Does your pet need to shed a few pounds? Looking a little rounded of late? If they need to get back to fighting fit, these ten tips will help support them back to a healthy weight.
1. Make a note of what they eat
Starting a food diary is the simplest way to start monitoring where changes may be needed. Record everything your pet eats, from treats and scraps to their usual meals. This first step might be an eye-opener, helping you see where any extra calories are coming from. It’s also a great way to spot unhealthy and unhelpful habits that are keeping the weight on (like extra treats when very thoughtful friends pop over).
2. Pay attention to portions
Measuring your pet’s food will help you control how much they’re being fed and bring to light if they’re eating more than they really need. If you need guidance or advice on how much they need based on breed, age and size, be sure to check food packaging, consult your vet or speak to one of our Animal Health Advisors.
3. Make the switch
Overweight pets can benefit from switching to a low-calorie diet. There are many targeted weight management foods for cats and dogs designed to help them feel full while reducing calorie intake. To ensure your pet’s diet meets their specific needs, it’s always best to consult your vet before making any changes.
4. Be vigilant
It may seem an obvious point, but make sure your pet isn’t being fed elsewhere. It’s easy to see if someone is slipping your dog an extra treat, but cats are a different story. Kind neighbours might not know they’re compromising your cat’s health by treating them to extra food. If you suspect this is an issue, you can always attach a “Please don’t feed me!” tag to their cat collar.
5. Furry food only
You should avoid feeding your pet any human food. We know it’s hard to resist puppy dog eyes, but be strong – as much as we love to treat our pets, their nutritional needs are very different to ours, so sharing our food when their weight isn’t ideal won’t do their health any favours.
6. Get them on the scales
Regularly weighing your pet will help you track their progress or notice if the problem is getting more serious. You can weigh your cat or small dog by standing on the scale yourself, and then hopping on with them – the difference is your pet’s weight.
7. Slowly does it
If your cat or dog gets a little overzealous and wolfs their dinner down in one, investing in a slow feeder might help them take it easy, and allow them to digest their food fully. Simple solution!
8. Fun and games
Here’s an idea: why not turn your pet’s mealtime into a game? While not necessarily a daily thing, it can be a fun activity to incorporate into their routine. So, you may hide your dog’s food in their favourite toy, making them work that bit harder for their reward, or place your kitty’s meal in places where they need to jump up or search: a great way to encourage burning energy through play.
9. Stay patient
Healthy weight loss can take time. A safe loss rate for your cat or dog is around 1-2% of their body weight per week. Checking in with your vet will help you set realistic goals.
10. Introduce more exercise
Last but definitely not least – upping your pet’s exercise is an essential part of keeping them healthy. There are several ways to increase your furry friend’s activity levels – cats love to chase a piece of string or a laser pointer, and name a dog that would say no to extra walkies and a game of fetch?
