesity leads to health problems
Nationwide recently sorted through its database of more than 630,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 dog and cat obesity-related conditions. Below are the results:
Most Common Dog Obesity-Related Conditions
- Arthritis
- Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
- Liver Disease
- Low Thyroid Hormone
- Torn Knee Ligaments
- Diabetes
- Diseased Disc in the Spine
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Heart Failure
- High Blood Pressure
Most Common Cat Obesity-Related Conditions
- Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- Liver Disease
- Arthritis
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Failure
- Gall Bladder Disorder
- Immobility of Spine
We love the ideas here, but your veterinarian is the best positioned to determine your pet’s best weight and next steps. Pets enrolled in our Enhanced Day Care program will receive all of the benefits here, plus important socialization with other pets.
