Are We Killing Our Pets?
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By Dorian Wagner
eDiets Senior Copy Editor
You know you want to lose weight. You know you want your kids to be a healthy weight. But what about your pets? Think a little pudge on your pet is cute? I think it's time we take a look at pet obesity as a serious problem.
How do we show our pets love? We give them treats. How do we make them do anything? Treats. Good boys get treats! And who isn't guilty of slipping Fido or Fluffy a little nibble of whatever's for dinner?
I'll be the first to admit I’m not helping the problem. My cat (and I use that term loosely; he's really the size of a medium dog) is overweight. Pimp has weighed in at a whopping 22 pounds at vet visits, and I often find myself comparing him to small dogs and saying, "My cat would eat your dog."
Luckily, I've never fed Pimp a small dog, but since he eats any and everything I give him, I have no doubt he'd probably try if I gave one to him. Good boys get small dogs!
Did you know the average weight of an adult cat is 7 to 12 pounds?! The vet told me to put him on "diet" food, which I did. But that hasn't stopped me from filling up his bowl probably too often, showering him with treats and giving him some of everything I eat. He just looks at me with those eyes…
So the realization becomes: It’s not our pets' fault that they're fat. It's not their fault that all our "love" puts them at a higher risk for weight-related conditions. They don't know that a serving of treats is only four pieces, or that they should run around the house for 30 minutes a day to keep their heart healthy.
Sure, a yummy treat or a bite of your juicy steak may make your pet happy at that minute. But are their fattened purrs and tail wags worth it in the long run? Not so much.
I know I've said it before, but I'm serious this time: Pimp's going on a diet. And I know he may yell and cry and wake me up 20 times a night because he thinks he's hungry, but in the end, Mommy knows best -- and I want him around for as long as possible.
Do you have a fat pet, or know someone who does? Have you tried to put them on a diet or do you think they're pleasantly plump? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Labels: diet, pets, relationships, weight
Comment: Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:08:00 PM - 
Clinton Walker said...
The best thing to do for your pet is to make them jog with you.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 12:03:00 PM - 
tom-thomas said...
Pimp is pretty big! Are you feeding him dry food? Then he's getting too many carbs. Cats don't need carbs for energy, like we do. They need more protein.
Our cat, Raja, is overweight and we have put her on a 99% wet (canned) food diet.
So far, she hasn't lost much, but her coat is shinier and she is slowly losing weight.
Suprisingly, when we switched her to low-carb, high-protein wet food, she didn't eat as much! So there was less begging for food.
I wrote a blog about healthy cat food brands and flavors: http://help-my-fat-cat-lose-weight.blogspot.com/
Good luck with Pimp!
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 12:55:00 PM - lilreddy said...
Unfortunately, can't make cats jog with me. I have 3 cats—one is 8 lbs, one is 17 lbs, and one is a whopping 27 lbs. The problem with trying to make the obese one diet is the tiny one (who is also the oldest of the 3). I feed them Purina One's Healthy Weight/Hairball variety, but it doesn't help. And can't figure out how to ration my problem child without penalizing the one who already looks like she is suffering from a famine.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 1:01:00 PM - Animal lover2 said...
Feeding a good quality holistic food helps my cat be more satisified with what I feed him, but I think he would eat more than our 80 pound dog if I let him. He likes his food, morning, noon and night...the more the better.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 1:13:00 PM - said...
I have a black an white tuxedo cat named Oreo she weighs 15 lbs.the vet never told me to put her on a diet.She eats her food plus sometimes what I eat.....
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 1:34:00 PM - said...
Great name you picked for your cat. My cat's name is Mofo, and she's a fatty too!
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 1:51:00 PM - said...
I have two bichon frises. I feed them both the same amount of food but Missy is much more pudgy than Zoe. I think just like people, dogs come in all different sizes.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 2:49:00 PM - said...
3 of my 4 cats were quite overweight. I did what the vet said and put them on 'diet' cat food and they were constantly hungry and not losing weight. They ate no people food or much soft cat food. The solution: I went to organic and almost pure protein high quality cat kibble. Took them off the 'diet' food entirely. AND I got 2 Scottish Terrier pups (who are now 2 yrs. old). My cats' weight has changed dramatically...the fattest female feline looks almost normal now. The dogs have been great with the cats...they run and play together in the house and , with supervision, outside in the backyard.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 4:11:00 PM - said...
Hi I have a "Super Chihuau" that's what the vet calls him. He is a larger breed to begin with, but he is 10 lbs over weight. i have cut back on his food and treats and my friend and i are starting to take our dogs on daily walks and runs.it's hard to say NO to those sweet little eyes and sad faces, but we have to be the Momms and say sorry sweety it's for your own good.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 4:29:00 PM - said...
I agree with the owner of the Bichon's. Pets are like people and come in different sizes and have different metabolisms. I have 2 cats, Leo & Lyla, who are brother and sister. Lyla's my binky girl at 8 lbs. and Leo is my big gallute at 20 lbs. But he's not fat, he's long and lean and just a big guy. I try to play with them about 10-15 mins every day to give them some exercise. The fishing pole type of toy with the feathers on the end is great. They go crazy for it.
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 5:16:00 PM - mstrachota said...
I think it's interesting how people who overfeed their animals or give them "treats" that are not good for them say it's because they love them so much. Where is the love in doing something that hurts them? I don't get it. When we love something, we don't knowingly do things to hurt it. That isn't love, it's indulging ourselves more than anything. It's just like feeding our kids junk food and telling ourselves it's because we love them and can't say no. If your pet wants to run in front of a car, do you let him because you love him? Or do you hold him back because you know it will hurt or possibly kill him? Stop making yourself feel better and do what is right for the pet you say you love so much!
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 5:19:00 PM - mstrachota said...
I think this is a no brainer. Extra weight on a pet can cause them to have less quality of life as well as shortening their lives. If you love them, take care of them right. Spending time with them will make them happier than any cookie could!
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 5:40:00 PM - said...
I feed my cat's and dog's a simple home made diet of chicken or lean red meats with brown rice and fresh vegetables. Broccoli, spinach, peas, carrrots. They love fresh fruits for snacks, especially apples. (no grapes)They also get our fruit and vegetable whole food in a capsule sprinkled on their food. Their health is perfect compared to those dog's of my friends and family. There is something to be said for nutrition for pet's!
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 7:29:00 PM - said...
I have an eight and one-half pound Yorkie who should weigh at least one pound less. Has anyone ever tried to keep a Yorkie on a diet?He is on prescription weight loss food, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Roufous' Mom
Comment: Friday, April 18, 2008 7:53:00 PM - said...
Hi my orange tabby, Leo, is about 20 pounds and we've tried to help him lose weight by buying diet iams food, but it doesnt work because he eats his 2 sisters food when he is done with his. i wish i knew what to do. does a wet food diet really work? i will try it if it does....i want my Leo around as long as i can. i love my baby boy!!!
Comment: Saturday, April 19, 2008 8:01:00 AM - said...
I am not sure if this will work for cats but I have a great diet for dogs. My miniature dachshund ruptured a disc at age 1 1/2. She was 2 pounds overweight at the time. The surgeon gave me a great diet plan. I cut her hard dog food down and gave her a half a can of SALT FREE string beans or green peas with the hard food. They must be SALT FREE. The dog loves it and thinks her stomach is full. Salt free rice cakes make a great treat.
Comment: Sunday, April 20, 2008 4:59:00 PM - said...
Hi! You know my problem maybe is the opposite, I haen't weighed my cat, her name is Cara, and my problem is that sometimes she cries like loking for something, but whatever I fed her she leaves, she only eats Whiskas and sometime jam that I cut in small pieces but nothing else attracts her, is that normal
Thank you
Guadalupe Chacon
Veracruz, Mexico
gbacha_2000@yahoo.com.
Comment: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:51:00 AM - said...
My cat is 22lbs. of pure muscle. There's no fat on him, seriously. He eats from a 6-cup self-feeder, and takes almost two weeks to eat that much. When we had his sister (from the same litter), they ate out of the same feeder. She was 5lbs., ate more than him, and then puked it all up. She also licked herself bald. That same 6-cup feeder had to be refilled every 5 days because of her. We gave her up to the Humane Society because we just couldn't handle all of her nervous psychoses.
Comment: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:01:00 PM - said...
Here's a story... about reducing pet obesity
http://www.pressrepublican.com/archivesearch/local_story_090231548.html
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