why are we killing our pets

Last night I watched a documentary on fat pets, now fat pets are nothing new but I still found myself shouting at the TV.

The fact is that over the last few years pet obesity has grown along with our own weight problems and our children’s obesity. Depending on the statistics you read between 30-60% of all dogs and cats are overweight in the UK. The weight problems arise from too much feeding and not enough exercise. Simple! Now why can’t people get that?

Now with our feline friends this can be a problem, because as we know cats have a tendency to invite themselves round to other people houses, where they roll around on the floor looking all cute and unloved until some human gets the message and feeds them. You need to find out who is feeding your cat and have a quiet word, that’s if the amount of food you feed is not going over the top.

Dogs are easier just as long as you have ‘will power’ and only feed them at set meal times with the correct amount of food, the dogs will soon know this time and take it as gospel for being the time they are fed. Don’t give them human biscuits or chocolate as this is just poison to them. Think about what you are feeding; imagine just how small their stomach actually is. If you feed a dry dog meal, put some in a bowl and add water, see just how much it swells! Can you dogs stomach actually, stomach that amount?

Most of us love our pets but you can also love them too much and kill them with kindness. Getting a happy healthy balance is what you should be striving for.

Exercise is the most important thing for dogs especially.

A tired dog is a good dog and a happy dog.

Think about what your dog was bred for, if it’s from a working dog family then it is your responsibility to work it. This doesn’t mean learning how to shoot and hunt but setting up mock games of hide and seek the ball or what ever his favourite toy maybe, make him use his brain or if it’s a collie breed let them use their skills in agility. All games are good for the owner too and build that pack leader hierarchy.

It’s our responsibility. We all have to have to make our partnership with our canines and felines work.

Being fat is just the tip of the iceberg, along with the fat could come some very nasty health concerns, that could end up costing you more than 6 Ox’s hearts a week.

Heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis are just some of the problems. Your pets will not be able to clean themselves, longhaired cats could end up with skin problems and dogs could get infected anal glands.

Do we honestly as nation of pet lovers want this for our pets?

I think not.