The weight of humans is publicised across the media but the weight of your pets seems to be almost disregarded. If you, as a person are concerned and conscious about your weight then you should put the effort in for your pets as well. There has been a recent up rise of pet obesity across the UK and USA and it is extremely damaging to their health and could potentially end in fatality.
In the past year, researchers have found that the rate of pets being overweight has remained the same yet the rate of obese pets has rapidly increased. It has been said that 53 per cent of adult dogs and 55 per cent of cats are now classed as being overweight and almost half of that percentage are obese.
These horrifying statistics show that pet owners are not caring for their pets properly and they over-feed them and have a lack of exercise. It is almost as important that pets are healthy as it is humans and they need caring for correctly in order to survive and be happy. A lot of owners admit to over-feeding their pets with food and treats but many of them do not think there is anything they can do about these growing statistics.
Pet owners are being held completely responsible for this exponential up rise as they are completely accountable for the amount that their friendly companions eat. From this, pet owners are the only people who can help put a stop to the up rise of overweight and obese animals.
How Can I Improve My Pet's Health?
Different pets have alternative requirements for a healthy diet but whether you have a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit or bird they all have a particular healthy diet similar to humans. Most pets cannot survive on a human diet and this goes for cats in comparison to dogs etc. As cats and dogs are the most popular pets to keep these are the main focus at the moment.
Dog Nutrition
Dogs need a balanced diet of meat, cereals and vegetables a lot like us humans - but do not be deceived as a complete human diet is unhealthy for dogs. Dogs are classed as omnivores but they do not need any necessary carbohydrates in their body. Also, be sure to supply your dogs with clean water at all times. 'Wet foods' need to be served at room temperature and given once or twice a day in comparison to dry foods/breakfast cereals which need to be given in small portions and the directions on the packaging should be followed. Chocolate should never be fed to a dog, as much as 3oz of cooking chocolate can kill a medium-sized dog.
Cat Nutrition
Unlike other animals, cats cannot live on a vegetarian diet as they need a lot of protein in order to stay healthy. Cats need protein, fats & oils, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates to stay happy and healthy - they also need plenty of fresh water as they can become seriously ill after not having water for a few hours. Kittens need to be fed small meals several times a day and need to eat more than adult cats whereas adult cats need to be fed differently. Adult male cats need 250 to 300 calories a day and adult female cats need around 200 to 300 calories a day. An average cup of dry food contains 400 calories and an average cup of wet food contains 150 calories. Depending on your cats eating habits will essentially depend on how much you feed them.
Animal and pet obesity is a huge issue and it needs resolving as soon as possible so do not hesitate to join in on the nutritional way to feed pets!
Jade Jennison is an enthusiastic writer in the subject matter of pets and their well-being and aims to provide information to people who share the same interests as her own. The websites recommended by Jade have been thoroughly researched and come highly acclaimed from direct experience. Take a look at Snack and Tack for a vast array of healthy food for every one of your pets.
