OTHER CRITTERS

Other animal companions at home, such as pigs, mice, and birds, can also suffer from obesity.

Pigs, while commonly seen as “fat,” also require a balanced diet, which includes proper feeding time and a variety of plant foods. While some are simply adopted, other pigs have been rescued from farms that induce heavy eating for maximum weight gain in the shortest amount of time. They are also kept in small spaces that do not allow for much movement, causing them to amass more fat than they can burn.

Similarly, companion birds are kept in their cages for most of the day. Unlike wild birds who get to fly and explore as they please, birds kept at home have limited time and space to simply roam about. An entirely seed-based diet is also the culprit for bird obesity; because seeds are high in fat, a diet that heavily relies on seeds greatly increases the risk of obesity in birds. In addition, many essential vitamins and minerals are not found in seeds alone, and their absence from your bird’s daily servings of feed may prove harmful to health.

Mice, while also kept in cages, can easily roam the house and get all the exercise they need. However, like birds, mindlessly feeding them a variety of seeds can cause obesity, because they tend to nitpick and choose only those that they prefer, which may not be necessarily healthy in the first place. Also, the lack of toys or furniture in their cages that allow physical activity can encourage more lying around than the ideal amount.