Fit, Not Fat
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Pets are just like humans, if they eat too much and don’t take enough exercise they will put on weight. Pets and humans are not born fit, fitness needs to be achieved and this requires commitment. Pets who stay at their ideal weight tend to have longer and healthier lives.

Depending on which statistics you read, somewhere between 30% and 80% of pets in the UK are overweight, but obesity is not inevitable

Being overweight is as unhealthy for pets as it is for us. Lack of exercise and poor diet can lead to a shortened life span, heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. One aspect of aging is that joints become less supple. If your pet is carrying more weight than its joints have been designed to carry, then it is likely it will suffer from arthritis later in its life.

The solution is simple. Pets have a similar calorie equation to humans – if their food energy intake exceeds the energy they require, they put on weight. To help your pet lose weight, you need to reduce its calorie intake, and increase its exercise quota to burn off the calories.

Exercise plays an important role in weight reduction, and it also improves general health. You can’t however expect an overweight pet to suddenly be able to run a marathon! Exercise should be increased gradually.

Dog walking will not only help your pet, but will help improve your fitness too! Research shows that walking a dog helps reduce stress as well as helping you to keep fit.

Playing with cats helps increase their activity levels. Pets in hutches should be let out for a run at least once a day. Hamsters and other small animals benefit from exercise wheels and time out to be handled.

What can I do to prevent weight gain?

•	Check your pet’s ideal weight with your vet. Weigh your pet regularly and watch for changes.
•	Feed a nutritionally balanced diet and follow the recommended feeding guidelines. Remember, each of your pets is an individual, and will need feeding accordingly.
•	Keep feeding of titbits to a minimum – if you do feed extras, take them into account at meal times.
•	Don’t feed cows milk to cats or dogs. It can cause stomach upsets and has lots of hidden calories.
•	If you think you’ll be tempted to feed your pet too much, use a smaller feeding bowl.
•	Ensure that your pet is getting plenty of exercise. A small dog should have at least a 30-minute walk every day.

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

•	Pet owners should check the ideal weight for their pet with their vet.
•	If your pet is 10% heavier than its ideal weight, you need to take action.
•	An easy method of weighing larger pets, such as dogs and cats, is to weigh yourself, then weigh yourself carrying your pet. Simple subtraction will give you its weight. The weighing scales here at the practice are available for use any time too.
•	Some simple signs tell you if your pet is overweight: -
o	you can’t feel his/her ribs
o	his/her stomach sags, and sides bulge
•	Overweight pets become breathless quickly and are reluctant to take exercise.

What should I do if my pet is very overweight?

•	It is dangerous to put pets, particularly cats, on crash diets.
•	You should always consult your vet if you are considering putting your pet on a weight loss programme.
•	Your vet may well prescribe a special low calorie diet.