We’ve just looked at weights of dogs and cats—many have obesity issues the same as we humans. In fact, 25-40% of our dogs are seriously overweight, and maybe as many cats are also too fat. It might be tempting to put them all on diet pills, but don’t. Diet pills are dangerous for pets and pills advertising 3% weight loss may be the most dangerous. Medications that advertise sharp weight loss are most likely to promote the loss of muscle and make dogs ill. If a dog loses more than 2% of its weight every week, it is losing muscle as well as fat. Is this your goal?
Safe weight loss is accomplished by gradually increasing exercise and changing the diet.
Let’s face the problem: Whatever you’re feeding now has put your wonderful pet in the position it’s in, so it’s not what your pet needs. Switch to foods without simple carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose, dextrose, sucrose. Avoid foods that have corn as the major ingredient. Give vegetables—yes, the same as you eat. Feed small amounts of broccoli, carrots, green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, and pumpkin. Don’t put sauce on the vegetables and don’t serve them with cheese or butter. Save the cheese and butter for the times it’s necessary to give a pill. When possible, feed raw.
Helping your pet lose weight increases the likelihood it will live for a long time and will enjoy the years it has left.
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