As with humans, being overweight can cause animals similar health issues and with recent research from the PFMA suggesting that half of all cats and dogs in the UK are overweight, this is a an increasingly serious issue. In the same way as humans, getting to and maintaining a healthy weight is a case of ensuring that calories in do not exceed calories out. Whilst this sounds simple in theory, in practice it can be much more difficult – with research showing that dogs fed to lean from puppyhood throughout their life, enjoy on average two extra happy and healthy years, it is well worth ensuring your pet is a healthy weight.

The first step to ensure your pet is a healthy weight is to establish what the ideal weight should be – as this will be individual to your pet the best person to establish this with is your veterinary surgeon. Once established regular weighing of your pet and monitoring their weight loss or gain as required is essential. Generally weight change will be gradual over a number of weeks or even months so keeping track is essential.

Portion control is the simplest way to ensure your pet maintains the correct weight. All pet food packaging will give guideline daily amounts and these can be adjusted slightly according to your pets’ individual needs. It is important to remember that the amount recommended on the packaging is the total daily ration and should be divided over the pets’ meals. Moreover, the recommended daily amount of a complete dog food is all they need to be fed. If you are treating as well this needs to be taken into account as part of the daily amount.

When it comes to treats human table scraps should be avoided where possible. Often scraps are inappropriate for pets as they can be too high in fat, salt, sugar as well as energy content. Moreover, what may appear a small treat from a human point of view is actually a very large treat for a pet. For example one chunk of cheese for a human may contain the equivalent calorific value of 9 chunks of cheese when fed to a cat. Where possible offer healthy, pet specific treats which deliver functional benefits such as teeth cleaning or joint care. Use treats as infrequently as possible – ideally only as a motivational aid when training. Pet treats should not exceed 10% of their calorie intake.

Free feeding can be problematic as you cannot control the amount your pet consumes. Although convenient your pet may not stop eating when they are full, as such it needs to be down to the owner to control the amount of food consumed by their pet. By carefully measuring out their rations and providing only when required you will more easily control their bodyweight.

For pets that really struggle to control their bodyweight there are specialist diets with reduced calorific content which are designed to sate your pets appetite, while controlling their calorie intake. However, these diets should only be used on the recommendation of your veterinary surgeon.

Almost as important as diet, ensuring your pet has an active, stimulating and healthy lifestyle will help maintain the correct bodyweight. Providing toys that promote active play is an ideal way to ensure cats and dogs remain healthy and active. Long walks will not only benefit your pet but will benefit you too. Active throw and fetch play and getting your dog moving will ensure maintenance of the correct bodyweight.

As we know obesity can lead to a number of more serious conditions such as arthritis, skin disease, diabetes as well as heart conditions to name a few. It is therefore imperative that weight is kept under control to help prevent the development of more serious health conditions.