Pet obesity is fast becoming a problem with one in four of our pets being overweight, it's a problem that should not longer be ignored.

Sometime just weighing your pet is not enough, there is a lot of individual variation in an animal, you need to look at the appearance of your pet, look at its body, skin, fur condition, don't just look at this is the weight that this breed should be. You should look at the build of your pet, does it have overlaying fat at its ribs and waist? You should be able to feel you pets ribs easily without pressing, but in turn you should not be able to see the ribs through the coat.

Because more and more pets are becoming overweight, some pet owners think a pet is not looked after correctly if they appear lean, this is not the case and does not mean the pet is starving. A lean pet could extend its life expectancy by a couple of years. Having an overweight pet means having an unhealthy pet. Obesity can lead to diabetes, heart problems and arthritis. Overweight pets do not age very well either, they may develop hip dysplasia, back and joint paint as well as other diseases.

As in humans the reason why pets are becoming more overweight is too many calories and not enough exercise. You should be aware of how much you feed your pet, how many treats does your pet received, are you over doing it? It can be difficult sometimes knowing how much to feed is right for your cat or dog. What's listed on the packaging is only a guide for the "average pet", but your pets lifestyle and activity levels dictate how much food your pet should receive. If you think your pet is overweight, then feed it less than is stated on the packaging and remember, if you give treats it's food and the more treats the less food you should give.

Most animals will eat more than they need if they are giving the chance. This does not mean they are hungry. Once you pet becomes overweight it is very hard to put them on a diet. Prevention as they say is better than the cure. Always try to keep your pet at a steady healthy weight, if you suspect they are overweight, reduce their calorie intake, increase their exercise, not only good for your pet, but good for your too!

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