Pet Weight Watch 2014: Good pet nutrition for all year long

Manila, Philippines –With a renewed commitment to reinforcing good pet health through proper nutrition, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) is set to further engage Filipino pet owners in its Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured campaign with a few tips aimed at leading pets to a healthy lifestyle.

Weigh In

Apart from monitoring a pet’s food intake, assessing its weight regularly is one of the principal steps in supporting good pet health. Pets become increasingly exposed to obesity and other common nutritional diseases when they do not follow an appropriate diet and lack physical activity. Evaluating the pet’s weight regularly can help ensure that it remains at an ideal weight to reduce the risk of developing serious health problems such as heart disease, breathing problems, diabetes, and cancer.

There are several practical methods that pet owners can perform to routinely track their pet’s weight. One such practice is feeling the ribs by running both hands down on the sides of the pet’s body. If the hands are unable to feel the ribs easily, then a closer look into the pet’s diet is in order as it may be overweight. Observing the pet’s profile can also be a way to detect any sudden weight changes. The pet’s waistline should be defined when viewed from above and its abdomen must be tucked up when viewed from the side.

Pet owners should bear in mind that putting a cat or dog on a severe diet immediately after noticing a significant physical change is not the best possible approach to reducing pet weight. Keeping the pet in ideal shape is critical to prolonging its lifespan, and it is by actively communicating any observations to a veterinarian that a pet’s weight problem can be verified and treated appropriately. A veterinarian can provide invaluable guidance on the type and amount of pet food and even treats that a pet should consume daily, and how to follow a routine to help a pudgy pet get back to an idea body condition.

Track the Snacks

Nutrient balance and adequacy in pet food are vital to your pet’s diet. All nutrients such as essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals must be present in appropriate amounts for a cat or dog. This is why it is important to feed a complete and balanced commercial pet food. It is important to follow the feeding instructions on a pet food label and measure the amount of food or treats fed daily.

Pet owners may find it hard to resist feeding pets with the human food leftover goodies and treats. Although it may not seem harmful, some ingredients in human food may be poisonous to cats and dogs, such as chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol. Feeding commercial pet treats is a way to avoid these dangerous food items and take the worry out of treating a pet.

Pet food products that are designed to be complete and balanced will provide all the nutrition a pet needs. Commercial pet food makers from the United States bring the most regulated set of products and undertake extensive research and safety procedures to ensure that consumers are feeding their pets food that provide good nutrition and benefits.

It is also possible to reward pets in a way that does not involve giving extra food and therefore reduces the risk of putting on the extra pounds. If pet owners give treats in conjunction with some other cue, such as giving praise or using a clicker, cats and dogs will come to associate both events together, allowing pet owners to reward their pets with praise or the click of a clicker alone. In general, cats and dogs understand different forms of praise and feel significantly rewarded by them. By praising pets in an excited voice, petting, or engaging them in special activities such as swimming, running or even a car ride, pet owners are able to express their appreciation and love.

Getting Limber

Exercise is important for health and well-being for people and pets alike. However, people must understand that interactive play should not focus solely on losing weight but on increasing strength, improving sleeping habits, and decreasing the stress of a pet.

Choosing the right workout routine will depend on many factors such as weight, size, and breed. As with picking the right pet food off the shelves, the correct and most effective exercise habit should be identified with a veterinarian. There is a possibility of overstraining the cat or dog if engaged in an activity not matched with its physical attributes. For instance, short-snouted dogs may have some difficulty in breathing and should only endure a short and slow-paced workout.

Pets need to have constant access to fresh and clean water, especially when engaged in activities that require more energy and during warm weather. Water is an essential element of a healthy and balanced diet as it helps the body absorb nutrients during digestion and helps cools the body down to maintain a normal temperature. A well-hydrated pet should have good skin elasticity, a shiny coat, and normal activity level. Otherwise, the cat or dog is not getting enough water and must be allowed to consume the necessary amount of water it needs.

PFI and partner organization Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP) remain committed to promoting and encouraging Filipino pet owners to provide proper nourishment and care to make their pets Well-Fed and Well-Nourished cats and dogs. The voice of the United States pet food industry will continue to roll out educational initiatives and materials on responsible pet ownership countrywide.