Good things come to those who weigh!

New year, new weigh-in? When was the last time you weighed your dog, cat, rabbits, guinea pigs or other small pets?

Just like us humans, our pets benefit from being within a healthy weight range. However, because we love our furry friends so much, it can be tempting to given them lots of little extras to eat – particularly when they perform their well-practiced repertoire of begging behaviours that we just can’t resist...

However, a few extra treats combined with not enough exercise can be a risky combination when it comes to your pet’s health.

According to research carried out by veterinary charity PDSA, veterinary professionals estimate that 46% of dogs and 43% of cats are overweight or obese – and 82% of owners don’t know their pet’s body condition score. This industry-wide veterinary scale, which runs from numbers 1 to 9, indicates if a pet animal is underweight, ideal weight or overweight.

As a guide:

• You should be able to see and feel your pet’s ribs, spine and hip bones. 

• Your pet’s waist should be clearly visible when viewed from above. 
• Your pet’s belly shouldn't be sagging underneath, there should only be a small amount of belly fat.

TOP TIP!

Regularly monitor your dog’s weight and keep an eye on how much food they’re eating – especially when it comes to giving them treats. If your vet advises putting your dog on a diet, let everyone in the house know so no one will unknowingly slip them treats.

Source: Petplan

Weigh-ins are the way forward

However, although we humans can take a deep breath and step on the scales to reveal the numbers, our pets have to rely on us to help them stay in shape. In fact, regular weigh-ins are a very important part of pet care.

Veterinary surgeon Brian Faulkner advises: “Checking your pet's weight should form part of their regular health check-ups. By looking after your cat, dog or rabbit's weight, you are helping to ensure that they are fighting fit all year round.”

Marsden, a leading provider of medical weighing equipment adds: “Although losing or gaining weight is a great indicator for an illness, did you know that being overweight can be dangerous for your pet? Pet obesity can cause problems, such as arthritis, skin conditions and breathing problems. That’s why your vet will weigh your pet at the start of every check-up. This is so they not only have an accurate weight on record but can also check to see if they’re overweight and give you advice to help with that.”

TOP TIP!

Keep your cat at a healthy weight by putting their feeding bowl in different places and making them ‘hunt’ for their food. You can also try ‘puzzle feeding’ with balls with holes in them that dispense kibbles one by one as the cat plays with it.

Source: Petplan

And, while trying to weigh your pet at home can prove tricky, most vets will let you use their scales free of charge, along with some pet stores and groomers.

Understand the causes of weight gain

“It’s important to recognise what a healthy bodyweight and shape is for your cat or dog – and the factors that could affect it,” advise Anne Carter and Jacqueline Boyd, Senior Lecturers in Animal Biology and Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University. “Sometimes it’s just in the genes. Some Labrador Retrievers, for example, have a genetic mutation that predisposes them to increased ‘foodie’ behaviour and weight gain. And neutered pets can have reduced daily calorie needs, so if their diet isn’t altered accordingly, they can inadvertently gain weight.”

TOP TIP!

Don’t forget to weigh out your pet’s food accurately using a scale. Scoops are hugely inaccurate and make overfeeding much more likely.

Source: Carter & Boyd, Nottingham Trent University

The importance of being an ideal weight

Helping your pets reach their ideal weight is really important for their health and wellbeing. As well as being more at risk of developing serious illnesses and diseases, being overweight can also affect everyday activities – from being able to enjoy walkies and playtime to how well they can groom themselves.

TOP TIP!

Slow down super speedy eaters with slow feeding bowls featuring raised patterns that require more effort to get to the food, or puzzle feeders, which means your dog has to engage both brain and brawn to get to their tasty kibble!

If your pet is extremely portly, it may seem like a daunting task to help them slim down, but there’s plenty of help available. “If their weight is far too high – or even approaching obese proportions – it may be best to begin your pet’s weight-loss journey with a trip to the vet for a full health check and body condition assessment. They will also be able to provide a target bodyweight and timeframe for weight loss,” advise Anne Carter and Jacqueline Boyd.

TOP TIP!

Keep an eye on your rabbit’s weight and ensure they are fed a healthy diet of hay and greens. Try hiding their food in scrunched-up paper so they can use their natural foraging instincts for extra exercise.

Source: Petplan

Easy swaps to help your pets slim down

What’s more, thanks to innovations in pet food, our companion animals who need to slim down can now benefit from lower calorie foods that still contain all the protein, vitamins and minerals they need. 

Burgess Pet Care uses its expertise and experience to produce high-quality, award-winning pet foods, including these nutritious and delicious ‘light’ varieties:

• Supadog Light in Fat with Tasty Chicken is specially created for overweight adult dogs. It contains L-Carnitine to help reduce, and then maintain your pet’s weight at the correct level. Find out more about switching your dog’s food safely >>
• Burgess Neutered Cat with Chicken is an advanced, high protein, complete food with added L-Carnitine to help maintain a healthy weight. Just 48 hours after neutering, cats need an estimated 20% fewer calories and neutered cats are more prone to weight gain. Find out more with our cat and kitten feeding guide >>
• Excel Adult Light Rabbit Nuggets with Mint is a complementary calorie-controlled food, naturally high in Beneficial Fibre, that will help reduce and maintain your rabbit’s weight. Nuggets should actually make up just 5% of your bunny’s daily diet, which is about one egg cup a day per bun, along with 15% of rabbit-safe leafy greens, vegetables and herbs and 85-90% unlimited grass or high quality feeding hay. Find more rabbit nutritional advice and details of the Excel 5 Stage feeding plan, recommended by vets >>

Burgess in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS, advises: “Obesity can lead to a variety of different health and wellbeing issues, including osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiac disease and cancer as well as the inability to exhibit natural behaviours. By consulting your vet, following our top tips and working together with your pets, losing that excess fat could be easier than you think – and your pets will be so much happier and healthier for it.”

TOP TIP!

According to animal charity Blue Cross, a slice of buttered toast to a Cocker Spaniel provides about a sixth of their daily calorie requirement – the equivalent of two bags of crisps for a person. A sausage to a Staffie is the equivalent of one and a half chocolate bars to a person and a chocolate digestive to a Jack Russell is almost the same as a portion of chips to a human. What’s more, all sorts of human food can actually be harmful to pets.

LOVE PETS? TRUST BURGESS – WE’RE EXPERTS IN OUR FIELD!

Burgess Pet Care is one of the UK's leading pet food manufacturers for the country’s most popular pets – dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus, hamsters, gerbils and mice, rats and ferrets.

At Burgess Pet Care, all our high-quality recipes have been formulated by vets and nutritionists. This ensures they contain the right balance of vitamins and minerals to supplement your pet’s diet to help keep them happy and healthy. With a long tradition of supporting British famers, we actively source all our ingredients as close to our mill as possible.

For helpful feeding advice, call our expert team on 0800 413 969. They’re available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, use our online form to get in touch.

CARE MORE Find lots of useful advice on caring for all your pets from Burgess, the pet experts. Training, nutrition, grooming and general care. It's all here >>

Is your dog a Burgess dog? Your cat a Burgess cat? Your small pets Burgess small pets? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards.

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