An estimated 60 percent of cats and 50 percent of dogs in the U. S. are overweight or obese, so chances are that your pet needs to lose weight rather than pack on some pounds. It's not always easy to tell if your pet could afford to lose a few, but there are some other signs that can tip you off. One important factor: the waist. "Most people don't know what a normal cat should look like," says Routine. "But cats should have waists, too." The vet says you should be able to feel your pet's ribs(肋骨)through its coat, and when you look down at them, they should have an hourglass (沙漏) shape-just like a person.
"For some overweight pets, you may want to switch to a new food entirely; foods with 'light' or 'healthy weight' labels usually have an increased fiber content to help the dog or cat feel fuller," Romine notes. "Another option is to feed them less of the food they currently cat," Freeman suggests. "Make sure you're reducing table scraps(残羹剩饭)and high-calorie treats like pet biscuits," she says.
It's important to figure out what your pet's ideal weight is as you're helping them to lose. Romine advises working with your vet to get the right number, and if you're following the portion guidelines often printed on food labels, feed them the amount of food associated with the weight you want them to be, rather than the weight they currently are.
Food isn't the only factor that can impact your pet's weight. Ronine stresses the importance of exercise in keeping your pet healthy. For cats, just 10 minutes of indoor play each day can make a difference. For dogs, letting them out in the backyard to do their business is not enough. You'll have to exercise with your dog to really get them moving.