New Year's resolution: slim down that fat cat or dog

(ARA) - To his owners, Moby, a 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, was a very healthy, spry dog, so when his veterinarian told them that beneath his thick, reddish-brown coat he had a weight problem, they were a bit shocked.

Apparently, all that baby food licked off the floor, and the lack of activity that came with the two toddlers who had recently joined the family, added about 10 extra pounds on a normally 65-pound dog. The good news is the veterinarian was able to put Moby on a program of diet and exercise, and he was back in perfect shape within a year.

Studies show that pet obesity is an epidemic in this country. According to a 2005 study, approximately 35 percent of American dogs and cats are obese or overweight, and some veterinarians report that they see even higher percentages now.

"I would say that probably more than 50 percent of the animals that we see are overweight," says Dr. Larry R. Corry, a companion animal practitioner in Georgia and president of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). "We say that people are 'killing their pets with caring.' They want to give too much food, table scraps and too many treats. They simply don't realize how unhealthy that can be."

Obesity can cause a number of health problems, including diabetes and heart problems. Diabetes in animals can be treated successfully with diet and insulin, but treatments are expensive and difficult to undertake successfully with cats. Diabetes treatments require animals to eat on a consistent basis, and cats don't often enjoy following a schedule. Treating obesity before the animal becomes diabetic is a far simpler solution, Dr. Corry says.

"If we can get pet owners to comply with weight-loss plans, usually we don't have any problem getting the animal's weight under control,"Corry says. "Weight-loss diets generally involve specially formulated pet foods or simply a reduction of the amount of food the animal receives.

"Every member of the family has to be in agreement, because if one person is slipping the dog scraps under the table, the program won't work," he continues.

For dogs and cats on a diet, one little treat can truly be a diet buster. For example, giving a cat one potato chip may not seem like an extravagant snack, but it's equivalent to giving an adult human half a cheeseburger or half a candy bar. And giving your cat an ounce of milk is equivalent to eating four and a half cheeseburgers. Giving your pet pooch one hot dog is equivalent to you eating two cheeseburgers. Needless to say, giving a pet table scraps is a sure ticket to pet obesity.

The AVMA has partnered with Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. to combat obesity by sponsoring the Alliance for Healthier Pets - Obesity Awareness and Prevention Program. The initiative's primary goal is to educate the public on how to recognize obesity and to suggest simple solutions. Visit www.petfit.com to see examples of how common pet treats translate into major calories. Watch as personal trainer Gunnar Petersen teaches pet owners how to exercise with their pets and then take the "Pet Fit" Challenge.

For more information about animal health, visit www.avma.org and visit www.avmatv.org for an informative video about pet obesity.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Pampering Pets With Arthritis During Colder Weather

(NAPSI)-While people who suffer from arthritis can do a lot to relieve the stiff joints and pain that often accompany colder days, pets may suffer silently.

Fortunately, there are ways that pet owners can spot signs of arthritis in pets and provide some relief.

Signs include lagging behind on walks, limping or appearing stiff after activity, a reluctance to climb steps or jump, rising slowly after resting.

If your pet begins to show these signs, there are several ways you can ease his or her pain:

• Joint supplements may help ease arthritis pain. Glucosamine and chondroitin are widely known for their roles in the support of joint health. These products generally take at least six weeks to begin to heal the cartilage, and most animals need to be maintained on these products for the rest of their lives.

Cosequin is recommended for cats, dogs and horses.

• Weight management is a major factor in joint-disease prevention. Helping pets lose excess weight will ease the pain and stress on their joints. Supplements that help with weight management include Trim Treats, Vetri-Lean and Lean Dog.

• Exercise is the next important step. Exercise that provides a good range of motion while building muscle and that limits wear and tear on joints is best. Walking on a leash, swimming, walking on treadmills, slow jogging and going up and down stairs are excellent low-impact exercises. Swimming is OK for extended periods of time and highly recommended in some cases.

• Dress for the outdoors. Keeping your arthritic pet warm may help him or her be more comfortable.

• Use products that help make your pet more comfortable. Some products such as the Bottom's Up Leash offer a hind leg support harness for dogs with hip dysplasia, arthritis or any other problem that affects the legs or spine.

• Use supplements to improve an older pet's overall health. For example, Proviable-DC is a probiotic that helps normalize intestinal function and strengthens the immune system in pets with gastrointestinal problems. Welactin provides omega-3 fatty acids to help maintain normal health, protect kidney function and help skin and coat. Dermaquin provides some of the same benefits.

For more information, visit www.entirelypets.com.


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Should You Prepare Home-Cooked Meals For Pets?

(SPM Wire) With so many pet food recalls over the past couple of years, the idea of home-cooked pet food has grown in appeal to some pet owners.

The experts at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warn that pets have very unique nutritional needs. Most importantly, the AVMA advises against feeding them table scraps or human food in lieu of commercial pet food. Many foods that humans love to eat can be deadly to pets.

Gravies, meat fats and poultry skin can cause stomach upsets, and even lead to a life-threatening condition in dogs. Bones will splinter when chewed and cannot be digested. Chocolate can be poisonous to them, but tastes good so pets will eat it.

The AVMA does not recommend that people prepare home-cooked meals for pets. If you are certain you wish to cook for your pet, the AVMA recommends you consult with your veterinarian and do research on appropriate diets for your pet. Only consider recipes that are developed for dogs or cats by veterinarians or trained professionals in animal nutrition.

Dr. Tony Buffington, an Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine professor, recommends www.petdiets.com as one the best Web sites on home-cooked pet diets.

But Buffington cautions it is hard to match the balanced diets provided by commercial pet foods in home-cooked meals, because commercial foods are formulated by veterinary nutrition professionals.

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