I will tell you right from the start, the topic of this article is weight management in our pets. Does that make you want to turn the page and skip this section? I know, I know. It is a difficult topic for all of us. I will do my best to break it down in a way we can all understand and agree with, and I hope that is not offensive to any dogs or cats reading along with you!
I will admit the following:
1. Chubby pets are cute.
2. Loving our pets through food and treats is natural.
3. I, myself, have struggled with snacks and portion control!
These three admissions are probably true for almost all of us. We all know the important role that weight management plays in our own health. Has anyone joined me on the frequent and inconsistent "diet train?" Can I get a show of hands? Thank you; glad to know I am not alone!
Let's take us humans out of this picture. Our weight-related issues are complex, and often involve physical, emotional, or mental health concerns at the root of them. This makes our weight difficult to discuss. So, repeat after me -- this article is about your pet! Again -- this article is about your pet!
So now that is out of the way, on with it.
We all love our pets! Our devotion to them is not in question here. We want to see them happy. We want them to know they can count on us for all their needs. We want obvious, visual proof that our pet feels loved. One way we accomplish this is through food. Let's face it, there is nothing our pets love more than getting a treat or an extra snack-y. If one is good, more is even better! We can watch those little tails wag all day long if we just keep the food a'comin! Treats for going potty. Treats when we leave the house. Treats when we enter the house. Treats at bedtime. Treats just for waking up each morning. Treats for the car ride. Treats for eating a good supper. Yay for treats! Now for the part we do not like -- the number of calories in the treats. Hmmph. Did you know that one large dog biscuit could be the equivalent of a quarter-cup of adult dog food? Imagine what might be in the meaty, soft, squishy yummies (not to mention, those are small, so it takes at least two to satisfy our pet!). In addition, we need to be aware of the salt and fat content, etc. Think of your own go-to goodie. For me, it is chocolate. What if I allowed myself a candy bar (or even half a candy bar) every time I woke up, left the house, came home, or went potty? That is overdoing it, don't you think?
Now, we need to talk about appetite. Our pets should be hungry at certain times of the day, every day, right? They should want to rush to their bowl and devour everything inside within a matter of minutes, right? If they do not show a strong appetite, we should start adding other ingredients to make the food more appealing, right? Maybe we should switch the flavor or brand every three days until we find their favorite, right? Well ... ummm ... no. This is a little more difficult to understand. The pet food commercials show us that our dog or cat should look forward to every meal. We want them to do just that. There must be something wrong if they hesitate to eat. If we let them go, they will surely starve! Well ... umm ... no. Many dogs and cats show this behavior because they have been taught to do so. They catch on quickly to routines. Put yourself in your pets' shoes. The way to chicken and gravy is to refuse to eat. The way to a little tidbit off mom's plate is to pretend we are starving. That's it now big eyes, low ears, you got it. Yes, yes! I got a piece of roast!
I think I made my point on that.
Let me briefly explain the medical (aka boring) side of this. Fat cells are there to stay until they die a normal cell death. They can shrink or fill based on food intake, but they are always there waiting for deposits. When they get big enough, they split into two fat cells. They also secrete hormones, which keep animals from feeling full, increase inflammation, soften joints, and encourage growth of tumors. Of course, we are all aware of the risk of heart disease and diabetes. There are real, serious consequences to allowing our pets to become obese. Consequences that we do not think of when we are in the kitchen at night, sharing our ice cream with our happy pet.
In a famous study conducted by Purina, published in 2002, research showed, "that a dog's median life span can be extended by 15 percent -- nearly two years for the Labrador retrievers in this study -- by restricting diet to maintain ideal body condition." The results of the study show, "By age 10, only three lean-fed dogs had died, compared to seven control dogs. At the end of the 12th year, 11 lean-fed dogs were alive with only one control dog surviving. Twenty-five percent of the lean-fed group survived to 13.5 years, while none of the dogs from the control group lived to 13.5 years."
If that is not motivation to control our pet's body condition, I don't know what is. We love our pets. We want them to live two years longer, or to be healthier longer. We can control their food. We can help them develop healthy eating habits. We can find other ways to love them.
For more information about the Purina "Life Span Study," follow this link: https://newscenter.purina.com/LifeSpanStudy