Is Your Dog Overweight?

Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a dog. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

1. Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy requirements. The excess energy is then stored as fat. Once a pet is obese, he may remain obese even after excessive caloric intake stops. The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise.
2. Certain groups of dogs appear more prone to obesity than others. Specific breeds (Labrador retrievers and pugs, for example) and older dogs are particularly prone.
3. Is your dog a hog? As a subjective assessment of body condition, you should be able to feel the backbone and palpate the ribs in an animal of healthy weight. If you cannot feel your pet’s ribs without pressing, there is too much fat.
4. Also, you should see a noticeable "waist" between the back of the rib cage and the hips when looking at your pet from above. Viewed from the side, there should be a "tuck" in the tummy—the abdomen should go up from the bottom of the rib cage to inside the thighs. Dogs who fail these simple tests may be overweight. 
   
   5, 6, & 7. We recommend that you consult your pet’s vet before starting on a weight loss program, which should include these major areas:

5. Correct Diet 
   
   Overweight animals consume more calories than they require. Work with your veterinarian to determine your pet’s caloric requirements, select a suitable food and calculate how much to feed. The diet should contain a normal level of a moderately fermentable fiber and the type of fat that prevents the skin and coat from deteriorating during weight loss. Diets that dilute calories with high fiber lead to increased stool volumes, frequent urges to defecate and variable decreases in nutrient digestibility.
6. Exercise 
   
   Increasing physical activity can be a valuable contributor to both weight loss and maintenance. Regular exercise burns more calories, reduces appetite, changes body composition and will increase your pet’s resting metabolic rate.
7. Owner Behavior Modification 
   
   A successful weight management program requires permanent changes in the behaviors that have allowed the pet to become overweight. Perhaps you are giving your pet too many treats, for example, or not giving him enough opportunities to exercise.
8. Are you committed to your pet’s weight loss? Here are some important things you can do: 
   
   - Remove the pet from the room when the family eats. 
   - Feed your pet several small meals throughout the day. 
   - Feed all meals and treats in the pet's bowl only. 
   - Reduce snacks or treats. 
   - Provide non-food related attention.

Grooming Your Cat

Cats are very clean and tidy animals and will spend a very large part of their day grooming and cleaning themselves. Although little extra help from their owners is required for longhaired and semi-longhaired cats, as these cats were bred for the long hair, and sometimes they can find it very hard to do it themselves, which means these cats will end up with matter patches, or dirt, twigs, and anything else that finds its way in; this can be very uncomfortable for your cat. The grooming process is important, it can be a pleasurable, bonding and rewarding experience for both the cat and the owner.

Extra grooming also helps good health as is simulates the blood vessels below the skin and improves muscle tone.

Grooming your cat regularly will also help you to determine if it has fleas or any other parasite, that may have latched on during it's daily garden exploration.

But be aware, if you cat has stopped grooming itself, then it could be far more serious than just a lazy cat; as cats are very fussy animals, any sign of a cat not grooming itself could mean it has contracted a disease or virus, and your should take your cat to your vet as soon as possible.

Now days, there are many products available on the market to help you to groom your cat. Some cats may be afraid of the comb, so you can purchase a glove that can be used as a comb, your cat will find this far more natural and will be more willing to accept it.

Most cats will enjoy being groomed, as it is just like being stoked, but make sure to do it when the cat is relaxed, as a stressed or tense cat will not enjoy the grooming and may develop a fear of you or the comb.