Pet owners today like to show their pets love by giving them treats, home cooked meals or even extra chow at feeding time but what owners don’t know is that they are possibly making their pets obese. Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat in the body. Weight gain occurs gradually over time so you may not notice it at first, in most cases it is usually the vet that informs you about it. There is a simple test you can do to identify if your pet is overweight, it is done by gently passing your hand over the back and ribs. In a healthy dog, the bones are felt easily without adding too much pressure. If you can’t feel these bones easily your pet may be overweight and if it continues they can develop diseases as a result.
It is important to have biannual check-ups at the vet where
you can discuss overweight management if your pet is overweight. There are only
two ways for your pet to lose weight, firstly by increasing the amount of
energy used i.e. exercise and secondly by decreasing the calorie intake. Your
vet will recommend you feed your pet a smaller portion of chow and not too many
treats between meals and to have regular daily exercise, for example, going on
evening walks with your pet. In cases for cats, have interactive toys around
the home or a cat tree for them to climb and jump on.
If you notice that your pet is overweight or suffering from
any disease you should see the vet as soon as possible. The health and
well-being of your pets are our priority, we at the TTSPCA Tobago Animal
Shelter and Clinic are here to provide advice or aid where necessary. If you
require further information, assistance or have questions contact us at
639-2567 or email us at ttspcatobago@mail.com. For emergencies you can contact
us at 309-0219.