A Pet's View / September 2007
Pet Obesity - Are We Killing Our Pets?
By Lauren Brehm
Obesity is a condition affecting the health of adult men and women. Statistics indicate that the severity of obesity has far more reaching implications than on basic fitness quality. This would be an alarming concern on its own, but research has proven that obesity also affects children. A survey has revealed that the rate of childhood obesity has grown rapidly in recent times with 4.2% of children between 6 and 11 years of age in 1963 to a staggering 17.5% in 2004. (CDC.gov.) In reflection, one might even determine that these statistics are not completely surprising given that children today are not performing the same physical activities as they were in the 1960s.
The roles of domestic animals have also changed through the years. At one time it was considered an affluent novelty to care for a pet in the home, especially if the animal did not perform some necessary task on the property. Later as companion pet ownership became more usual, the job of the pet typically changed to involve more “play time”, accompanying the children as they ran and played, or being a companion to its master in the duration of daily events. As the usual daily tasks of our lives have changed, so have the duties of our four-legged companions. As with humans, pet obesity has become a major health issue. An estimated 25-40% of dogs in the United States are obese (*1). Pet obesity is not an issue involving dogs alone, cats and all domestic pets are at risk from this potentially fatal condition.
Pet obesity is a major health concern. Overweight pets suffer more physical ailments and do not live as long as animals of recommended weight. Obesity often reduces a pet’s enjoyment of life. Health risks associated with weight gain include: heart and respiratory disease, diabetes, liver disease, joint diseases such as arthritis and spinal disc problems just to name a few.
As with humans, the lack of physical activity is not the only contributing factor to health issues related to obesity in our pets. There are in fact a number of causes, and indeed a number of ways we can works towards improving the quality of life for our companions.
Our first question should be “are we killing our pets with kindness”. Diet plays a significant role in contributing to pet obesity. While we should consider physical activity as a changed circumstance over the years, we should also consider reevaluating the food we feed our pets. Instead of examining the changed daily routine of our pets, and altering their diets to suit, we have either neglected to serve an appropriate diet, or over compensated for physical activity with the issuing of treats often with little or poor nutritional quality. There are many good quality pre-prepared pet foods available on the market that contain good healthy ingredients. Shop for your pet with the same concern you would when you shop for the human members of your family. Alternatively preparing your pet healthy meals from fresh ingredients is surprisingly a cheap and easy option.
A walk or some playing each day will not only improve your pet’s health, it is great for you also. A daily walk or “play” will improve health and wellbeing of mind, body and soul for you both.
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