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Top 5 Dangers of Canine & Feline Obesity: Why Weight Lo

22. December 2024
Understanding the Causes of Feline and Canine ObesityWhen a dog or cat gains excessive weight, a sig

Understanding the Causes of Feline and Canine Obesity

When a dog or cat gains excessive weight, a significant accumulation of fat in the fat layer can lead to an overly thick fat layer, which results in obesity, or what is commonly known as obesity syndrome. Improper diet is the primary cause of obesity in pets.

1. Overeating

Dogs and cats often eat whatever their owners provide, regardless of whether the amount is excessive. They may consume the entire portion at once, which can eventually stretch their stomachs and increase their meal sizes, leading to excessive weight gain. Some pets may be particularly greedy, constantly seeking more food from their owners, who may readily comply, even if it's not feeding time or immediately after a meal. This can lead to overeating and obesity.

2. Nutrient Overload

Besides the amount of food, the type of food also contributes to obesity. While dry food can generally meet a pet's nutritional needs, many pet owners also provide snacks or frequently feed them with highfat foods like fish or chicken, or give them nutritional supplements or pastes. This can lead to an excess of nutrients in the body, causing obesity. Some owners even feed their pets human food or snacks, which are often high in oil and salt, making them more prone to obesity. These foods are also likely to cause gastrointestinal issues. After neutering, some pets may also become overweight, which is mainly due to improper diet control. Many owners believe that pets need to be "replenished" after neutering, so they feed them nutrientrich foods. However, neutered pets are often less active, making it easier for them to gain weight.

3. Lack of Exercise

Another cause of obesity is a lack of exercise. If pets eat a lot but do not move, they are more prone to obesity. Many pets are often left alone at home while their owners are at work, leading to a sedentary lifestyle of "eat and sleep, wake up and eat." This is an unhealthy routine. Pets need appropriate exercise to maintain muscle vitality and promote digestion, thus preventing obesity. As pets age, they may also become overweight, similar to the human phrase "middleaged flab." However, from a physiological perspective, as pets age, various bodily functions, including the digestive system, gradually decline. If the digestive system deteriorates, the food they eat cannot be absorbed and utilized, leading to a thicker fat layer and obesity.

Some experts believe that feline and canine obesity is partly genetic. If a pet's parents have obesityrelated genes, the pet may become overweight due to genetic inheritance.

II. The Dangers of Pet Obesity

1. Excessive obesity in pets can lead to various health problems, such as heart disease. Overweight pets place a greater burden on the heart, causing damage to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

2. Obesity can also affect insulin secretion, leading to diabetes if insulin levels are too high or too low. If this causes thyroid dysfunction, pets may experience frequent hunger, leading to more eating and a vicious cycle.

3. Overweight pets are also at risk for joint problems. When the body weight reaches a certain level, the joints may become malformed or fractured due to excessive load, leading to paralysis and other skeletal joint issues.

4. Anesthesia is required during neutering, but if pets are overweight, the risk of anesthesia increases. If a large amount of fat absorbs the anesthetic, it may take longer for the pet to excrete the anesthetic, leading to potential complications after the anesthetic wears off.

5. Overweight pets may also develop urinary system diseases, such as kidney stones, leading to difficulty in urination. When pets are overweight, their blood pressure may also rise, increasing the risk of hyperlipidemia, tumors, and other diseases.

III. How to Help Overweight Pets Lose Weight

To prevent the above diseases caused by excessive obesity, it is essential to help pets lose weight. The main methods for pet weight loss include dietary adjustments and appropriate exercise.

1. Dietary Regulation

Dietary regulation primarily involves controlling the diet of overweight pets. However, this does not mean to starve them, as fasting to lose weight can have more drawbacks than benefits. Fasting can lead to gastrointestinal issues, and prolonged fasting can cause excessive stomach acid secretion, stimulating the intestines and potentially leading to gastrointestinal diseases.

Owners can help pets lose weight by controlling their eating speed and portion sizes, such as using sloweating bowls and feeding them in small, frequent meals to reduce the burden on the digestive system. They can also increase the difficulty of foraging by placing dry food in multiple small bowls at different locations, making the pets move around to eat. This not only prevents them from eating too quickly but also promotes digestion through exercise. Owners can also feed pets specialized weight loss dry food, which typically contains sufficient vitamins and roughage to ensure nutrient intake while promoting absorption and digestion, reducing fat accumulation.

2. Reasonable Exercise

Reasonable exercise can also help pets lose weight, but it should not be excessive. Since pets have more fragile bones than humans, frequent intense exercise can cause damage to bones and joints. Therefore, even during the weight loss period, pets should not overexercise. Generally, owners can take pets for a walk or play simple games half an hour after meals to achieve a certain amount of exercise. Of course, the key to exercise is consistency, and the same goes for weight loss.

Owners should not believe in quick weight loss methods for pets that they find online. While these methods may cause weight loss, they can also cause equal damage to the pets' bodies. Therefore, pet weight loss should be done cautiously. If owners are unsure, they can consult professional veterinarians, who will provide scientific and reasonable advice.

IV. Preventive Measures for Pet Obesity

Lastly, let's discuss preventive measures for pet obesity. Owners should pay attention to their pets' diet and health, ensuring not only the health of the food but also the scientific feeding methods.

1. Pets' daily diet should mainly consist of dry food, and snacks should be avoided to prevent picky eating. Owners should feed their pets at regular times and in appropriate amounts, helping them develop good eating habits. If pets beg for food outside of feeding times, owners should not give in. If pets have digestive problems, owners can give them probiotics to regulate their intestines and aid digestion.

2. In addition to a healthy diet, owners should ensure their pets get enough exercise every day, especially for those particularly lazy pets that barely move except for eating. Longterm inactivity can easily lead to obesity.

Owners can use a scale at home to regularly measure their pets' weight, helping them better monitor their weight changes and overall health. While chubby pets may be cute, owners must also consider their pets' health and avoid overfeeding them, which can expose them to more health risks. There is a wealth of knowledge about pet obesity, and if owners have any questions, they can consult online veterinary doctors.

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