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Beating Your Pet’s Winter Bulge

Posted: 1/7/2011

Feed pets several small meals during the day to help them burn off calories and balance their metabolism.

(NAPSI) - When it’s cold outside, it’s not unusual to cut back on activity, dive into the comfort food and put on a few extra pounds. It’s true for four-legged family members as well as humans. Just as with people, pet obesity is on the rise and inactivity just adds to the problem.

Fortunately, you can take steps to get your pet back on track before obesity triggers other health issues. Arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other health problems are all more prevalent when people or pets carry a few extra pounds. If you can’t feel your pet’s ribs or spine easily, it may be time for your pet to shed a few pounds.

Here are some tips to help:

• Balance their diet—Visit your vet to set a target weight and determine how much food and the type of food that’s best for your dog’s or cat’s age, weight and overall health. Finding healthier snacks and treats can be one way to cut down on additional pounds. Also, skip the table scraps and serve smaller portion sizes.

• Supplement their diet—Sometimes, a dog or cat will need something extra in the diet to make it more balanced. For example, Bactaquin Digestive Health Supplement helps restore intestinal health following imbalances in your pet’s diet. It contains beneficial microorganisms to support growth of good bacteria in the intestines, which helps restore digestive health. It comes in sprinkle capsules that can easily be mixed in with cat and dog food.

• Get active—Schedule walks and look for some indoor venues that may be pet friendly-such as a mall or pet day care center that offers additional activities. Start slowly and increase exercise time as you go.

• Cats need activity too—Set some time to play with your cat using toys that simulate hunting. Short 15- to 20-minute sessions can burn off a lot of calories and may cut down on nocturnal activity.

• Help your pet’s mobility—If your dog or cat slows down, limps or shows other changes during exercise, consult your vet. Pets will slow down as arthritis flares up, and products with glucosamine and chondroitin play an important role in maintaining optimal joint function. Cosequin helps support cartilage production and protects existing cartilage from breaking down. It’s the only glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplement that has been shown effective for treating both cats and dogs and it’s available in a treat form as Cosequin Soft Chews to make it easier to administer.

Learn more at www.entirelypets.com.

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