Believe it or not, obesity is the #1 nutritional disorder seen in dogs and cats.

Obesity is defined as an excess body weight of greater than 15%, and it can look something like this:

Too often, we hear the following phrases from owners, in response to being told their animal is overweight:

1. "He's not fat!" Yes, he is. We don't tell you your animal is overweight to make you feel bad. We don't tell you he's overweight for any reason other than to help your animal and prevent future health problems.

2. "But she's cute when she's pudgy!" The fat rolls on the neck of your overweight pup might be fun to cuddle, but they definitely don't make her cute. In fact, obesity can lead to many health issues described below.

3. "I definitely do not over-feed him." You might not feed your dog too much in his bowl, but what about all the treats he gets? What about the things people feed him on the street? All of these little extras really add up when it comes to pet diets.

4. "But we go for at least one walk per day." Exercise is important, yes. But if your dog is being overfed, one walk per day is unlikely to be enough to battle the bulge.

5."She's an indoor cat, how is she supposed to exercise?" There are many ways to get your indoor-only cat moving around.  Feather toys, laser pointers and cat trees are just a few examples. You can place food bowls on high perches so they have to climb up to get their meals.

6. "But how else will he know I love him?" Many owners equate love with food and treats. There are many other ways to show your dog or cat affection and love - how about some extra time at the park, or a gentle rub under the chin?

We've simply got to do away with these excuses, because pet obesity - just like human obesity - is associated with causing a variety of serious medical problems. Such as:

• Osteoarthritis and joint disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Insulin resistance
• Liver disease
• Increased surgical risk (which can be costly!)

And if the above risks weren't enough cause concern, according to the Australian Veterinary Association, "The overweight pet has a shorter life span and poorer quality of life, compromising its welfare."

Here's a helpful guide we use, to determine if your dog is at it's optimal body condition, or if it might be a good candidate for a dog diet:

 (Click here for full-size image and text)

Worried your animal might be overweight? 

Call us today to book in for a free vet nurse body weight and condition check! If your pet is too heavy, we'll work with you to create a personalised cat diet or dog diet plan.