You might already be aware of the statistics. Studies report that approximately one in three pets and adults in America are overweight, putting themselves at higher risk for heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and a shorter life span.
Since most dogs and all cats weigh considerably less than we do, sometimes it’s hard to put their few extra pounds into perspective. Let’s try a few examples. An extra four pounds on an eleven pound cat is equal to an extra 45 pounds on a 125 pound woman. An average framed Yorkie weighing 12 pounds is comparable to an average framed woman weighing in at 218 pounds.
Now if you feel inspired to take Fido out for a few extra walks, be forewarned that it’s not enough. A consistent decrease in the amount of food fed to your pet is necessary to turn things around, although adding exercise into the package helps in many ways. Bluntly put, the feeding recommendations listed on dog and cat food are usually 30 percent too high. This is because these recommendations are based on intact (not spayed or neutered) animals leading very active lifestyles.
In contrast, here is a list of the daily caloric needs for indoor adult spayed or neutered cats and dogs exercising less than thirty minutes a day. This information, and so much more, can be found at http://www.petobesityprevention.com.
A ten pound cat needs 180 to 200 calories per day.
A ten pound dog is 200 to 275 calories per day.
A twenty pound dog is 325 to 400 calories per day.
A fifty pound dog is 700 to 900 calories per day.
Here are some startling calorie counts of common pet treats taken from the same website. Take note that the daily calorie needs of ten pound dog are fulfilled with just one extra large Milk-Bone treat.
Extra large Milk-Bone biscuits =225 calories
Large Busy Bone Chew treat = 600 calories
Large DentaBone = 300 calories
I am not trying to criminalize treats. My own dog is a big fan. The important thing to keep in mind is that even if they look small, treats may be an important factor in weight gain. Think of them as dessert- best taken in moderation. Another option is to find other low calorie options. Some people have been successful at using the following as treats:
½ cup carrots = 35 calories
½ green beans = 22 calories
I hope this did not feel like a lecture. I hope you can take this information and use it to you (and your pet’s) benefit.
Good luck and good health,
Feel free to call Quarry Hill Park Animal Hospital with any further questions you may have on this or any other topic,
-Dr. Ann Anderson