With the arrival of 2025, many of us will have made New Year’s resolutions for ourselves, and maybe for our pets too.
For some this might include getting healthier and potentially losing a few extra pounds.
Nina Downing said: “If you’ve made a resolution to get in better shape, consider whether your pet would benefit from this too. It’s estimated that around half of dogs and cats in the UK are overweight, which can lead to some serious health problems. But with some simple changes it’s really easy to improve your pet’s quality of life, and maybe even their life expectancy!”
The first thing to do if you think your pet might be carrying extra weight is to check their ‘Body Condition Score’. This is something you can do yourself at home or by making an appointment at your vet surgery.
Nina continued: “When you stroke your pet you should be able to just feel their ribs and spine under their skin, but they shouldn’t be sticking out. If you have to press down or through fat to feel them, then your pet is probably overweight. Looking from above, a healthy body shape has an ‘hourglass’ figure and a tucked in tummy. If your pet is very fluffy you may need to smooth down their fur to see their shape.”
PDSA has videos and guidance on online on how to do a body shape check for your pet – visit our Pet Health Hub at www.pdsa.org.uk/phh and search ‘obesity’.
Nina also advises owners get their pet checked by their vet before embarking on a diet or exercise plan. She explained: “Your vet can check if there are any underlying health issues that could be causing weight gain. They can also advise on a safe weight-loss plan, as losing weight too quickly can be harmful for some species. Many practices also run weight clinics, and will be able to help with estimating target weights, and offer support and advice along the way.”
If your pet is a little podgy and you plan to help them beat the bulge, here are some of PDSA’s top tips on weight loss in pets:
- Weigh out their food! If you use a scoop or feed by eye, you’ll often accidentally over feed. Use scales to weigh your pet’s daily food allowance (calculated based on their target weight, not their current weight). You can split this into however many portions works for you and your pet
- Take their treats from their daily allowance. If your pet is used to treats or you need behavioural rewards, take a small handful of kibble from their daily amount and put this to one side.
- Watch out for hidden calories! Chews sold to prevent dental disease can contain a significant number of calories. Brushing their teeth is much more effective – so better for their teeth and their tums!
- Increase exercise! Dogs need at least one walk a day whatever the weather, but more frequent, shorter walks may be better if your dog is overweight. For cats, you can encourage them to be more active by offering games – fishing rod-type toys or ones that move unpredictably are good for engaging their hunting instincts.
Nina added: “By managing their calorie intake and increasing their activity levels, you’ll start to notice changes fairly quickly. Just make sure you increase their exercise gradually if they aren’t used to this, and if your pet is older or struggles with exercise ask your vet for advice.”
PDSA is the vet charity for pets in need, keeping people and pets together through tough times. Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital treatment, advice and information. For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk
