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Chubby Pets
I took my dog, Meeko, to the vet over the weekend. It was just a routine visit to get the little guy up to date on all his shots. Well, my “little” guy isn’t so little anymore! He’s gained a pound since his last visit in December. It’s not too hard to do the math. He’s picked up an extra pound in under three months. Obviously, Meeko isn’t sneaking treats in the middle of the night!
I have to learn to not give in when I see his little doggy eyes looking up at me because I want him around as long as possible. In a 2008 study, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimated that 44% of U.S. dogs were overweight or obese. That’s about 33 million dogs. Meeko and I take long walks everyday, so exercise isn’t the big issue. He’s getting too many treats! A treat to fetch my curling iron, a treat to paint my nails, and yet another treat to give me a massage. Well, in my mind he might as well be doing that because I need to slow my roll when it comes to the treat department. If you read the labels, processed pet treats pack a punch….filled with sugar and carbs. A treat here and there really adds up, I obviously know firsthand.
In fact, experts say treats should make up no more than 10% of your pet’s daily calories.
The vet recommended breaking his treats in half, so I did that yesterday and Meeko gave me the stank eye, but hey he’ll get use to it. The vet also suggested replacing some of his treats with with healthier fare like sweet, crunchy carrots. So now, we are both on the road to a sleeker body because swimsuit season will be here before you know it.
How do you keep your pet lean and mean? Bark at us below!
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