Do you think us americans being over weight is a reason why our pets now are on diet pills.
Yes we even sell diet pills for pets now. I'm glad we don't carry them in my office yet, but people have asked about them.
I believe from being in this line of work for over 2 plus years it's feeding the wrong things and too many treats and unhealthy giving of human foods to pets.
2007-03-21 04:37:44 · 6 answers · asked by Juleette 6 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I think the majority of petfood we buy is mostly the cause of fatness. .
Didn't you notice that most of the cat food has only 4% meat? What's the rest? The ingredients are not good for cats. Cats should be carnivorous. That means they should eat at least 70 % meat! That's why I always read the labels of the cat food for my kitties. If it's less than 50% meat I don't buy it.
2007-03-21 04:49:51 · answer #1 · answered by Silvia N 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is because people think of their pets more and more like a kid, not a pet. They over indulge them because the dog keeps begging, and doesn't talk back (like a kid does).
Same with why so many people are having problem dogs and shows like the Dog Whisperer are popular. Everyone owns a pet now and not everyone knows how to take care of it correctly.
I worked in an emergency vet office in HS and saw my first diabetic dogs and cats. They were putting over 5,000 a year into these pets for various surgeries, insulin shots, etc, and in all the cases it was because the owners fed too many table scraps or too much food in general. I remember being in the waiting room and seeing an owner of a diabetic dog feed it a fatty chunk of ham as a treat when it came out of the hospital from surgery.
I have no problem with feeding table scraps- as long as it isn't often and is just meat (not sugared or salted), but when people start having dishes on their table just for the dog- that is going way overboard.
2007-03-21 04:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not unhealthy giving "human food" to pets, it's unhealthy feeding them leftovers, excess trim and fatty treats. in addition, they also do not take treats into account when feeding their pets. Rather than reduce calories or encourage more exercise, people keep feeding their pets until they are obese. Sadly, it's much easier for a pet to lose weight as they cannot help themselves to what's in the pantry so the blame lies squarely on an owner who refuses to do what is right for the animal. Unfortunately, most vets will not bring up the issue of obesity with their patients unless it materially affects the animal's quality of life or they are asked about it.
Vets need to be more frank in their discussions with owners and let them know that obesity is just as harmful to your pet as it is to you and will reduce the animal's length and quality of life if continued. It's very sad to see so many owners who do not even KNOW what a healthy weight is for their pet. The pet has rolls of fat and they think the pet is at it's ideal weight.
2007-03-21 04:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by SC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too much food, too many treats, and lack of exercise. What just kills me are the new pet strollers. What in the world is wrong with people ????
2007-03-21 04:42:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I once had a Doberman who was overweight (and our other two dogs, a Boston terrier and a Great Dane were the right weight).
Turns out the poor thing had cancer. She had to be put down a few days after her 8th birthday. :(
2007-03-21 04:46:02 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You basically answered your own question, lol. yes like us the animals get too little exercise and the wrong type foods or too much,or both.
2007-03-21 04:43:34 · answer #6 · answered by dianamapley59 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋