Austin Veterinarian

Obesity in Our Pets

It has been reported that nearly 50% of dogs and 20% of felines are overweight. Weight management with our pets is not something that is at the forefront of our thought process. With the obesity epidemic taking our nation by storm, our dearest companions are overlooked in the effort to reduce the growing trend.

What many of us don’t realize is that our pets follow our lifestyles. If we spent our time sitting in the house all day after work, watching The Simpsons and eating chicken-fried steak, our pets will do the same. We have almost complete control over what our pets do. Fido cannot decide for himself, once you’ve left for work and locked him inside the house, whether or not he wants to go for a stroll in the park. So as he sits placidly by the door waiting for his beloved owner’s arrival, he goes back to the dog food bowl for another quick bite to eat.

A ten-minute walk each night right before bedtime is simply not enough activity for a healthy pet, and as time goes on, the pounds build up and its health goes down. Obesity in animals causes unnecessary stress on vital organs, much like humans. Overweight animals are more likely to injury themselves in everyday activities. If this discuss of bad health and obesity in your pet worries you, don’t, because luckily things can change.

There are a number of things you can do to increase the overall health in your animal. Start taking the dog with you on daily jogs. I’ve never heard of Fido being utterly bored with a game of Frisbee. Be creative in the way that you care for your pet’s health. You will find that if you continue to play an active role in your pet’s welfare, it will be well worth it.

For additional resources regarding pet owner care and handling obesity, contact your Austin Vet Clinic.