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Susan
Blake Davis, Certified Clinical Nutritionist of Ask Ariel in Los Angeles
recommends the following tips to make sure your pet maintains a healthy weight
and fitness level.
Stick to
a Schedule: Feed your pet at regular meal times. It is best to feed your pet 2-3 smaller
meals throughout the day. A snack between meals is okay; just make sure it’s
healthy like a slice of apple or steamed vegetables rather than sneaking in an
extra meal or feeding table scraps. They are both ways that pets pack on the
pounds!
Keep Active: Schedule exercise time every day. If you have a dog, go for a jog or if
you have a cat, get them to chase a laser or feather toy.
Don’t
Overtreat: Treats can add up very quickly. One medium dog biscuit can be 100
calories. If there are multiple
family members feeding your pet and set out the total allocation of treats for
the day so everyone knows how much your pet has eaten.
Reward
Properly: Shower your pet with love not food! Try using a scratch behind the ears or a game of catch as
incentive or reward instead of food.
Fill Up: Give
your pet healthy treats such as a slice of apple or vegetables. Avoid biscuits and other commercial
treats. Steamed vegetables or
canned pumpkin can add fiber to the diet and help your pet to feel more “full”.
Avoid giving your pet high fat
foods such as peanut butter or fat from meat.
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.
Skip the
Junk: Don’t feed human junk food such as pizza, sweets, ice cream, or cookie
dough. They are too rich and can make your pet sick. Foods like wheat, sugar and milk products can contribute to
yeast overgrowth and infections.
Ask the
Experts: Visit a veterinarian or pet nutritionist annually to ensure your pet
has a healthy and balanced diet.
Appropriate
Amount: The amount of food you pet
needs depends on their weight, age and health issues so the serving size listed
on your pet’s can or bag of food may actually be more than your pet needs.
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 3,000 listings in the pets category on LosAngeles.Kijiji.com. Kijiji also hosts a Pet Adoption
category, where many local shelters advertise pets.
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