Is My Pet Overweight?

Brought to you by P&G Everyday Solutions

According to the National Research Council report on dog and cat nutrition, 40 percent of dogs are overweight and 25 percent are obese. A similar study found that one in four cats is considered overweight or obese. Weight problems can have serious consequences on a pet's health, complicating the diagnosis and treatment of certain illnesses and ultimately limiting the pet's ability to live a long, healthy life.

Is your pet overweight? A veterinarian is best qualified to diagnose your pet's health, but you can make an educated guess by answering the following questions:

Do you have difficulty feeling your pet's ribs?

Yes     No

Does your pet have little or no "waist" (the indentation in the area between where the ribs end and the hips begin)?

Yes     No

Do you routinely give your pet table scraps or leftovers?

Yes     No

Is your pet reluctant to exercise?

Yes     No

Does your pet waddle when it walks?

Yes     No

Does your pet keep eating as long as there's food in the bowl?

Yes     No

Does your pet seem to tire easily with activity?

Yes     No

Have you been told your pet is overweight?

Yes     No

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, your pet may be overweight. The good news is that there's a lot you can do to help correct the problem.

One of the best ways to help your pet slim down to a healthy weight is to consider food an ally, not an enemy. Pet food should be nutritious, delicious and an asset in the battle against obesity.

There are endless choices in dog foods. It is important to choose specially formulated diets for growth, reproduction, or maintenance, depending on the dog's stage of life. Purchasing pet foods labeled as "complete and balanced" can help ensure that your dog's diet is nutritionally adequate.