Pets Care

The continuing trend in the upward weight spiral isn’t restricted to the human population anymore. While we recently reported that more than 60 percent of men and women are overweight or obese in this country alone, studies also indicate that that canine obesity is certainly a significant problem in the United States.

Studies indicate that a staggering 40 percent of domesticated canines in the United States are considered overweight, a term applied when a dog is anywhere from 5 to 20 percent over the ideal body weight for its size and breed.

Excessive weight and obesity in dogs pose significant health threats, as well as affect their quality of life on a day-to-day basis. When a pet is overweight, they have to exert more energy just to move around.

Overweight pets become sluggish, and often tend not to get the amount of exercise necessary for them to stay healthy. It also detracts from their ability to play and enjoy the outdoors, which in most cases, dogs practically live for!

But beyond simply slowing your pet down, excessive weight can drastically increase their chances for developing more serious diseases. Arthritis is very common in obese dogs, as the added weight and pressure on their joints causes them to wear out more quickly. Dogs may even lose a range of motion, causing joints not to function properly, which can also lead to arthritis.

In addition to arthritis, excessive weight in dogs has also been linked to heart and liver disease, respiratory conditions and even cancer. Once pet owners are aware of the devastating potential of obesity, it isn’t surprising that they are willing to try anything, including prescription medications, to fix the problem.

However, this raises an important question - Are prescription drugs really the best option for treating your overweight dog? Many of the drugs prescribed to animals, such as steroids and corticosteroids for example, can result in very serious side effects despite their short-term benefits.

You can avoid the potentially harmful side effects by treating your dog’s weight problems naturally. With so many natural alternatives available, there really isn’t a need to use prescription medications to treat a problem that can be helped with simply a little diet, increased exercise and herbal remedies!

Dr. Marcella Ridgway, a notable veterinarian at the University of Illinois, reveals that in the majority of cases the reason pets become overweight is because owners do not spend enough time ensuring that they are eating and exercising correctly. “The thing about dogs and cats,” she explains, “is that they don’t make a conscious choice to overeat –people choose this for them; we control the food. Therefore, it’s easier for them to stop if we give them something else to enjoy.”

By carefully monitoring the amount and quality of food your dogs are fed, and making sure they have ample time outside to exercise, you can prevent weight and actually encourage weight loss.

Natural remedies can also be a wonderful supplement to your dog’s diet and exercise regime, and can help your pet lose those extra pounds. There are many herbal products that can help naturally curb your pet’s appetite so you can avoid chemical-based prescription drugs.

Just like humans, pets can struggle with various health conditions that can make losing weight especially difficult. Natural remedies can also help treat conditions like thyroid problems and fatigue so they can enjoy a better quality of life! There are even herbal products that can boost energy levels in sluggish pets so they have more desire to exercise!

* PetAlive SlenderPet Encourages weight loss by elevating metabolism and aids in the elimination of fat.
* PetAlive Thyro-Pet Treats causes and symptoms of hypothyroid conditions
* PetAlive Performance Plus Improves mental and physical performance and boosts energy
* PetAlive Energy Tonic Restores energy and vitality in pets

Once you start your pet on a new diet and exercise regimen, it is crucial that you address the physical stress that carrying excess weight can put on the body. Herbal and homeopathic tonics can aid in the overall health and functioning of important body system such as the circulatory system, the heart, kidneys and liver. This is an essential part in healing the effects of pet obesity.

* PetAlive Heart and Circulation Tonic Improves circulation and promotes heart and artery health
* PetAlive LiverAid Stimulates and improves liver functioning and prevents disease
* PetAlive Muscle & Joint Support relieves stiffness in swollen joints, reduces pain and promotes healthy muscles and bones.
* PetAlive Immunity & Liver Support Strengthens and improves immune system and liver functioning

By turning attention to your pet’s weight and making simple decisions – like choosing a healthy diet and keeping them active - you are improving their overall health.

Deciding to treat your pets using natural alternatives to prescription drugs whenever possible is another way you can give your dog a long, fit and healthy life. And, it’s the best way to keep your pet at a healthy weight and their system performing at its peak function!

“I wanted to write and thank you for recommending SlenderPet for my overweight cat. Along with the dietary changes you suggested, she has never looked better and is also far more active than she used to be. It must have been as you said that she had a sluggish thyroid. She used to sleep all day and all night and never show an interest in anything. I thought she was just lazy but she is now behaving almost like a kitten again!” — Regina L.

Humans are not the only species to be suffering an obesity epidemic in certain parts of the world. Our pampered pets are also getting fat, with some estimates putting the level of obesity amongst dogs and cats at around 25%. It is accepted that being clinically obese can lead to medical problems in humans, and this too is true for our pets.

Arthritis, heart disease, bladder problems and diabetes are just some of the ailments our pets can suffer from if they are predisposed to it by their weight problem. Also, obese pets experience fatigue, exercise intolerance and heat intolerance leading to a poor overall quality of life.

Quite often overweight owners will have overweight pets. For dogs, this derives from 3 likelihoods:

1. The owner is relatively inactive, and the dog does not get walked as much as it should, burning off less calories.

2. The owner eats regularly throughout the day, meaning the dog is more often begging for treats and probably getting them.

3. The owner has a misplaced judgement of what is overweight and what is healthy, and what constitutes an appropriate portion size for the dogs body weight.

For cats, the situation is a little different as they cannot be walked like dogs can to burn off calories. Naturally cats that spend more time indoors are getting less exercise than those that spend most of the time outdoors, and so are more likely to be obese. The latter 2 likelihoods above apply to cats too though.

In the authors experience, a motivated attempt by the owner to lose weight will often co-incide with the pet losing weight too. Like humans, pets cannot manufacture fat or muscle out of thin air and so for dogs and indoor cats you have total control over your pets body condition.

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

There is no set rule of what is overweight and what not because there is so much variation between and within breeds. As a rule of thumb you should be able to feel your pets ribs easily by gently stroking the side of the chest with your fingertips.

You should also be able to just feel the tips of the vertebrae jutting out (dorsal spinous processes) along your pets spine as you stroke him/her from head to tail. If they are not palpable then your pet is likely to be obese.

All pets should be weighed regularly. This may be difficult to achieve at home but a rough guide to your pets weight can be obtained by weighing yourself on some bathroom scales, then weighing yourself whilst carrying your pet and subtracting one from the other.

This may be difficult for big heavy dogs, and inaccurate for small dogs and cats where small fluctuations can be more significant. Keeping track of your pets weight means that you can:

a) Dose them more accurately for medicines such as flea and worming prevention drugs.

b) Tell if they are putting on weight more accurately, as change is seldom noticed if you are seeing the animal on a daily basis rather than at intervals.

c) Tell if they are losing weight, which is a common factor in many disease processes.

If the bathroom scales option is not feasible, drop by your local veterinary clinic and ask if you can weight your pet on their scales. They will be impressed at your conscientiousness!

Killing your pet with kindness

For many animals the highlight of the day is meal time. Of course if your pet had just weeks to live due to, say, an inoperable tumor, then it would be wise to feed him/her whatever his/her favorite food is as there is no long term to suffer the long term consequences.

However, for the vast majority, feeding an appropriate amount of a healthy diet will be greeted with equal enthusiasm as the gluttonous portions your pet may be accustomed to, it just needs a little owner motivation and discipline to get to that point.

So, are these diseases that fat animals suffer from genuine or are they just scare stories? They are indeed real and possibly even imminent for your pet. Lets have a closer look at some of the diseases and problems pets can suffer from as a direct result of their obesity:

1. Heart disease. The bigger you are, the harder your heart has to work to pump blood around the body. Very obese pets have a higher than normal heart rate and a larger heart with no reserve capacity, meaning they get out of breath very easily and regularly pant after minimal physical exertion. Losing some of that weight takes a huge strain off the heart.

2. Arthritis. Imagine carrying around a large rucksack full of stones wherever you went. After some time the strain on your joints would start to tell. Many pets will get arthritis at a certain age anyway, for obese pets this is more likely to occur sooner and the severity of the disease will be increased, necessitating permanent anti-inflammatory painkillers which can be expensive.

3. Diabetes Mellitus. Obesity is a well known factor in the development of diabetes, due to insufficient insulin produced in the pancreas and resistance to the insulin that is already being produced. Unfortunately once your pet develops diabetes there is no cure for it, and you must accept the responsibility of giving once or twice daily insulin injections for the rest of your pets life. Much better to avoid developing diabetes in the first place of course!

4. Urinary problems. Obese animals are more likely to suffer from cystitis, which requires veterinary treatment, and blockage of the bladder. A blocked bladder is common in obese male cats and is a true emergency.

5. Problems giving birth.

6. Non allergic skin diseases.

7. Breathing problems.

8. Hepatic lipidosis (fat deposited in the liver). This is a very serious condition that occurs in cats, particularly those that lose weight very quickly, or are starved for greater than 5 days.

9. Increased anesthetic risk.

How can I get my pet to lose weight?

1. Take your pet to the vet to have a thorough physical examination, lab tests, and an accurate weight recorded. The main purpose of this visit is to rule out hypothyroidism or other metabolic disorders which can prevent normal weight loss.

2. Feed less food than you have been. Quite simply, feed smaller portions.

3. Change the type of food to a low calorie complete diet. These diets, e.g. Hills r/d, provide less calories than regular pet foods do despite the portion being the same size. As a result your pets stomach is filled to the same degree and he/she does not feel hungry.

4. Feed pets small portions at intervals rather than continuous free access. If your pet goes outdoors, make sure no neighbors are feeding him/her.

5. Take your dog for longer and more regular walks to burn off calories. Increase the cats activity and exercise by enriching the cats environment, encouraging play.

6. Reweigh your pet at monthly intervals to assess your weight loss progress. If possible keep a chart so you can visualize how you are doing, with the target weight marked clearly. Your vet will be able to suggest an appropriate target weight.

7. Reduce the total daily amount fed if weight gain or no weight loss is noted.

8. Once your pet is at an ideal weight, adjust the total amount fed so that his or her body weight remains stable.

About the author

Dr David Brooks is part of the online veterinary team at WhyDoesMyPet.com. Veterinarians, Vet Technicians, Nurses, Trainers, Behaviorists, Breeders and Pet Enthusiasts are here to answer your pet questions and concerns… Our dedicated community of caring experts are waiting to offer you advice, second opinions and support.

In the wild, animals will naturally eat what they need and no more. The task of searching for food and other basic necessities involves lots of exercise and so wild animals remain naturally fit and healthy.

The food available to them in their natural habitat is perfectly designed to meet their needs in an environment that has not been tampered with.

Domestic animals are provided with food which they do not have to hunt for and which is not always suited for their bodies. In addition, they are often exposed to a lifestyle which contributes to sluggish metabolism, underactive thyroids and livers which are not able to remove toxins or eliminate unwanted fat from their bodies.

Selective breeding programs have often further affected the ability of our pets to properly process the food that we give them and certain breeds are known to be more prone to obesity than others.

How can natural remedies help?

The first step in addressing obesity or weight problems in your pet is to examine lifestyle factors like diet and exercise.

The second is to determine whether other factors like boredom or even depression, hypothyroidism, diabetes or other endocrine disorders could be contributing to making your pet overweight.

Natural remedies can be very effective in restoring body functioning to process food efficiently. Improving thyroid and liver functioning, assisting digestive processes, boosting metabolism and enhancing the body’s ability to process dietary fat will help to keep those extra pounds off your pet.

Herbal and homeopathic medicine can also help to improve all-round systemic functioning and restore health and vigor to depressed, lethargic and overweight pets.

Along with an improved diet and regular exercise, natural remedies can help your pet to lose weight naturally, enjoy a healthy life and prevent the multiple illnesses associated with obesity in pets.

“We know that we have to treat the whole animal in order to address the problem. We also have to be sensitive to pets who have become accustomed to associating ‘treats’ with love and affection and find other ways to show our love towards them. Many people who ‘comfort eat’ also inadvertently train their pets to do the same, with very unhealthy consequences, believing that they will be depriving their pets by withholding treats and junk food. Nothing could be further from the truth! Instead of offering that tidbit, caress your pet - you will both feel much better for it!” - Michele Carelse, Clinical Psychologist.

What is SlenderPet?

SlenderPet is a 100% herbal remedy especially formulated to assist your pet to lose weight naturally, by improving liver functioning, metabolism, thyroid health and the body’s ability to eliminate fat.

Used regularly, SlenderPet is a very effective aid in fighting pet obesity.

PetAlive SlenderPet contains no gluten, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Use PetAlive SlenderPet to:

* Maintain healthy digestion
* Promote efficient metabolism
* Improve liver performance and the elimination of fat
* Naturally enhance thyroid functioning
* Eliminate toxins
* Assist with maintaining healthy body weight along with a healthy eating plan
* Improve energy and general well being and protect against infection

What are the ingredients of SlenderPet?

Fucus vesiculosis: is a sea vegetable that is a concentrated source of minerals, including iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. As a source of iodine, it assists in the production of thyroid hormones, which are necessary for maintaining healthy metabolism in all cells of the body. Regular use will also improve skin and coat condition. Curcuma longa: was used more than three thousand years ago by Indian healers to treat obesity. Modern research has shown that Curcuma has a beneficial effect on the liver, stimulating the flow of bile, which is responsible for the breakdown of dietary fat.

Sylibum marianus: (Milk Thistle) is regarded as one of the most important herbal liver tonics and restoratives and its use may be traced back more than 2000 years. Milk Thistle has been subject to many clinical trials which clearly demonstrate its effectiveness. It is frequently recommended to counteract the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on the liver and clinical studies have shown that it helps the liver to return to normal functioning. Scientific analysis of Milk Thistle shows that it contains a flavonoid complex called silymarin, which is largely responsible for the medical benefits of this herb. Silymarin is a powerful anti-oxidant and can block the entrance of toxins into the liver and remove toxins at cellular level, thereby resulting in regeneration of liver cells and improved liver functioning. As well as helping in any weightloss program, this would also have a direct impact on overall systemic health as the liver is one of the most important organs in the body.

Taraxacum officinalis: Dandelion contains bitter principles which have a beneficial effect on the liver and digestive system. Dandelion is also a rich source of vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, D, C, various B Vitamins, iron, lecithin, silicon, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese. It enhances liver and gall bladder functioning and may decrease high blood pressure due to its diuretic properties.

Rice Powder: (inactive ingredient)

Testimonials from our Customers

“I have a chocolate Labrador who loves to eat - ANYTHING!!! She was growing fatter and fatter and was waddling like a duck everywhere she went. My vet told me to ‘harden my heart’ and change her diet and she had to go for a run every day. To be honest, the same could be said for me, so I decided to join her! It was the EcoSlim Drops for me and SlenderPet for her and we are both looking slimmer and healthier. We have our run everyday and we are eating well, but no more junk for me and my ‘Lady’!” Mal.

“I wanted to write and thank you for recommending SlenderPet for my overweight cat. Along with the dietary changes you suggested, she has never looked better and is also far more active than she used to be. It must have been as you said that she had a sluggish thyroid. She used to sleep all day and all night and never show an interest in anything. I thought she was just lazy but she is now behaving almost like a kitten again!” Regina L.

“Thanks to you and your wonderful team for the kind help and advice which have assisted me to find something that works for my pets. I have two dogs one is very fat and one is normal but they eat the same, yet the one is always hungry for more! When I used SlenderPet and then your Parasites remedy, my dog is not stealing food from his sister anymore and is proving to be very effective with your treatment” Gabby R.

How do we use SlenderPet?

SlenderPet comes in convenient capsule form. Capsules may be swallowed whole by larger dogs.

However, most owners find that it is easier and more convenient to open the capsule and mix the contents with wet food or a (low fat!) treat.

This prevents stress to both pet and owner! Cats, especially, hate to have medicine forced down their throats and will happily eat the dried herb when it is mixed with a little fish or meat.

Dosage:

Cats and small dogs: 1/2 capsule twice daily.
Medium dogs: One capsule twice daily.
Large dogs: One to two capsules twice daily.

Caution: Safety during pregnancy and nursing has not been established.

How long will a bottle last?

Depending on the size of your pet, one bottle of SlenderPet will last 15 - 60 days.

How long until we see results?

Results will vary depending on factors like diet, exercise as well as the health of your pet. We will not promise (like many companies do!) that your pet will lose weight overnight and still be able to eat an unhealthy diet and never have any exercise!

Where obesity is linked to problems like a sluggish thyroid or inadequate liver functioning, the condition of your pet should gradually improve and you should notice a glossier coat, more energy and a happier looking pet as time goes by.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet (see below) will further enhance your pet’s health, as well as the effectiveness of SlenderPet.

What else can help?

According to many experts and followers of holistic health, the best diet for dogs and cats is a raw diet. Cooked food, pasteurized milk and other processed foodstuffs are thought to be damaging to the health of animals.

Studies, like the famous 10 year Pottenger Cat Study, have clearly demonstrated that raw meat (in the case of cats) and a combination of raw meat and raw vegetables (for dogs) is the only diet that will keep animals healthy and disease free generation after generation.

Everything in the anatomy of dogs and cats points to a raw meat-based diet as being what they were designed for. They have sharp teeth, highly concentrated digestive secretions to digest raw meat and short intestines.

* Do not change diet suddenly, but slowly introduce fresh, raw and unprocessed food into your pet’s daily diet, while reducing commercial foods and foods with little nutritious value.
* Keep diet varied and interesting, but watch out for foods that your pet may be allergic to.
* Regular exercise helps to build up a healthy appetite and gets all organs in the body functioning well. It also helps to relieve stress and contributes to a healthy happy pet!
* SlenderPet may be alternated every week with our Detox Plus formula for pets who have toxin build up due to poor diet and environmental pollution
* If you suspect that your pet may have an underlying depression causing overeating and lethargy, our Grief and Pining Granules will help to restore a sense of well being without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs.

Are you concerned your pet is getting a bit large?

Recent research indicates that as many as 25 percent of cats and dogs in the Western world are overweight. It seems that our pets are subject to similar situations, that we as humans are being introduced to. Weight issues are not only a concern for us but we need to keep our pets within their limits as well.

Here are 4 steps to start with that give you a good guideline as to where to begin in helping your pet obtain as well as maintain its optimum weight.

1) Is your pet actually overweight?

For the most part in this area you can pretty much tell by looking at our pet if they are fat or not. A good general rule to follow is that if your pet is 10 to 20 percent over there ideal body weight for their size and breed they can be considered overweight.

2) What are the risks?

There are a lot of risks that come along with a pet being overweight. They can very from minor issues to very serious and potentially lethal consequences. It also depends on the overall health of the pet, the healthier the better. There is more detail in the full version of this article on our website.

A lot of the health problems related to overweight can be treated by proper diet and with assistance of your local vetrinarian and treatment is generally successful, but you need to get things checked out early.

3) Diet

This is the biggest area that has the most consequences in relation to not only your pets weight but also the general overall health of your pet.

A major concern when it comes to diet is the quality of food your pet eats. If they are eating a lot of table scraps and such then chances are good the pet is going to eventually run into a weight problem. Pets need sufficient and proper proteins, vitamins, minerals, live enzymes and amino acids n order to have sustain proper weight balance and overall health.

4) Excercise

This is a very important factor when it comes to the weight of your pet. In this aspect pets are similar to humans. Lack of excercise and too much lazing around and sooner or later it is going to catch up to you, or in this case your pet.

You need to make sure your pet is up and around doing the things it needs in a day in order to keep active and maintain a proper weight balance.

The biggest thing is to always pay attention to your pets weight, general rule is if the pet looks overweight then there is a good chance that it is. As well as the other way if your pet looks underweight then there is a good chance that may be a symptom of another problem.

About the author:

The author Bradley Wallace is author and editor for CanadianPetCare.com. Their site provides one of the most comprehensive online locations dedicated to assisting pet owners with daily pet care. CanadianPetCare.com’s goal is to continuously enhance your pet’s life and your pet care abilities. Visit the site http://www.canadianpetcare.com get your free pet care newsletter and learn more about overall Pet Care, Pet Health, Pet Behavior, Training Pets, Pet Breeds and much more.