Is my pet obese or just overweight? Just like humans, looking purely at weight alone is meaningless in dogs and cats due to massive variation with the species. The breed, size, shape and gender of pets all need to be factored in to the equation as well as the basic weight.
You can gauge for yourself the body condition of your pet. At the top of this guide there are links to charts that you can use to assess your pet. If your pet is in the “too heavy” bracket, then something needs to be done. Don’t wait for things to go too far!
Why is my pet overweight or obese?
There are some medical conditions that can make your pet put weight on (eg hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease) but in the majority of situations, obesity is due to lifestyle. Factors to look at include:
- Tit-bits, snacks, scraps and treats
- Exercise amount and frequency
- Alternative feeding habits, eg hunting in cats or being fed additionally elsewhere.
Difficult as it may be to accept, but we as owners, are ultimately responsible for our pet’s lifestyle. Both dogs (particularly) and sometimes cats will usually eat pretty much whatever they are given. There is a bit of a myth that pets will “self-limit” what they eat and only eat what they require! This does sometimes occur, but ultimately most pets are greedy!!