(To) Good Food

A lot of people ask questions about feeding their dog or cat. As this subject can fill up the complete
Kenmare news I will look at the most important thing about feeding being the bodyweight.
Especially too much weight could do with some extra attention as I have seen a lot of animals around
being (heavily) overweight.

It is very important to realize that our pets are dependent on you, their owners, for everything! An important part of caring for your pet is making sure that he/she is fed a balanced diet and receives regular exercise.
Prepared per food take the quesswork out of feeding and provide all the nutrients that your pet needs in correct balance. The amount of exercise is up to the owner!
In Ireland over 35% of the dogs and 15% of the cats are overweight. If the animal is anymore than 15% above its ideal weight he/she is classified as medically obese! Sometimes it's even not that clear to see that the animal is overweight. Small things like a dog becoming reluctant to exercise and get out of breath more easily. A cat can have more problems jumping on the bed, etc.

What does it matter if my pet is too heavy?
Being overweight can put your pet at risk of more health problems than you may realize. Heart disease, diabetes mellitus, skin problems and arthritis can all be caused or exacerbated by your pet being overweight.
By helping your pet to lose weight you will not only increase the enjoyment of life but also the length of life.

Why do pets become overweight?

• The calorie intake is greater than the amount of calories needed for the life stage and lifestyle.
• Snacking; this is the often the main cause of overweight. Controlled feeding of treats/snack's is acceptable, as long as smaller portions of the main meal are served.
• Lack of exercise
• Overfeeding puppies. Overfeeding will increase the number of fat cells and the fat metabolism of the young body. This will result in an increased likelihood of being overweight throughout the rest of the life!

What can I do to reduce the weight of my pet?

• Get the correct weight of the animal and talk this over with the veterinarian to calculate the ideal weight.
• Control the treats and snacks to a minimum.Use good quality food without a lot of additives. There are special diets on the market that will make it much easier. Often a "light" food won't be enough.
• Divide the food into 2 or 3 meals. Although you may feed less this will make your pet feel more satisfied.
• Increase the exercise. With cats you could consider spreading the nuts in portions in the house so that he/she will have to look for them.
• Decrease the food by approximately 10% after spaying or neutering.

It is very important to realize that loosing weight of pets is a process that will take months. In fact if you would do it faster it can become dangerous. Next to that it is important that any purposeful weight loss is achieved with a diet that provides the correct balance of nutrients.
If you want to check the weight of your dog or cat you can always get in contact with us. We can than help you setting up a proper plan (if needed).