The numbers are in for 2017 and, unfortunately, the pet obesity epidemic remains on the rise. The 2017 U.S. pet obesity survey, conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, has concluded that 56% of all dogs and 60% of all cats are overweight or obese (in 2016, these percentages were 54% and 59% respectively). These numbers are
Cats are natural hunters and in the wild they survive on many small meals (e.g. mice, birds) each day. Cat feeding studies have been done that prove scientifically that domestic cats will be healthier if fed at least 5 small meals per day. A ten pound cat should only consume about 200 calories each day to stay at
Being overweight or obese is one of the biggest health issues that Americans face today. There are many options to help people fight this epidemic including specialized diets, fitness club memberships, and weight loss programs (e.g. Weight Watchers). Depending on the person, some of these options can work, however, many people struggle to get-to and maintain a healthy
Well, the numbers are in for 2016 and the pet obesity epidemic shows no signs of abating. The pet obesity survey, conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention back in October 2016, has concluded that 54% of all dogs and 59% of all cats are overweight or obese. These numbers are at all time highs and translate
About twice a year I like to reevaluate what I am feeding my pets to make sure I am providing them with the best possible pet nutrition and dietary supplements for their current health status and life stages. After my trip to Orlando for the North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) I decided to make a few changes. Frank
In the last few weeks I have stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for your pet and that pet obesity can lead to several healthy issues. One of the most common of these obesity related diseases is arthritis, which can affect both dogs and cats. Arthritis is difficult to diagnose and often overlooked in our cat population
Hopefully last week I convinced you how important it is to reverse the trend of overweight pets, both to prevent disease and extend their lives. If you find that your dog or cat (or both!) is a bit on the chubby side here are some helpful tips to get them back on track. Calories In Just like people,
Holiday season is upon us and as we indulge in tasty treats it seems like a good time to think about maintaining a healthy weight for everyone in the family. One of the most important things you can do for your pet’s overall well being is to maintain a healthy weight. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates
Portion control is a critical element in managing your pet’s weight. I have so many pet owners, especially those with kitties who say they just fill a bowl with food and have no idea how much they are actually feeding. This is the perfect recipe for making your dog or cat overweight. It is the rare animal (humans
Approximately 54% of all cats and dogs are overweight or obese (petobesityprevention.org). These pets are significantly more at risk (than normal weight pets) for developing chronic diseases such as: diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, and many forms of cancer. Having unhealthy pets not only causes heartache for pet owners, it is also expensive to treat. The additional costs associated with