Last Easter ‘big’ Buddy, an overweight Dachshund from Bloemfontein, successfully sniffed out and devoured several marshmallow eggs hidden in the garden. This year he’ll be enjoying chunks of cucumber instead. For Buddy is the poster boy for pet obesity, having lost 46% of his bodyweight and being chosen as the 2011 national Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the Year.
Last Easter ‘big’ Buddy, an overweight Dachshund from Bloemfontein, successfully sniffed out and devoured several marshmallow eggs hidden in the garden. This year he’ll be enjoying chunks of cucumber instead. For Buddy is the poster boy for pet obesity, having lost 46% of his bodyweight and being chosen as the 2011 national Hill’s Pet Slimmer of the Year.
Buddy’s story is not unique. Many pet owners will be indulging the four-legged members of the family these holidays and, according to the 2010 South African Healthy Pet Survey, 82% of owners regularly give their pets treats and snacks.
Dr Guy Fyvie, veterinary advisor for Hill’s Pet Nutrition, is one of the leading experts on pet obesity in South Africa. He says inappropriate treats can actually harm an animal’s health.
“An estimated 50% of the South African pet population that visit vets are overweight. These fat cats and dogs are at an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and cancer. Rather than thinking you’re doing your pet a favour, when you over-feed or indulge them with human treats you may actually be shortening their lifespan.”
Furthermore some much-favoured human treats can be harmful.
“Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant that humans metabolise easily, but can quite quickly build up to toxic levels in a dog because they process it more slowly.” The amount varies depending on the type of chocolate and size of dog, but just 25 grams of dark chocolate may be enough to poison a 20kg dog, he warns.
So how do pet lovers show their four legged friends how much they care this Easter?
There is a wealth of tips on www.petslimmer.co.za. According to the healthy treats recommended on the site, Buddy’s half cucumber contains a mere 8 calories, and an apple just 48. Far better than giving your dog a small biscuit, equivalent to you eating a hamburger. Or that mere 30g of Cheddar cheese for your cat, which is equivalent to you scoffing three and a half burgers!
“Try low-calorie snacks like popcorn, carrot sticks or rice cakes,” suggests Dr Fyvie. “Better still, play with your pet. Rather than an Easter egg hunt let them find hidden toys. The best reward of all is your time; your pet craves your love and affection, and that is something they definitely can’t overdose on.”
For more information on healthy treats or managing your pet’s weight speak to your vet, or check out www.petslimmer.co.za. As well as tools to calculate your pet’s ideal weight and loads of advice, the site also lists veterinary practices around the country that run a Hill’s Pet Slimmer Clinic.
