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Dr. Scott
Rovner of Chicago’s Roscoe Village Animal Hospital recommends the following
tips to make sure your pet maintains a healthy weight and fitness level.
Stick to a Schedule: Pets should be fed no more than three times a day – don’t sneak in any
extra meals or provide your pet with table scraps. They are both ways that pets
pack on the pounds.
Keep Active: Just like
humans, pets need cardio activity to keep their hearts healthy. Make sure your
pet raises their heart rate for 20 minutes at least three times a week through
brisk walking, running, swimming or agility training.
Don’t Overtreat:
Feeding your pet too many treats could also be treating them to health
problems! Check the nutrition facts on the treats you feed them. Try using a
scratch behind the ears or a game of catch as incentive instead of food.
Blood Test for Success:
It’s important to have your veterinarian test your pet’s blood at least once a
year, to detect any abnormalities, like hyperthyroidism or Cushing’s disease, that
could affect your pet’s weight.
Get Physical: Pets
need a comprehensive physical exam from a veterinarian on a yearly basis. The
vet can determine whether your pet has any musculoskeletal or dental problems
that may affect their diet and fitness, or if they need medication to control
their weight.
Social Butterflies: One
great way for pets to stay active is to play with other pets, whether it’s at
doggy daycare, at the park, or at home. If you’re looking to add another pet to
your family, a site like Kijiji, which fosters local connections, makes it easy
to welcome the perfect pet into your home. In fact, there are currently over 2,100
listings in the pets category on Chicago.Kijiji.com. Kijiji also hosts a Pet Adoption
category, where many local shelters advertise pets.
Read the Label: Make
sure to properly evaluate the type of food you’re feeding your pet –
there are varieties of food on the market targeted to pets of every age and
dietary need. In addition, check the nutrition facts on the package for
nutritional and caloric content.
Break It Up: If
you have multiple pets, you may need to separate them during feeding time so
one of them doesn’t eat more than their share. Overweight pets often sneak
snacks from their brothers and sisters.
One a Day: Ensure that
your pet is receiving any necessary vitamins or dietary supplements – for
instance, many older pets need to take supplements to ease their
arthritis. An easy way to get your pet to take their medicine without a hassle
is to embed the pill into a small piece of bread or banana.
Match Your Pet to
Your Lifestyle: If you lead a very active, outdoor lifestyle, make sure the
pet you adopt can keep up! A site like Kijiji, which fosters local connections,
allows you to search for many different types of pets in your area, making it
easy to welcome the perfect pet into your home. In fact, there are currently
over 2,000 listings in the Pets category on Chicago.Kijiji.com. Kijiji also hosts a Pet Adoption
category, where many local shelters advertise pets. |
