At the risk of seeming like jumping on the new year bandwagon, it’s time for my suggested new year’s resolutions to help keep your pets healthy and happy for 2025.
Weight loss in the new year is not just for you since obesity rates for dogs and cats are estimated to be about 60 percent. Obesity poses a number of health risks for your pets. Dogs’ orthopedic conditions can be exacerbated by additional weight and obesity has been linked to higher rates of mammary, mast cell, and bladder cancer. Diabetes and fatty liver disease are seen at a much higher rate in overweight cats as well as increased incidence of lower urinary tract disease.
While the basics of weight loss are relatively straightforward in our pets since most can’t open the refrigerator or head to the grocery store for additional food. Lower calorie intake and increased calorie burning are all that is needed, but that can be far from easy for many pet owners. Pets can be demanding and difficult to live with when they are not getting the food they are accustomed to, so hopefully a few simple changes in activity can make a big difference in your pet’s life and you may even benefit as well.