Over feeding your pets can shorten their life, weaken their immune system, and cause many other health problems. Veterinarians recommend that one way you can prevent pet obesity is to…
According to the Association for the Prevention of Pet Obesity their statistics suggest that an estimated 45 percent of dogs and an estimated 58 percent of cats are either over weight or obese. Some contributing factors might be attributed to neutering and others would be that of illnesses such as hypothyroidism, insulinoma, and hyperadrenocorticism. But the most common and preventable factor would be high energy intake and low energy usage, in other words over feeding.
The primary risks of excess weight gain in pets are Osteoarthritis, Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Heart and Respiratory Disease, Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury, Kidney Disease, and Many Forms of Cancer. Veterinarians recommend that one way you can prevent pet obesity is to regulate the amount of portions you feed your pet and feed them at regularly scheduled times. However with most people today they have hectic and sometimes irregular schedules which make routine feedings for their pet haphazard, which in turn can consequently have a negative impact on their pets’ health.
SIGNS OF OVER FEEDING
Symptoms of over feeding are fairly easy to spot in animals. If you suspect that your pet is being over fed you may want to see if you can run your fingers across their ribs. Another sign would be to look at the “waist” of the pet; does it narrow after the rib cage? If the answer is no then your pet is likely over weight. As stated earlier there could be many contributing factors to the weight gain so it is advised you see a veterinarian before placing your pet on any new diets.
PROPORTIONED FEEDINGS AT SCHEDULED INTERVALS
Busy schedules and other day to day activities are a common theme in most people’s lives, but sometimes it can affect the ones we love; our pets. You just read that regular feedings are important for healthy animals and over feeding can lead to excess weight gain and obesity. Our solution for you is the Pet Feedster™ automated pet feeder. With the Pet Feedster™ automated pet feeder you can be confident that your pet is eating healthy at regular times and at portioned meal settings that are healthy for your pet. No need to worry about pet kibble theft [link] either (which is another culprit of over eating), because our automated pet feeder has been designed to keep out the most persistent and determined pet.
Proper Feeding For Your Dog
The amount of food that a dog requires varies with breed. According to dogbreedinfo.com, the following is about what you would want to feed your dog based on weight:
• 10 lbs. or less- You should feed no more than 1/3 – 1 cup of dry food.
• 10-25 lbs.- 1-2 ¼ cups of dry food.
• 25-50 lbs. -2 ¼ – 3 ¾ cups dry food.
• 50-75 lbs. – 3 ¾ – 5 cups dry food.
• Over 75 lbs. – 5-8 cups of dry food.
Proper Feeding For Your Cat
So how much should you feed your cat? According to dogtime.com, the typical 10 lb. cat should be fed 1/4 – 1/3 cup dry food daily. It is also a good idea to feed your cat twice a day. This doesn’t mean giving the total recommended amount of food twice a day; break up the servings. Leaving food out all day can encourage your cat’s overeating as sometimes, especially seen in indoor cats, they eat because they’re bored (sound familiar?). You may also want to monitor what kind of food you give your cat. Just as you would with your diet, monitor the calorie and carbohydrate intake of your cat in addition to limiting the amount of food you give them.
This information is provided as a courtesy and is no way a substitute for the advice of a veterinarian. You should always consult a veterinarian regarding the health and safety of your pets.
