PURRaffection

Archive for the ‘Cat Weight’ Category

There’s an old saying that you are what you eat. Obviously, this isn’t a literal truth but the importance of a good diet for cat health care as well as our own cannot be underestimated. Ensuring our cats get all the nutrients they need to keep themselves in good health might be a big responsibility but it doesn’t have to be complicated if we understand a few simple rules.

Hydration is really important for both us and cats. If a cat is denied fresh drinking water it can become seriously ill in a matter of hours. Dehydration can cause serious cat health care problems and even death.

The diet of a cat must be very specific. Felines cannot survive on a vegetarian diet because they are true carnivores. A cat which is denied a meat-based diet will develop cat health care problems including blindness and would eventually die.

Because of the very specific dietary requirements of our feline friends, owners must take care to try not to upset the delicate balance of their diets. However harmless they might seem, giving leftover human food can lead to cat health care problems. Human food is too fatty and calorific for cats and might even be toxic to them. For example, onions are highly poisonous to cats.

In the wild, cats would eat several small meals everyday and owners should try to accommodate this. Obviously, cat owners may have work commitments which mean they are unable to be at home feeding their cats frequently. One option to overcome this problem is to give the cat dried food which it will be able to return to at regular intervals through the day.

Finally, when considering diet we must consider obesity, which is one of the biggest cat health care problems of the moment. Obesity can lead to heart problems, breathing problems, diabetes, arthritis and eventually death, so it must be avoided. A short haired cat is generally considered a healthy weight when its ribs can be felt but not seen. Pay close attention to the instructions for serving sizes on cat food and always see a vet if you believe that your cat’s weight is a problem.

It is not uncommon for one of my clients to be absolutely stunned once they learn that their dog or cat’s weight has topped the scale either up or down. Why didn’t they discover the change? It’s because it often occurs little by little, day by day, right before their eyes.

A rise in pounds may be because of the obvious. Way too many snacks in and not enough physical exercise. Even though you think that you are practicing excellent portion control, over eating can simply happen. A cup of food to one person just isn’t adequate for the next. So they give a tad bit more. You only offer a treat, while the next overly generous member of the family presents two or three. Additional calories add up very quickly. Did you know that a one pound weight gain for a Chihuahua is just like a one hundred and twenty five pound woman gaining thirty one pounds?

There are also several fewer evident explanations for an increase of a pet’s girth. Hormonal diseases for instance an underactive thyroid,( hypothyroidism) or an overactive adrenal gland causing hyperadrenocorticisim,(Cushing’s disease), can impact the metabolic rate. Neutering, likewise, has metabolic repercussions. Numerous studies have revealed that after a pet undergoes a castration or an ovariohysterectomy (spay), the rate at which they burn energy is decreased by nearly 30%. Your neutered pet still incurs much more positive effects than the unfavorable, so I am nevertheless a solid proponent of these procedures.

Advancing age can certainly be to blame for your four-legged friend packing on the weight. As our bodies age many of us begin to drop lean muscle mass. Muscle demands significant amounts of energy levels to be able to function properly. Less muscle mass results in much less requirement for calories. Don’t be misled into serving your four-legged friend the exact same quantity you did when it was younger and carried the same weight. Its energy needs have scaled downwards.

An increase in weight can pose dangerous health dangers to your pet. An overweight pet can have respiratory concerns, a compromised immune system, be at increased risk for anesthesia, deal with skin conditions, and be misersble with discomfort because of overburdened joints or spinal disc disease. Studies have shown that overweight pets age faster and have a lowered quality of life.

Weight reduction may be just as significant. You may think that your cat has discovered the fountain of youth. Your cat is eating more food, running around just like a kitten and is slimming down. In fact, your feline may be a victim of an overactive thyroid. If left without treatment, hypertension, sudden blindness and cardiac problems might manifest.

Diseases which include diabetes mellitus, digestive problems, liver malfunction, cancer as well as dental disease may cause a pet to suddenly lose weight and condition.

How can you tell if your pet is healthy? While your pet is standing up, you ought to notice a waist line after it’s ribcage. Position your hand on the side of its chest and with light pressure, you should be able to feel the ribcage. If you are pinching an inch, it is obese. In the event the ribs are very extremely prominent, it might be under weight. Which food and how much is correct for your pet’s phase of life? Your veterinarian is the best experienced expert to help with making these determinations along with your help. However things will change. Develop a twice yearly wellness visit for your pet. This very simple act can improve the likelihood that your dog or cat will grow older successfully.