Is your dog fit -- or fat? (Photo credit: Bill Hogan, Chicago Tribune)
As pets become more and more a part of our families, our love for them often means we feed them snacks and treats that they don’t really need. So it’s not entirely surprising that an increasing number of dogs and cats in the US are overweight.
This Chicago Tribune article discusses the problem and some solutions. (One interesting tip: the best way to get a cat to exercise is to … get a kitten.)
And of course, the best way to get our dogs in better shape is to take them for walks, which helps us too. But if walking is a problem for one reason or another, the article does suggest alternatives.
Whatever the remedy, the better care we take of our pets, the longer they’ll be with us.
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I was just mentioning on another blog, which was talking about whether or not our dogs should be fed only once a day, that I have heard dogs should have free range food…not people food, but a good healthy dog food, and that they will normally keep their own weight in check. If not, then we can limit their food, but it is almost as if by initially limiting their food, it makes them scared they are not going to get enough so they gorge everytime they get the chance. It’s worth a try for our pets health, to see if they can manage themselves:)
A really good point is raised here, and it’s one most dog owners probably don’t consider much. Dogs are emotional creatures just like human beings. And without the proper care they can indeed become emotional eaters. Great post! Thanks for sharing.