Comments on: 5 Ways to Tell if Your Dog or Cat is Overweight http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/ The Healthiest Thing You Can Do for Your Pet! Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:14:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Robin http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-267 Robin Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:57:36 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-267 The moment you refer to a pet OWNER as a "guardian" you open another door in the Animal Rights arsenal that will obiviate all the good intent this article is providing, as the term "guardian" allows an outside authority to decide what your pet eats and if that authority says you can only feed cheap kibble, then you will have NO choice in the matter and can ultimately LOSE possession of your pet. "Guardian" is a political term coined by the likes of PETA and HSUS to remove your rights to make decisions for your pets. Please refrain from using it in such and otherwise excellent article. The moment you refer to a pet OWNER as a “guardian” you open another door in the Animal Rights arsenal that will obiviate all the good intent this article is providing, as the term “guardian” allows an outside authority to decide what your pet eats and if that authority says you can only feed cheap kibble, then you will have NO choice in the matter and can ultimately LOSE possession of your pet. “Guardian” is a political term coined by the likes of PETA and HSUS to remove your rights to make decisions for your pets. Please refrain from using it in such and otherwise excellent article.

]]> By: Melissa http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-266 Melissa Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:33:27 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-266 We are PET OWNERS not guardians! Guardians puts a whole different legal spin on things, it's not the happy touchy great word ppl think it is! When your a guardian.... that state is allowing you to care for someone/something.... but you have no legal say over things ultimately with that person/thing that your a guardian of...... We are PET OWNERS not guardians! Guardians puts a whole different legal spin on things, it's not the happy touchy great word ppl think it is! When your a guardian…. that state is allowing you to care for someone/something…. but you have no legal say over things ultimately with that person/thing that your a guardian of……

]]> By: Susan Willis http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-265 Susan Willis Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:28:54 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-265 Nice article! Pets should never have human food! There are some human foods that can make your pet sick or even kill them! Nice article! Pets should never have human food! There are some human foods that can make your pet sick or even kill them!

]]> By: Melissa Grosjean http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-63 Melissa Grosjean Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:51:04 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-63 Sounds like you have quite a big boy there! If you are feeling all his ribs easily and he is as tall and muscular as you describe, then it is not likely he is overweight. Cats that are “pudgy” generally have a layer of fat over the ribs that can be felt beneath the skin. Your veterinarian may or may not mention a slight weight problem depending on his relationship with you. However, most veterinarians will bring a weight problem to the owner’s attention if it is significant enough to affect the cat’s wellbeing. If you are concerned about his weight, it is advisable to monitor his condition by weighing him weekly to detect and thwart any upward trend in the numbers on the scale. Sounds like you have quite a big boy there! If you are feeling all his ribs easily and he is as tall and muscular as you describe, then it is not likely he is overweight.

Cats that are “pudgy” generally have a layer of fat over the ribs that can be felt beneath the skin. Your veterinarian may or may not mention a slight weight problem depending on his relationship with you. However, most veterinarians will bring a weight problem to the owner’s attention if it is significant enough to affect the cat’s wellbeing.

If you are concerned about his weight, it is advisable to monitor his condition by weighing him weekly to detect and thwart any upward trend in the numbers on the scale.

]]> By: Sandra http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-59 Sandra Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:35:22 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-59 My youngest cat weighs 21 lbs, but he's huge all over. And he's REALLY muscular. We used to joke that he was going to get his own tv show and "whip those fat house kitties into shape." His coat just gleams. And he's very tall, almost like he's a cross with some wild cat. My vet has never said anything about his weight and I can feel every one of his ribs and his vertebrae, but he looks pudgy. Then again, he has demonstrably big muscles. He can lift his weight by one paw when climbing things. Wouldn't the vet have said something if he was overweight? My youngest cat weighs 21 lbs, but he’s huge all over. And he’s REALLY muscular. We used to joke that he was going to get his own tv show and “whip those fat house kitties into shape.” His coat just gleams. And he’s very tall, almost like he’s a cross with some wild cat.

My vet has never said anything about his weight and I can feel every one of his ribs and his vertebrae, but he looks pudgy. Then again, he has demonstrably big muscles. He can lift his weight by one paw when climbing things.

Wouldn’t the vet have said something if he was overweight?

]]> By: susan http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-49 susan Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:02:20 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-49 My dogs are 6 and have been on a raw diet for a year. The Alpha and food snatcher has gained 1 lb a month since May. ?! I had no idea til we were at the vet and she pointed it out. He's only getting 2-3% of his body weight to eat. His bro gets the same (or a little more) and is slender, so obviously a higher metabolism. I know dogs need fat and oil in their diet, but do you think I should be removing the skin from his raw food to reduce the fat while I try to get him to the righ weight? It doesn't seem like less than 2% of his weight in food would be wise. Any thoughts would be appreciated. (He's 63 pounds coonhound mix and looked right at about 55 pounds. His bro is 55 pounds but has a slenderer hound build overall.) My dogs are 6 and have been on a raw diet for a year. The Alpha and food snatcher has gained 1 lb a month since May. ?! I had no idea til we were at the vet and she pointed it out. He’s only getting 2-3% of his body weight to eat. His bro gets the same (or a little more) and is slender, so obviously a higher metabolism. I know dogs need fat and oil in their diet, but do you think I should be removing the skin from his raw food to reduce the fat while I try to get him to the righ weight? It doesn’t seem like less than 2% of his weight in food would be wise. Any thoughts would be appreciated. (He’s 63 pounds coonhound mix and looked right at about 55 pounds. His bro is 55 pounds but has a slenderer hound build overall.)

]]> By: Melissa Grosjean http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-41 Melissa Grosjean Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:30:05 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-41 Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Sighthounds and weight management. Sighthounds, (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, etc) are definitely an exception to the rule when it comes to judging proper weight. A Greyhound or other Sighthound in good condition will always have visible ribs, and some will have visible hips and backbone as well. I appreciate the clarification for those who may not be aware of this breed difference. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about Sighthounds and weight management. Sighthounds, (Greyhounds, Whippets, Salukis, etc) are definitely an exception to the rule when it comes to judging proper weight. A Greyhound or other Sighthound in good condition will always have visible ribs, and some will have visible hips and backbone as well. I appreciate the clarification for those who may not be aware of this breed difference.

]]> By: Sighthound owner http://www.darwinspet.com/2009/10/5-ways-to-tell-if-your-dog-or-cat-is-overweight/#comment-9 Sighthound owner Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:55:51 +0000 http://www.darwinspet.com/?p=915#comment-9 It's good of you to write this article. However, when you state that if a dogs bones can be seen it's underweight - you're making a bit of an overstatement that does not apply to all breeds of dogs. My sighthound has clearly visible ribs, hips and spine yet she is hardly what one might call undernourished. Actually I let her eat as much as she wants - except prior to a race, when a full stomach might actually be hazardous to her health. Other days I trust she knows how much nutrition she needs. She's also very good at demanding treats, so I would hardly call her underweight. No, I do not use the cheapest possible food for her. I use a quality product recommended by the breeder(s). She is by far too dear to me. It’s good of you to write this article. However, when you state that if a dogs bones can be seen it’s underweight – you’re making a bit of an overstatement that does not apply to all breeds of dogs. My sighthound has clearly visible ribs, hips and spine yet she is hardly what one might call undernourished. Actually I let her eat as much as she wants – except prior to a race, when a full stomach might actually be hazardous to her health. Other days I trust she knows how much nutrition she needs. She’s also very good at demanding treats, so I would hardly call her underweight. No, I do not use the cheapest possible food for her. I use a quality product recommended by the breeder(s). She is by far too dear to me.

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