Pet Insurance. Podgy Pets
Four out of every ten pets are obese says Petplan, one of the pet insurance providers.
Owners are overfeeding their cats and dogs with mamouth sized portions as well loads of sneaky treats from the table. This had led to a flood of insurance claims for pet illnesses brought on by obesity.
Indeed Petplan has revealed a 60% rise in obesity related claims during the last five years amongst the 800,000 pets it insures. Says Simon Wheeler, a spokesman for Petplan, “More and more owners are feeding their animals the same over-indulgnt food they eat themselves”. As a result it is reported that some pet insurers are considering exclusions for obese animals.
Obesity in pets can causes many of the same problems it does in their owners. An overweight pet is liable to a host of related problems, including: joint, ligament and tendon difficulties, diabetes, breathing and heart challenges. Obese cats can also develop skin conditions from being unable to groom themselves properly. The overall impact on your pets’ comfort and longevity can be disastrous.
The good news is that it’s easier to trim your pets weight down than it is for you to fight the battle of the bulge. After all, your pet can’t open the refrigerator door on their own, nor can they grab the car keys for a trip to the fish and chip shop or phone out for a Chinese. Your pet is wholly dependent on what you give it to eat. So if it’s fat, that’s your fault. And the remedy’s in your hands. Although you might shudder at the idea of exercise, your pet will always up for a brisk walk, perhaps playing with a toy on a string, or a game of fetch.
How can you tell if your pet is overweight? Healthy pets will always have some padding on them - but a little is plenty! Run your hands over their ribs. You should be able to feel their ribs and the skin should move easily back and forth. Your pet should also have a noticeable waist at the bottom of the rib cage, a small tuck-in around the stomach. Step back and take a look from the side - if your pet looks pregnant, it’s overweight. Then look from above, it’s equally bad news if you see a bump out from the middle into an apple shape. Even birds, can get obese. Look for rolls of fat or a thicker breast.
Certain breeds and species are more liable to weight problems. In dogs, Labradors especially fatten up easily, as do beagles and some spaniels. Less-active cats such as Persians are far more likely to gain weight than the go-go breeds such as Siamese. And in birds, Amazon parrots are contenders to become perch potatoes.
Crash diets aren’t a healthy solution for pets, especially not for cats, who can develop a fatal liver problem if forced to slim down too quickly. No pet gets fat overnight and it shouldn’t be forced to slim down any more quickly. The best course of action is to feed only at prescribed meal times, cut out those tip bits and introduce more exercise. Your vet can also advise you on special diet foods. Do all of this gradually but please be committed – your pet’s life depends on it.
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