Obesity is one of the most prevalent problems among our furkids, so your Tempe pet sitter wanted to offer some tips and tricks at combating this issue.  Obesity can cause arthritis, heart disease, back problems, and reduce your pet’s quality of life.  First, remember food does not equal love!  You can show your canine or feline buddy love and affection other ways than by feeding them such as with petting and scratches, verbal praise, or playtime.  You have to remember what is in their best interest and keeping those extra pounds off is a must.  

Next, we recommend feeding your dogs on a schedule which includes 2 meals a day with a limited portion of food.  This makes it much easier to monitor how much they are eating and increase or reduce the quantity as needed.  Look for kibble that is high quality and therefore recommends smaller feeding portions.  Try checking www.dogfoodadvisor.com to see unbiased ratings on hundreds of dog foods.  The higher-rated foods have fewer fattening by-products and additives such as salt and sugar which our pets are actually addicted to.  Also, keep treats to a minimum.  Try breaking them up into smaller pieces or investing in a low-calorie treat if you continue giving these snacks.  

Get active!  Walk your pooch daily if possible for at least 30 minutes at a decent speed.  Your pup will love this time with you plus you will get exercise also.  If you aren’t able to go on walks, your pet sitters in Tempe recommend some active playtime, a game of fetch, or some rough-housing to burn calories.  If you do find that your pup or kitty have extra pounds to lose, remember to first check with a veterinarian to develop a weight loss plan and screen for any other health concerns that may be contributing to the weight.  Often, they will recommend smaller portions for meals, and this Tempe dog walker has successfully reduced the weight of her own personal pup by feeding less.  Now keep in mind that he isn’t starving and never goes hungry.  But over the course of several months he has lost weight simply by eating less kibble at mealtime.  So it does work!   Finding a weight loss kibble or reduced calorie kibble is another excellent option for the plump furry friend. Be careful not to trim down your feline too quickly as it can cause them to go into fatty liver disease and be fatal if they actually stop eating. 

So what will you do today to ensure your furry child stays in great shape? Try these tips from your Tempe pet sitter and see what happens!