A recent article in the Boston Globe talked about the overweight epidemic in our country. The author wasn’t talking about people, she was talking about dogs and cats. The article states that at least 35 percent of household dogs and cats are above their ideal weight. Apparently we show our love for our pets the same way we give ourselves love, by overindulging in cookies and other snacks.
The problem is most owners don’t think their pets are overweight. Therefore, a vet needs to handle the situation in a delicate manner in order to get the pet back on a healthy track. For dogs, you should be able to feel padding around the rib cage about as thick as the back of your hand. And for cats, if there is a fat pad in the abdomen between the back legs, your cat has an overweight problem.
Remember, just like us, our pets can develop health problems that stem from being overweight. Feed your pet a healthy diet and go easy on the treats.