Top 5 Tips for a Healthier, Happier Pet

Some Dogs and Cats are Cuter When Overweight, But is it Healthy?

Ever since the ban of trans-fat in New York City, conquering obesity in humans has won a major battle, but what about your pets? In 2008, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention Study found that 50% of cats and dogs in America are overweight. We are the sole controllers of what go into our pet's mouths so we must govern what we feed our pets and how to help them control their weight. Check out these five tips to a healthier, happier, and just as hairy pet. Not every dog can have a supermodel body like Lucky so Make sure also that you check out www.animalfair.com for more information on treats that will be healthy and keep your pet fit!

1. Off to the Vet. Your vet can help identify if your pet is indeed obese or just "big boned," after all, what does an overweight Bull Dog look like anyway? Your vet can also help discover any underlying medical problems (thyroid, joint issues, etc.) that could be causing your pet's weight gain.

2. The "D" Word. Your vet will most likely suggest a diet for your pet which will include foods that are lower in fats and have all your pet's essential vitamins and nutrients. Try slowly cutting back your pet's normal intake or feed them hydrated food soaked in water, which will make them feel more full.

3. Cheaters Beware! Cut back on the treats, and even though you're dog or cat is the cutest thing in the world, keep it that way. Treats are high in fat and, when dealing with a dieting pet, should only be given on very special occasions or never at all. Find new, non-food rewards to show your pet appreciation.

4. Let's Move! This one's a no-brainer. Increased activity is a one-way ticket to a happier, healthier pet. It doesn't even matter what you get your pet to do: run, swim, fetch, dig, dance... just get them moving! And if your pet is moving around, it's likely that you will too.

5. Toys? If your pet doesn't have an ample toy supply, they should. Toys can help increase activity in pets ten-fold, especially when you're not around to play. People often wonder why dogs or cats sleep all day, well maybe they just don't have enough toys and gadgets to play with!

Follow Wendy Diamond on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wendydiamond

Comments

[RMankovitz]

Great concept, but the actual execution leaves much to be desired. I am referring to the state of the health of our pets. The vet industry is booming with the very same medical specialists that treat humans - there are now more than 23 veterinary specialties. Just like humans, our pets lead long and sick lives.

Two decades of research into illness prevention, using nature as a template, took me in the direction of zoology, paleopathology, zoopharmacognosy (animal self healing), ethnobotany, and primatology. I learned an enormous amount about wellness by studying the animal kingdom, and you can read about it in my book "The Wellness Project."

My personal opinion is that feeding pets such as cats and dogs the Frankenfoods in cans and bags that pretend to be pet food is akin to animal cruelty. The same is true of feeding our own bodies the junk most humans eat.

My wife and I are "staff" to two magnificent Tonkinese cats that are tenth generation raised on their natural diet. Hopefully, they will never see the inside of a vet's office. They are in perfect health, have beautiful coats and teeth, and a great disposition. They eat virtually all parts of raw ground-living animals, and munch on grass occasionally to act as a purgative. They have never eaten anything in a can or a bag.

Roy Mankovitz, Director
http://www.MontecitoWellness.com

[lisamh]

AMEN! The dyes, preservatives, animal byproducts, grains used as fillers and additives designed only to make the food sound palatablt to humans make the "food product" sold for pets responsible for more illness and allergic reactions than at any time in recorded history. Just about the worst offenders are the so-called prescription foods that substitute corn, wheat or rice in place of nutrition that the animal -- in particular, a sick animal, needs. It's just like when a human is in the hospital and denied real food, but the staff are eager for you to eat a canned food product designed in a lab. Look at the ingredients and you will see there is virtually nothing most pets eat that qualifies as a source of the vitamins, proteins, fats and minerals they need.