Count Calories to Keep your Pet a Healthy Weight
Dieting Could Prevent Type 2 Diabetes for Cats and Dogs
Oct 18, 2009
Overfed pets, especially cats, are developing Type 2 diabetes, an Australian researcher, Dr Jacqui Rand says. And the major cause, much as with humans, apart from a genetic tendency, is too much of the wrong food and too little exercise.
Professor Rand researches animal diabetes, causes and treatments at the University of Queensland’s Centre for Companion Animal Health.
In cats already diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, Dr Rand says the use of long-acting insulin twice daily, close home monitoring of blood glucose concentrations and feeding a low carbohydrate diet could lead to remission.
For other pets, she advises keeping an eye on what they are fed, and making sure they get adequate exercise.
Pet Foods Too High in Calories
Pets may be benefiting from improvements in pet food quality, but increased calorie content from the higher fat content of many premium diets may be stacking on the pounds.
Dr. Susan Nelson, veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University, says pet owners should follow nutritional guidelines, but if the animal is getting plump, they might need to start counting calories.
"It's important to count calories if the pet is overweight, but it's probably not necessary if you have a pet that is of normal weight," Dr Nelson says.
"If it starts to get pudgy, you need to take a look at how much exercise it is getting, how much food you are feeding it, and how many treats you're giving it."
Calories from treats should be no more than 10 per cent of your pets total calorie intake, she advises.
Read Food Labels to Understand What’s in Pet Food
Dr Nelson says part of the problem is not knowing the calorie content of pet food, especially pet treats. "In the past, we didn't know how many calories were in various treats.
"Now that's becoming more available, and that's because more pets are becoming obese and their owners are asking for that information.
“Pets are overeating and under-exercising, and they're eating too many high-fat foods and treats."
Many cat and dog food packages now contain nutritional information, usually listed as the kilocalories, protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber content per cup of food.
Manufacturers have started listing some nutritional information, including calorie content, for dog and cat treats as well.
Comparing Different Brands of Pet Food
When reading nutritional labels on different brands of pet food, it can be difficult to compare "like with like", as generally the nutritional values are listed as percentages per feed and different types of pet food may suggest larger or smaller amounts to feed your animal.
"What most bags list is the nutritional analysis that is formulated on an as-fed basis," Dr Nelson says. "To truly compare the nutrient content of foods, you have to look at the dry matter basis, which takes out water content."
This is often not shown on the packaging, and you might have to contact the manufacturers or check their website to get this information.
Follow Feeding Guidelines to Monitor How Much Pet Food
It’s important follow the guidelines when feeding your pet, Dr Nelson says, to ensure that your animal maintains good health.
Your veterinarian can give you specific feeding instructions for particular breed and size of pet, its age and any health problems or known genetic tendencies it might have.
If there are no restrictions or particular requirements, then follow the feeding guidelines on the food packaging, Dr Nelson says. She recommends using a standard measuring cup for measuring your pet’s daily food.
"Generally, I tell people that unless your pet is overweight, go with the guidelines on the food bag," she says. "If the pet is a little overweight, you should feed it for its ideal weight and not for its current weight."
Feed Appropriately for Your Pet’s Life Stage
Kittens and puppies have different metabolic requirements from pregnant females or elderly animals, and should be fed the appropriate food for their life stage, to ensure they get enough for their metabolic needs, but not enough to make them overweight.
Talk to your veterinarian to understand the right type of food and the right amount of food for your pet’s specific needs.
Is My Cat or Dog Overweight?
Dr Nelson says owners should look at three main areas to decide if their pet is getting fat.
- Ribs: You should not be able to see the animal's ribs, but you should be able to feel them easily with a thin layer of fat over them
- Tummy: Look at the animal side on – its tummy should tuck up at the flank area and not hang in a straight line.
- Shoulders and waist (dogs): Looking over the top of the dog, you should see an hourglass shape – broad at the shoulders, narrow at the waist and broader at the hips. If the dog starts to thicken out, you should cut back on its calories and/or exercise it more.
You might also be interested in Put Your Pet on a Diet and Massage Calms Nervous Pets
 |
 |
