Overweight Pets While most people don’t think about their dogs and cats when making pledges to get fit, many should.   Obesity can adversely affect a pet’s health just as it can our health.  Besides the physical discomfort of simply being overweight, obesity can cause or aggravate a host of other physical ailments, including arthritis, joint problems, pancreatitis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory difficulties and liver dysfunction.  So, be honest…is your pooch pudgy?  Do you have a chubby cat?  A simple test is to stand over your pet and look down at them.  You should see an hourglass shape around the stomach.  Also, your animal should not have a sagging belly. Obesity in pets is most often due to old-fashioned overeating combined with lack of exercise.  If you suspect that your pet’s obesity may be caused by other problems, or if your dog’s weight does not respond to dietary and exercise management, consult with your vet. Be conscious of what your pet eats.  Don’t leave food down all day.  Instead feed your pet two or three times daily and you choose how much he eats.   Try substituting praise and play instead of popping fattening treats into your pet’s mouth.  Many dogs love plain popcorn (no salt or butter) or a crunchy carrot stick as low fat treat alternatives.  For weight loss, veterinarians recommend a low fat, high fiber diet.  Most of the inexpensive commercial diets are poor quality, and may cause your pet to eat more in order to get the nutrients he needs.  Try switching to a high-quality, low-fat diet.  If you do change your pet’ s diet, do so gradually.  Combine the new food with your pet’s usual food in larger and larger proportions over several weeks. Many pets are left alone all day while their human caretakers go to work.  These latchkey pets spend most of their days sleeping, with occasional breaks for naps on the couch.  After a hard day at work, most pet owners barely have the time or energy for more than a quick trip to the front yard, much less a brisk walk with the dog or playtime with the cat.  Even a 5 to 10 minute walk or playtime is a great start.  Before you know it, you will have a bona-fide exercise routine, and it is good for both you and the pet!  Cats tend to do their own thing, but you can take time to discover your cat’s favorite toys and encourage it to play. There are few things in life as pleasurable and good for YOU as walking a dog.  Dog and human alike benefit physically from the exercise, and mentally from the relaxation such an activity provides.  So, do something nice for yourself tonight, WALK THE DOG!