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Many of us consider our pets to be family members. We buy them toys, clothes and comfortable beds. Unfortunately, we overfeed our pets and contribute to their poor health and shortened life spans as well. If your pet is overweight, you can do something to improve it’s health. The first step should be a visit to the veterinarian for a complete checkup to rule out any underlying health problems that could cause weight gain. Your veterinarian can recommend what food to give and a feeding schedule that best fits your pet’s needs.

If you are a cat owner, do not place your pet on a crash diet as that can lead to a serious and potentially fatal disorder. Cats and dogs differ in their dietary needs in that cats cannot digest carbohydrates and thus need a higher protein and fat based diet. Dogs need protein as well but can tolerate carbohydrates better. If your pet is overweight, stop feeding him treats, especially “table food”, right now. I have several little beggars at my house and I know how hard it can be but you aren’t doing them any favors. Don’t feed your pet by dumping a large quantity of food in the bowl and refilling it every couple of days, allowing your pet to nibble (or gobble) away freely. Instead, switch to feeding 2 to 4 small meals a day or taking the dish away after a period of time has passed.

Though there are feeding instructions on the bag of pet food, you should probably ignore them as they are usually too high and don’t take into account your pet’s individual needs. A cat needs .6 to 1 ounce of food, about the size of a mouse, fed twice a day or about 240 calories per 8 lb. cat. That means about 2/3 to 3/4 cup of the average dry food once a day or a 3 ounce can of food twice a day. Even with this rough guide, you must take into consideration the age and activity level of your cat and adjust the amount if your cat is too thin or too fat.

For an overweight dog, gradually switch to a brand of food with higher protein while at the same time decreasing the amount fed. Simply add in a small amount of the new food, increasing the amount each time until the dog is accustomed to it. The best way to help your dog lose weight is to increase his exercise. Try walking your dog twice a day for at least 15 minutes. It will do you both good!

When there are multiple pets in a household, it can be hard to control how much each pets eats. You might need to separate pets at feeding time if one pet tends to aggressively eat all the food. With some effort on your part, your pet can live a healthier, longer life. Remember that more than food, your pet craves your attention.