![]() Look at your pet from an above birds-eye view. However, at the opposite end of the spectrum, be careful not to assume that your pet is just merely 'fluffy', when they are actually obese. Fur coverage can make underweight pets appear healthy to the eye. It also helps to move the skin around over the ribs if you aren't sure. Keep in mind that fur can cover ribs, so you'll need to get your fingers down to the skin if your pet has a lot of fur. Keep in mind that cats gain weight over their ribs at a later stage in obesity than dogs do, so a cat may still be overweight but maintain the ability to feel their ribs. Likewise if the ribs are sharply demarkated with hardly any fat covering, your pet may be underweight. If you can barely feel your pet's ribs, this likely means they are overweight. Ribs should be easily felt with a slight fat cover. ![]() Keep in mind that the aspects are slightly different for dogs as they are for cats.įeel either side of your pet's ribcage. There are a number of parameters assessed when body condition scoring a pet. A pet is typically given a score out of 5 or 9 depending on which scale is used. Instead, for pets we work off a system of Body Condition Scoring. With pets, we don't worry about numbers on the scale per height as much as we do for humans, as different breeds can be different sizes and shapes (for example, a staffie can be 40cm tall and weigh 16kg as a healthy weight, but an italian greyhound at 40cm height might only weigh around 5kg as a healthy weight!) The first step to addressing obesity in your pet is to recognise whether your pet is overweight.Īssessing whether your pet is overweight really is simple. Ultimately, the lifespan and life quality of an overweight pet is significantly reduced. It is also extremely uncomfortable being overweight, just as it is with humans. Not only is an overweight pet at a higher risk of serious health problems such as diabetes, pancreatitis, and urinary issues, but existing health problems are usually worsened when an animal is overweight. Obesity is a true epidemic with animals, just as it is with people. The news that a pet is overweight frequently comes as a shock to many owners. Many pet owners aren't even aware their pet is overweight, as they don't know exactly how to tell. It is estimated that over 40% of dogs and over 30% of cats are overweight.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |