Did you know that nearly 50% of all cats and dogs are considered to be overweight?
Over the Christmas period it is easy to gain weight, we all know that. The impulsive eating is contagious, and we all lose track of time. It’s the same for your pet. In this blog today, we are going to identify 6 different ways to determine if your pet is overweight. All of these tips don’t require much time or guessing, all are based upon appearance and gentle feeling of your pet.
Firstly…
When you grab a hold of your pet, you should be able to feel the last 2/3 ribs when placing your hands either side of their chest. This indicates a healthy weight for your pet. Anything above 2/3 ribs, it considered a danger and you should contact your vet for the best options for you.
Secondly…
When you stand above your pet, you should be able to see the indent that the waist would give. The body should have an outline of an eight. Dogs that are overweight would have the shape of an oval. If this is the case with your pet, contact your vet for the best advice.
Thirdly…
Their stomach should slightly tuck in when they are turned to the side. This indicates the perfect size of your pets’ stomach, failure to this shows that your pets’ stomach has stretched indicating a severe obese pet.
Fourthly…
The base of your pets’ tail can also be a big indicator in identifying if your pet is overweight. The tail should have a slim wind of fat around the base of the tail. If you feel more than a slim line of fat over the tail, then contact your doctor to get the best possible advice.
Finally…
One and by far the most obvious factor of overweight pets is the rolls being around the base of the neck. This cause by over storage of fat in the stomach the dogs would store the fact in other deposits. The skin is then stretched meaning that the skin rolls over each other.
Another useful test that can be used is the knuckle test. Make a tight fist and run your fingers over your knuckles. Each bone is prominent. If your pet’s rib cage feels like this, they’re underweight.
Then hold your hand flat and run your fingers over your knuckles. You can feel each knuckle but not quite as easily. There’s a little padding there. If your pet’s ribs feel like this, they’re probably at the ideal weight.
And finally, flex your hand tight, stretching your fingers as far back as they’ll go, and you guessed it, run your fingers over your knuckles. It’s not nearly so easy to feel your knuckles. If your pet’s ribs feel like this, it’s time to cut back on the treats and bump up the exercise.
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