Get Your Pet on Track For a Healthy 2010

Everyone gains a little weight over the holidays, and your pets are no exception. With all those extra table scraps flying around, you can bet your faithful companion has gained a little girth. Pets may not care about how they look when they pass by a mirror, but controlling a pet's weight is a crucial part of maintaining their health. Paw Nation chatted with Dr. Donna Spector, a board-certified veterinary Internal Medicine specialist from VCA Animal Hospital, to make sure you and your pet start off the New Year (and new decade!) right.

"It is estimated that 50 percent of U.S. pets are overweight or obese," Spector tells Paw Nation. "Obesity can be life threatening and contribute to many medical conditions such as diabetes and arthritis. Pets that stay at a healthy weight live longer and with less disease than overweight pets. Recognize that your pet has a weight problem and ask your veterinarian to determine the best weight and diet plan for them."

What is the best way to create a diet plan for my pet for the new year?
Just like people, proper diet and exercise are key to our pets staying healthy in 2010! Your veterinarian will need to make sure your pet has no medical problems contributing to their weight problem and this is usually done with basic blood and urine testing. Your veterinarian should give you a daily calorie recommendation for your pet that will allow him/her to safely lose the unwanted weight over a period of months.

What are the best ways to improve your chubby pet's diet?
It is imperative to stick to the weight-loss plan, and for many pet owners this involves changing what you feed, how much you feed and the way you feed it. Though weight loss can be achieved by simply feeding less, your pet may seem unsatisfied by the amount of food they are getting. If this is the case, a "diet" food, created with less fat and calories in a larger volume, may be the better choice. Always follow the calorie recommendation made by your veterinarian and not the label on the bag or can of food! It is important to feed two to three meals each day and not allow your pet access to food all day long. Keep treats to a minimum, and go the homemade low-calorie route (even try ice cubes, fresh veggies and lean meats!). This will help you avoid the "hidden" calories in many store-bought goodies.

What kind of exercise is best?
Every pet will enjoy a different type of exercise. It doesn't matter if you walk briskly, run, play fetch or swim, but pets (especially dogs) must get at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise every day to help facilitate weight loss.

Monitor your pet's weight loss progress and work with your veterinarian to stay on track to make 2010 a healthy year!

Tags: diet, new years, NewYears, pet health, PetHealth