Obesity in Pets
If you want to keep your dog healthy and avoid diseases than you must use only natural ingredients in your dogs food. As a concerned dog owner, you should be avoiding as many ‘un-natural’ ingredients as possible. Using un-natural ingredients, which is what most commercial dog food companies use, has been linked to an increase of diseases in pets.
Here is a brief list of some dog supplement and food ingredients that you need to be aware of:
TOXIC Ingredients
-BHA is suspected to cause stomach cancer, behavioral changes, hyperactivity, liver damage and fetal abnormalities and metabolic stress.
-BHT is suspected to cause liver issues, thyroid and bladder cancer and metabolic stress
-Propylene glycol is suspected to cause the destruction of red blood cells. Some studies suggest that cats can become addicted to food that contains this
-Artificial Colors Red #2 and #40, Violet #1, Blue #2, Yellow No 5 and 6 are suspected to be linked to cancer, birth defects and skin lesions
-Ethoxyquin - The FDA tested this preservative and found that it was unhealthy for pet consumption. Ethoxyquin is suspected to cause cancer, kidney related problems and numerous other health issues
So here is what you should be looking for in a Quality, Natural supplement:
1. In choosing a natural supplement, ensure that none of these are on the label: No wheat, No Soy, No Dairy, No Sugar, No Artificial Ingredients, No additives and NO fillers.
2. The ingredients should be derived from Natural Sources- if you can’t pronounce them, then they probably are NOT natural. Some of the more common Natural ingredients, include Vitamins, Minerals, Flax, Fish Oil, Amino Acids- plus both naturally derived animal and plant related components. This includes ingredients such as Herbs, Mushrooms, Colostrum, Glucosamine, and Digestive enzymes.
3. Ensure that the supplement is NATURALLY preserved. Vitamin E and being ‘air tight’ is the preservative of choice. AVOID BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.
4. Natural flavor and color- If the supplement is chemically flavored or colored DON’T use it. The artificial color and flavors are added as a way to produce a ‘cheaper’ supplement that is more ‘appealing’ to consumers. Make a point of AVOIDING these as they are linked to cancer and several chronic canine diseases.
Many of the poor quality dog supplements are artificially flavored, colored and preserved as a way of cutting costs and extending shelf life. The BIG problem is that these Un-Natural Ingredients may actually be causing disease- so if you are to give ANY supplement to your dog, ensure that it is NATURAL.
Now speaking about feeding our pets, how do we tell if they are obese? And what are the health risks to them if they are?
Well, there are REAL and significant health risks associated with pet obesity. Just a few are:
Cancer - several types of cancer- from Lipomas to serious sarcomas.Arthritis.Ligament injury- especially Anterior Cruciate Ligaments.Liver Disease- especially in cats.Heart failure.High Blood pressure.Blindness.Kidney disease.Diabetes- in dogs and cats
So how do can we tell if they are overweight? There is a scale that some veterinarians use based on a 1-5 system.
1 - Ribs, spine and bony protrusions are easily seen at a distance. These pets have lost muscle mass and there is no observable body fat. Emaciated, bony, and starved in appearance.
2 - Ribs, spine and other bones are easily felt. These pets have an obvious waist when viewed from above and an abdominal tuck. Thin, lean or skinny in appearance.
3 - Ribs and spine are easily felt but not necessarily seen. There is a waist when viewed from above and the abdomen is raised and not sagging when viewed from the side. Normal, ideal, and often muscular in appearance.
4 - Ribs and spine are hard to feel or count underneath fat deposits. Waist is distended or often pear-shaped when viewed from above. The abdomen sags when seen from the side. There are typically fat deposits on the hips, base of tail and chest. Overweight, heavy, husky or stout.
5 - Large fat deposits over the chest, back, tail base and hindquarters. The abdomen sags prominently and there is no waist when viewed from above. The chest and abdomen often appear distended or swollen. Obese.
So if your dog is overweight to obese what can you do? There are a few solutions. Of course like ourselves proper exercise is vital for weight loss. Dogs are built to run all day, not spend their life waiting for us to get home from work. Commit to taking your dog out for at least 30 minutes twice daily; try to make it aerobic with a jog or on a bike. Consider a dog-walking service in your area.
Diet is the most important thing in creating weight loss. Your cat should be on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. There are specific high-protein feline diets available at your veterinarian or you can make your own.
Your dog’s diet should also change. I have had good luck with commercial weight-loss diets higher in fiber, but I have also seen good success with homemade diets higher in protein and fiber, lower in carbohydrates and fat.
Stop any high-calorie treats, such as Pounce or Milk Bones. Try specific low-calorie treats, or even better switch to vegetables.
Feed your pet controlled amounts twice daily; free-fed pets are often overweight.
Yes this really is a silent killer that doesn’t get the respect it deserves. IF your dog or cat is overweight, then you are just ASKING for a health problem to pop up.
Written by Troy Foote. Pet advocate and owner of Pamper Pet Care Your online resource for pet health care and nutrition.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Troy_Foote
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