Is your senior pet overweight? Here are some great pet health tips that will help your furry friend shed those unwanted pounds.
Consult Your Veterinarian
Your pet’s veterinarian can guide you through the weight loss process by coming up with a plan. That plan will be effective and safe, leading your furball to optimal pet health.
Adjust Your Pet’s Diet
Losing weight often requires reducing calories. The tips given below will teach you how to do that for your pet.
Make it a Gradual Process
Gradually reduce your senior pet’s portion sizes. This progressive reduction will prevent your pet’s metabolism from getting out of whack.
Start the process by reducing your pet’s calories by 5% for each meal. Stick to this portion size for two weeks before weighing your pet.
If weight loss has not yet occurred, take away another 5% of your pet’s calories. Repeat this process until your senior pet starts to lose weight.
Feed Fewer Treats
If you give your pet too many treats, those extra calories could sabotage your efforts to help your pet lose weight.
Be sure to count the calories in your pet’s treats when calculating how many calories your four-legged friend consumes each day. To avoid going over the daily total, you should either give your pet fewer treats or make your pet’s meals smaller.
Increase Exercise
Senior pets might not have as much energy as they once did, but they should still get exercise. Just be sure the activities you choose are age-appropriate.
Intense physical activity might be too difficult for your aging pet to handle. Ask your veterinarian for advice on the best types of exercise for your senior dog or cat.
Taking the steps above will help your faithful companion lose weight and obtain great pet health.
Learn more about caring for senior pets by listening to the Senior Pet Podcast.