Your fat pet is not happy or healthy

You may think your dog has a little “puppy fat” or that your cuddly cat is just the cutest thing, but for pets even carrying a little extra weight can have huge health implications.

Proper growth and weight can help prevent many diseases and disorders associated with obesity, as well as growth-related skeletal disease – extending their lives, making them more comfortable and delivering massive savings on veterinary bills.

Worldwide, obesity is a massive health problem for humans. According to the World Health Organisation, 39% of adults are overweight. In South Africa some studies indicate that almost 70% of women and 39% of men are overweight. Sadly this trend extends to our pets, too – South African vets say that more than 50% of the pets they treat are overweight or obese. Nine out of 10 parents of overweight pets mistakenly identify their pet’s weight as normal.

This is widely referred to as the “fat gap”. Thirty percent of pet parents don’t check their pet’s weight, but the reality is that they just don’t see that their pets are overweight. Excess weight can decrease an animal’s life expectancy by up to 2½ years. It has been linked to more than 20 ailments, including arthritis, urinary conditions, skin problems, heart disease and cancer.

“If you think fat pets are happier, think again. Overweight pets have been shown to be less happy,” says Dr Guy Fyvie, nutritional advisor for Hill’s Pet Nutrition South Africa.

Visible signs include not being able to feel their ribs; loss of a discernible waist; pads of fat over their hips and at the base of their tail; a waddle rather than a walk; overheating; shortness of breath and bad temper.

Pet parents’ behaviour often plays a major role in their animals being overweight.

“Treating our loved ones with food is a way we can show them how much we love them,” says Hill’s marketing manager Carla Bath. “But that shared stick of dry wors reflects the emotional part that makes obesity a condition that’s tough to beat.” Sticking to a diet is difficult, but cutting your pet’s portion sizes or restricting calories is not going to help.

Rather use a food like Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic, that’s ignites the metabolism of your overweight pet to work like that of a lean pet. Visit PetSlimmer.co.za to find vets who are offering free weight checks to help ensure their furry friends are in tip-top shape. Vets will make recommendations that will help to get them back to a healthy weight.