Food Vs. Exercise
Insufficient exercise and excess calorie consumption is the major cause of obesity in our furry friends, but there are other factors you need to consider also. Pet foods that have too much fat in them – even high quality pet foods – can rapidly add on the pounds. Certain breeds of animals such as Labrador Retrievers, beagles, basset hounds and others gain weight easily. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism can also lead to weight gain. Older animals, just like humans are more likely to gain weight, and also pets that have been spayed or neutered have a predisposition to gain weight more easily.
Your pet’s breed, age and reproductive status are NOT an excuse for uncontrolled weight gain, they simply influence your pet’s tendency to add pounds. The bottom line for pet owners is that our pets eat too much and exercise too little. It is up to you to make sure that your pet’s dietary needs meet their physical activity. If your older dog has arthritis and does not like to exercise anymore, than it is up to you to intervene and help out with joint supplements and pain medications. If you spayed cat tends to add some weight, then it is your job to adjust her exercise and dietary habits to suit her altered physiology. As pet owners we control what they eat, when they exercise, and ultimately their weight.
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