Most families probably feed their pets with titbits between meals, or extras on top – those imploring eyes
are so hard to resist. Often what you don't know is that your adorable and hungry looking pet has just
devoured a treat provided by another family member or even a kindly neighbour! In fact, a Purina
survey of 6,700 pet owners highlighted the confusion owners feel around their pet's weight. It showed that
despite 70% of owners only weighing their pets at the vet, a third believe their pets to be overweight. However,
almost two thirds have never considered a light diet or one appropriate to their pets' age, size or lifestyle.
Well, now you can monitor just how much your pet is eating - and exercising - with a downloadable Pet Lifestyle
Diary. It's one of the few easy steps you can take towards a fitter, healthier pet with our 'Size Matters' programme!
And don't worry the odd treat is fine, as long as you adjust your pet's diet accordingly.
Track the amount of food & exercise your pet is getting
Our handy printable diary will provide an at-a-glance record. Ask the whole family to get involved:
by all keeping note of how much your pet eats and exercises every day, you'll have an accurate picture.
Learning how to balance the two should keep your pet in great shape for years to come.
Download a Pet Lifestyle Diary now and stick it on the fridge! Just click on the link and you can print
it as many times as you like – it's that simple!
Take note of your pet's body condition score over the next few weeks. For help addressing weight issues
please contact us. The team is comprised of highly trained pet care professionals and can offer
advice ranging from nutritional advice to exercise tips. Remember, if you have any concerns about your pet's
health, speak to your vet immediately.
How to maintain a healthy weight
Most importantly when keeping your pet in shape is to make sure you are using the feeding guidelines on the pack and,
adjusting them to maintain the ideal body condition for your pet. Often your pet will happily accept titbits
which mean they could be eating more than the recommended portion size, but it is unlikely they need it, and this can quickly
lead to weight problems. Always weigh the actual amount of food you are giving, as sometimes estimating portion
sizes leads to increasing them!
Treats are an excellent way of indulging or helping to train your pet, without being tempted to use table scraps
or potentially harmful human foods like chocolate. However, in the same way you sacrifice an extra spoonful at
dinner to allow for a sneaky chocolate bar, you must remember to reduce your pet's main meals to compensate for any treats
you feed. Take a look at our article on Getting The Balance Right (Cat)
(Dog) which gives clear instructions on
how best to do this.
Exercise and play are vital parts of helping to keep your pet (and you!) fit and healthy. It's a great way of
spending quality time together and playing also strengthens the bonds between you, so whether your cat needs some
indoor distractions or your dog seems bored on long walks, read our articles Exercise for Health
(Cat)
(Dog) for
loads of ideas for activities together.