Overfeeding is the primary cause of over- and obesity in pets. A staggering 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the US are considered overweight or obese, according to the ASPCA. This trend is largely due to pet owners misjudging their pets' nutritional needs.
Veterinarians warn that overfeeding can have disastrous consequences for a pet's life expectancy. Dr. Sam Gilbert notes that an obese dog's lifespan can be shortened by as much as 2.5 years compared to a healthy-weight dog. The extra pounds not only add bulk but also pose serious health risks, including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and surgical complications.
One of the most common feeding mistakes is free-feeding, which allows pets to graze throughout the day, often leading to overeating due to boredom rather than hunger. Another mistake is "affection feeding," where owners use food as a way to show love, instead of using measured portions or professional guidance to determine their pet's ideal weight and caloric needs.
To combat these issues, veterinarians recommend using measuring cups, pre-portioning meals and treats, and scheduling feedings rather than constant access to food. Products like slow-feeder bowls and portion-control scoops can also help pet owners control their pets' portions, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
Slow-feeder bowls are designed to challenge pets and prevent gobbling down food quickly, while also guarding against bloat, a life-threatening condition for dogs. For cats and small-dogs, lower-profile bowls can be beneficial, ensuring they can easily access the food without straining their posture or joints.
Portion-control scoops provide an easy way to measure exactly how much food is being given, making it simpler to follow a veterinarian's instructions. Lick mats offer another option, providing puzzles for pets to solve as they eat, keeping them engaged and preventing overeating.
By taking control of their pet's feeding habits and using these simple solutions, owners can help prevent obesity and its associated health risks, ensuring their furry friends live long and happy lives.
Veterinarians warn that overfeeding can have disastrous consequences for a pet's life expectancy. Dr. Sam Gilbert notes that an obese dog's lifespan can be shortened by as much as 2.5 years compared to a healthy-weight dog. The extra pounds not only add bulk but also pose serious health risks, including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and surgical complications.
One of the most common feeding mistakes is free-feeding, which allows pets to graze throughout the day, often leading to overeating due to boredom rather than hunger. Another mistake is "affection feeding," where owners use food as a way to show love, instead of using measured portions or professional guidance to determine their pet's ideal weight and caloric needs.
To combat these issues, veterinarians recommend using measuring cups, pre-portioning meals and treats, and scheduling feedings rather than constant access to food. Products like slow-feeder bowls and portion-control scoops can also help pet owners control their pets' portions, making it easier to maintain a healthy weight.
Slow-feeder bowls are designed to challenge pets and prevent gobbling down food quickly, while also guarding against bloat, a life-threatening condition for dogs. For cats and small-dogs, lower-profile bowls can be beneficial, ensuring they can easily access the food without straining their posture or joints.
Portion-control scoops provide an easy way to measure exactly how much food is being given, making it simpler to follow a veterinarian's instructions. Lick mats offer another option, providing puzzles for pets to solve as they eat, keeping them engaged and preventing overeating.
By taking control of their pet's feeding habits and using these simple solutions, owners can help prevent obesity and its associated health risks, ensuring their furry friends live long and happy lives.
. It's just heartbreaking to think that many pet parents are feeding them too much or using food as a way to show affection, rather than providing balanced meals with measured portions. I've seen some of my friends' furry buddies struggling with weight issues, and it's really tough to see.
! They make sense, right? Pets love to figure out problems, and using puzzles to get their food is a great way to keep them engaged. And those portion-control scoops? Game-changer! Easy peasy, just measure it up. I'm definitely going to be sharing this with my fellow pet parents 
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. Now that I've seen the stats on pets, I'm even more grateful for those lessons learned!
. Like, 60% of cats and 56% are overweight or obese? That's crazy! I can totally relate to overfeeding my own fur babies, but now I feel like a total newbie 
. Free-feeding is such an easy mistake to make, and I used to do it all the time with my pup 
. But I've started using measuring cups and portion-control scoops, and it's made a huge difference 
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. Thanks for sharing these tips - I'm gonna spread the word! 
. I mean, come on, pet owners need to get a grip! It's not that hard to measure out food portions and stick to it. Free-feeding is basically an excuse for overeating, and "affection feeding" is just a fancy way of saying you're using food as a way to show love, but really you should be showing love by taking care of your pet's diet 
. It's not rocket science, folks!
. Like, what about our lifestyles? We're busy, we work long hours, and sometimes we forget to feed our pets on time. Or maybe they have medical issues that affect their appetite? It's not that simple to just portion out food like it's a snack at the movies 
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. I need solutions that work for both me and my pet, not just some gadget to fix my lack of planning 
. Still, it's great that vets are speaking out about this and offering helpful tips. Maybe we can get our act together and create a better life for our furry friends 
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. It's crazy how much pets weigh in the US are considered overweight or obese, like 60% of cats and 56% of dogs! 
. And it makes total sense that we're all at fault because we don't always know how much our pets need to eat.
. And pre-portioning meals and treats sounds so easy... why haven't I thought of that before?! 
. I think it's really important for us to take control of our pets' feeding habits because obesity can be super bad for them.
. And using measuring cups and portion-control scoops is just common sense now... 
. It's like they're saying 'ok, you want more treats? Here, have a whole bag!' 
. I mean, how hard is it to just measure out your pet's food using a regular measuring cup? And what about the stress on pets when we put them in these fancy puzzle toys? Can't we just stick to good old-fashioned obedience training instead? 
. It's all about finding that balance and being responsible pet owners, you know? Maybe instead of relying on gadgets, we should just have open and honest conversations with our vets about what works best for our furry friends 
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. We need more awareness about pet obesity and how we can help prevent it 
. And hey, if those slow-feeder bowls or lick mats really work, then I'm all for giving them a shot 
. It's crazy to think that 60% of cats and dogs in the US are overweight... like, what even is wrong with us? 
. Let's make sure our fur babies live their best lives, not weighed down by excess pounds 
. I mean, 60% of cats and 56% of dogs in the US are considered overweight or obese?! That's crazy! 
. I love that veterinarians are giving out tips like using measuring cups and slow-feeder bowls - it's all about making healthy choices for our furry friends 
gotta start using them measuring cups 
and pre-portioning meals 
it's not that hard to do and my friends' dogs look so happy & healthy on their slow-feeder bowls 