It happens: We love our furry family members so much that sometimes we can’t say no when they beg for more food. Before you know it, your veterinarian puts your pet on the scale, and grows wide-eye at the sight he beholds. Your little friend is overweight, and though you suspected it, you didn’t know it would be that bad! You must take action now, or your pet’s health will inevitably decline. What’s step number one? Finding the right food for your overweight pet that will be satisfying for him/her, and healthy to eat. Pay attention to what ingredients and foods you should look for, and what you should avoid.
High Fiber
One of the best things you can do for your overweight pet is to feed them foods that are high in fiber. Fiber is a substance that is great for the digestive tract — it keeps things moving regularly, and for dogs or cats who are regularly constipated, this may just do the trick. An added benefit for the pet? Fiber typically comes in the form of a complex carbohydrate, and is digested much more slowly than simple carbs, which turn quickly to sugar and maneuver around the body via the blood stream, turning essentially useless shortly after digestion. Complex carbs, since they’re more slowly digested, will allow your pet to feel fuller for longer. The result? They won’t be begging you for food nearly as often.
Keep it Organic
Just like human food, most common pet food is chock-full-of chemicals and genetically modified hormones and substances. These substances are terrible for the health of the pet in more than one way, and weight retention is one. Inflammation is often a big problem with these types of food, and often times your overweight pet is showing signs of inflammation that will disappear quickly once you eliminate the non-organic diet.
Minimal Calories by Way of Carbs, High in Protein
Calorie consumption must be at a minimal for your animal to drop weight. Work with your veterinarian to determine exactly how many calories should be consumed in a day, and find a food that delivers that in a healthy way – with minimal carbohydrates, and high proteins. The body has a tougher time breaking down proteins in the digestive tract, and has to work a little harder to do so, which causes in increase in calorie burn when the dog is simply laying down. Find that food that’s low in carbohydrates and high in protein, and you’ll regulate the calorie in take much easier than a food that’s high in carbohydrates and low in proteins.
Rest assured, a change in diet may be all your little guy needs to bounce back to a healthy weight. Buy foods that are organic, high in fiber and protein, and low in carbohydrates to see a rapid difference in a small period of time.
