Updated October 31, 2023
Let’s say you take your beloved furry friend to the vet for his or her annual checkup, and the vet informs you that your pet is overweight. They recommend taking some steps to lose some of the excess weight and send you on your way with some diet tips, but you still feel confused about how to help.
Does this sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone.
It’s exceedingly common for pets to become overweight – especially if you have an inactive pet that tends to prefer napping and snacking over physical exercise.
According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (2018), 55.8% of adult dogs and 59.5% of cats in the U.S. are classified as either overweight or obese.
Still, it’s important for pet owners to prioritize their animals’ health and work to prevent obesity. In this blog, we’ll discuss why preventing obesity in pets is important and provide some important strategies for promoting pet nutrition, as well as some treat alternatives your pets will love.
Why Is Pet Obesity a Problem?
Being overweight can lead to your pet developing health issues that can shorten his or her life if not treated promptly. From heart disease to osteoarthritis and diabetes, there are a range of diseases and conditions associated with overweight dogs and cats.
Fortunately, there are things pet owners can do to prevent pet obesity and help them maintain a healthy weight.
What to Do for Overweight Pets
Surprisingly enough, veterinarians actually don’t recommend simply reducing the amount of food your pet eats, as this can lead to malnourishment over time. Instead, they are more likely to advise that pet owners reduce the number of treats given, as well as to prioritize feeding their pets health-oriented alternatives.
Most pet owners don’t realize that feeding their pets too many treats can be the biggest culprit behind weight gain and obesity. Although it is important to monitor overall food intake and understand how much your pet needs, it’s arguably more important to ensure you’re not overdoing the treats.
It can definitely be tough to tell our furry friends no when they’re giving us those cute “please can I have a treat” eyes, but most cat and dog treats contain ingredients that are high in fat, calories, and sugars (and low in nutrition).
You wouldn’t let your child snack on candy and chips all day – and you need to apply the same level of care to your dogs and cats.
The best option for reducing pet weight is to switch to a brand that makes natural and healthy treats. Couple nutritional treats with increased exercise for overweight pets, and you’ll be on a healthy path to eliminating excess body fat.
Learn How Our Cat & Dog Treats Support a Healthy Pet Diet
Both our cat treats and dog treats at Momentum Carnivore Nutrition are made without any fillers or unnecessary ingredients. Our goal is to help your pet live a long and healthy life with excellent nutrition. To do this, we craft our treats with 100% real meat and no fillers – but still a great taste.
Our pet snacks are high protein, low calorie, and low fat, designed to help prevent pet obesity and offer them nutritional benefits. You can serve our quality treats straight from the bag as a snack or training reward, or you can moisten them to supplement meals.
Incorporate Our Freeze-Dried Treats Into Your Cat or Dog’s Diet Plan
If your pet is overweight and suffering, let our team at Momentum help guide you on a safe and nutritional weight-loss plan for your pet. We have a commitment to offering excellent pet nutrition through our carefully crafted freeze-dried treats (with a great taste that animals love).
Work towards weight loss and improved health while still spoiling your pet with Momentum Carnivore Nutrition cat and dog treats! We offer 100% natural, high-quality, biologically appropriate meat treats that contribute to a healthy pet diet and a long, happy life for your furry friend.
Trust us, your dog or cat will thank you for the healthy treats later!
Need some further tips for managing pet weight? Want to learn more about the nutrients that go into our treats? Reach out today! We love hearing from every pet parent.