According to the Humane Society of San Antonio, consistency and patience are crucial when trying to get your pet to reach its healthy weight.
We caught up with Cathy McCoy, the local chapter's director of public relations and commuity outreach, to help shed some "pounds" on the subject.
Question: On average, how many pets suffer from obesity in America?
McCoy: "Over 60 percent of American pets are considered obese. While some are only a few pounds overweight, others are extremely obese. Just like humans, animals can develop arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal ailments, asthma and cancer. Obesity can also lead to a shorter life or even death."
Question: What should you do if your pet is obese?
McCoy: "If you have an overweight or obese pet, you should immediately discuss your animal's age, breed, weight and health problems with your veterinarian. There are many ways to prevent (the problem) and help your animal reach a healthy weight, and one of the most important precautions is to never free feed."
Question: So basically, you need to watch everything pets put in their mouths. Wat about feeding your animal table scraps?
McCoy: "It is our responsibility to monitor their food intake and feeling that you are showing love by leaving food out is completely false. Giving leftover table scraps is another fault that can potentially hurt your pet. Keeping track of their weight weekly and developing the proper moderate exercise technique safe for you pet is essential. Daily walks, playing catch, fetching toys and swimming are great ways for animals to build stamina, strengthen their legs and lose weight."
Here are some more puppy and dog care tips courtesy of the Humane Society of San Antonio:
Feeding: Feed your puppy 3 times daily and your adult dog 1-2 times daily. Feed only commercial brand-name dog food formulated for your pet's age. The nutritional quality of the food will directly affect your dog's health, behavior and lifespan. Your veterinarian can assist you in the proper diet for your pet. No table scraps, cat food, meat bones, milk (causes diarrhea which causes dehydration) or generic dog food (can be harmful to your pet's health). Fresh water should be available at all times.
Housetraining: The best way to housetrain your puppy is to take him/her out often, especially in the morning, after each meal and before bed. Establish a routine that is consistent day after day. Punishing a puppy has no affect -- it is similar to punishing a baby for soiling its diapers. Patience, consistence and praise is the most effective course for getting you and your puppy through this stage of development. If you have housetraining difficulties, call the Humane Society/SPCA or a dog trainer for help. Don't wait until your puppy is an adult.
Walks: A puppy needs frequent, short walks during housetraining. An adult dog should be walked at least twice a day. (Some breeds require more extensive exercise periods than others do.) Your puppy or adult dog should always be walked on a leash and not allowed to roam alone. This is for both the safety of your dog and the people in your neighborhood. City ordinance requires dogs to be on a leash at all times unless confined on the owner's property. Some parks have certain areas designated where you are allowed to have your dog off leash as long as you have control of the animal (call Parks and Wildlife for a list). Also, it is the law to clean up after your puppy or dog. Carry a ziplock bag along on your walk for this purpose. Turn it inside out, and put your hand inside to pick up the feces. Then turn it right side out, zip up, and throw in the trash. In addition to obeying the law, you will be acting as a good neighbor.
Grooming: Frequent and regular brushing will help to remove loose hair and keep your pet's coat glossy. In the summer, it also gives you the opportunity to check your dog's coat for fleas, ticks or other skin problems. Nail: Trim nails as necessary to keep them from getting too long. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do this and advise when it is needed. Teeth: Wipe your pet's teeth every couple of weeks with cotton, gauze, or a child's toothbrush soaked in baking soda. There are also veterinarian approved toothpastes that you can use to brush your pet's teeth. Ask your veterinarian about this
because it will help prevent a buildup of tartar. Baths: Dogs need baths only when they are excessively dirty or to control fleas. Too many baths can cause dry and itchy skin. Some dogs require professional grooming for cutting and trimming the hair.
Fleas: Fleas are a common and continuous problem for dogs, especially during the summer months. Numerous commercial products are available to control fleas, including a variety of organic solutions. Flea control often requires that you bathe and dip your dog, spray the yard, and spray your house all at one time. Consult your veterinarian or pet supply store for advice on which product to use.
Safe Toys: Hard rubber balls and squeaky toys (large enough so your pet cannot swallow them) are safe. Also, rawhide, biscuit and nylon bones are safe and will satisfy your puppy's need to chew. Do not give your puppy old socks or shoes - it can't tell the difference between the ",'old' ones and the 'new' ones. Providing your puppy with its own safe toys will keep it away from your slippers, shoes or other off-limit items.
Bed: Provide your puppy or adult dog with its own bed away from heavy traffic areas (like the kitchen). Puppies, especially, need sleep during the day as well as at night.
Supervision & Companionship: A puppy needs almost constant supervision for its safety, for ease of housetraining, and for proper socialization to humans. An adult dog requires less supervision, but should still receive plenty of human companionship. Dogs are pack animals by nature. They need to be around other animals, and especially humans, for their emotional well being. They will repay you with love, devotion, and loyalty.
Safety: Keep household cleaners, electrical cords, garbage, and fragile objects safely away from your pet. Many plants are poisonous to your pet- check to see if the plants around your home are dangerous. On a warm day, do not leave your dog in the car. Even with the windows cracked, within minutes the car can heat up like an oven, causing irreparable brain damage or heat stress to your animal. It may even cause death. Do not let your dog ride in the back of an open pickup truck. A sudden stop could launch your pet onto the road causing death or injury. Debris could blow into and damage eyes and nasal passages. Allow your dog to ride inside the cab or in a crate tied securely to the truckbeds. Do not let your dog hang its head out the window of a car as well. Once again, debris can damage eyes and nasal passages. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and can cause sickness or death. Do not leave your pet alone or unsupervised around children.
Collar and I.D. Tag: Protect your puppy or dog with a current identification tag and collar. The I.D. tag should have your pets' name, address, and phone number. If your animal gets lost this is the best insurance that it will get returned to you. City ordinance requires all dogs within the city to be registered annually and to wear a city license tag. The tag can be purchased directly from Animal Control. Your pet's collar should not be too loose or too tight (you should be able to slip two fingers under the collar while your pet is wearing it) and please change it as your puppy grows.
