From fat to fit – Antidotes for overweight animals

Just as with their owners, the antidote for obesity in pets is diet and exercise. To rule out other medical causes of weight gain, owners should first consult their veterinarians before beginning any new exercise or food regimen.

Once you’re cleared to begin a new routine, the Association on Pet Obesity Prevention website offers a pet weight translator, advice on how to burn more calories on your dog walks, weight management guidelines and information about caloric needs.

Here are a few easy-to-follow tips from them on improving your pet’s diet and exercise:

• Avoid the urge to leave food out all the time.
Establish meal times, measure the food and stick to the routine. If you love to give your pet treats, make sure you or your vet counts those calories in the overall diet plan.

• If your vet recommends a change in your dog or cat’s diet, allow several days for the transition.
Start by substituting one-quarter of the diet food for one to two days. Then, increase to one-half total volume of food for another two days. Next, mix three-quarter new food for a final two to three days, before completely switching to the new diet.

• Understand the importance of eating—even for fat, finicky felines.
It’s important for obese or overweight cats to continue eating rather than going on a hunger strike against the new food. Their physiology is different than humans or dogs. If they refuse to eat for as little as two consecutive days, they can develop hepatic lipidosis, a life-threatening form of liver disease. Many times, the best way to achieve a low calorie/ high taste satisfaction balance is by offering a prescribed amount of canned diet food several times per day.

• Make diet dog or cat food more palatable.
To enhance diet food’s appeal, try warming the food, adding ketchup, oregano or garlic and even adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement or salmon juice over to food.

• Use feather toys, flashlights, paper bags or balls, anything that your cat finds interesting to chase.
Try to engage your cat for ten minutes twice a day. In the wild, big cats are stalkers who pursue their prey with short bursts of energy. Then, they feed and recover for a few hours (or sometimes days) before going on the next hunt. So, domestic cats are suited for short, high-energy play sessions throughout the day. It’s easy to play with your cat while you eat, watch television or even read. Experiment to see what toys and techniques are exciting. But remember: Cats are smart and might get bored with the same activity day after day, so change up the routine.

• Experiment with toys, balls, laser pointers, squeaky toys and walks to get your mutt moving.
Try to exercise your dog for at least 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. There are numerous toys on the market; but, the best source of endless entertainment is you and other animals. Take your dog on a walk, hike or to the dog park. The outdoors provides all sorts of ever-changing sights, sounds and smells. Sometimes, dogs just need the supervised freedom to follow their senses.

• Choose toys carefully.
Toys don’t have to be expensive; but, they should be durable and species- or breed-appropriate. Giving a Great Dane a Chihuahua-sized stuffed toy pretty much guarantees a trip to the emergency room after the toy is swallowed. You also need to know what the toy is made out of and how it is made. Some toys contain smaller parts, such as squeakers or bells. When dogs or cats crack them open, the animal can swallow these small parts, which causes intestinal problems. Cat toys often include feathers, streamers or attachments, which can be knocked or chewed off. So, be sure to inspect toys on a regular basis. Laser pointers are also great options for cats.

Next week, Unleashed asks the experts about how to start on exercise routine with your dog.

If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, APAWS has many adoptable animals including:

Grace is a beautiful Great Pyrenees, who was rescued from a high kill shelter. Although she currently weighs 85 pounds, this big beauty could stand to gain some weight. Grace is searching for a home where she can “work” and be a full member of the family. This four-year-old is great with children and loves people of all ages. However, she does not enjoy the company of the small dogs in her foster home and may be best suited to being an only dog or having a playmate closer to her size.

O’Malley is an extra large tuxedo orange tabby with beautiful light green eyes. This laidback cat loves attention. After being rescued by an APAWS volunteer, he is seeking a forever home to give him a lot of time and cuddles. O’Malley would be a great addition to any family.

Harley is a great adult Maltese terrier mix who does not understand he is not the boss. Harley is housetrained and a great watchdog. This little guy is also a one-person dog, who can be a complete love to the object of his affection. However, he does not like to share. So, he is best suited to be an only dog in a home without young children and, in fact, a single-owner home would be ideal.

Stevie entered rescue when her family moved out of state and decided not to take her along. This black-and-white beauty is very sweet and loves attention.

Sirius was found wandering around a local workplace bone thin and scared. One of the workers took pity on this adult German shepherd mix and took him in. However, she was unable to keep him and contacted APAWS. Sirius is very sweetl; but, he’s also very scared of new people. Once he’s comfortable and confident in his environment, he shows his loving and fun personality.

Josie is an adorable gray tabby with beautiful markings and an extremely sweet personality. She loves being around people and loves to cuddle. Josie is great with other cats. She is mild-mannered and gentle yet playful. Josie is a wonderful, affectionate cat and would make an excellent companion.

These pets have all been microchipped, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, heartworm and FeLeuk/FIV tested. Many other adoptable cats, kittens, puppies and dogs are available at the Animal Protection and Welfare Society. For more information, click here.