Los Angeles - Much like their human owners, animals have to deal with unwanted weight, too.
KCAL9's Sibila Vargas reported that animal obesity is an epidemic across the country with more than 50 percent of pets now overweight.
Natasha, who owns an adorable dog named Colonel, said she knows her furry friend has overindulged in food.
"Every time he goes up the stairs, he expects a treat. You spoil them and then you don't realize what you're doing," she said.
For the past few months, Natasha has been working with Dr. Jeff Werber, a Los Angeles veterinarian, to help her dog lose those stubborn extra pounds.
Werber said cutting calories is the key.
"If you looked at the calorie content of those treats, it would comprise probably one of their two meals. So by doing this on a daily basis, giving them 30, 40 percent more calories than they need, you can imagine what's gonna happen after a few years," he said.
To figure out if a pet is on the heavy side, Werber said, "You want to see an indentation in the waist. When you see them like a box, that's too big, it's like a coffee table. Likewise, if you can grab too much skin, it's too much. You want to be able to feel the ribs, not see them, but feel them."
Vargas offered these simple tips for owners with obese pets:
- Talk To A Vet
- Watch Them At Meal Time
- Give Pets Healthy Treats
- Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
"The bigger they are, the less they want to do. The less they do, the bigger they get. We need to overcome that by forcing them to get out there," he said.
Swimming is also a "low-impact" form of exercise that's great for overweight dogs.
Water therapist Yvonne Gast said, "It's non-weight-bearing and there's no stress on their joints. They're able to move freely in the water...it's much easier for them to burn off the calories."
Comment: Animal obesity is a serious issue, but one that is easily solvable by switching your furry friend's diet to an all-meat diet. Contrary to popular belief fruits, veggies, grains, and other additives that are put in brand name pet food are very harmful to animals. Those harmful ingredients go against the animal's carnivorous nature. They need meat, much like us humans! For more information on all-meat diets for your furry friend, please read:
Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition
Doctor J.com for information on Canine nutrition
and
Raw Meaty Bones.com