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
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