| Feeding Tips - Avoid feeding table scraps and snacks
- Stick to the recommended daily feeding guide - it can be useful to weigh out the amount at the beginning of the day, to avoid accidental overfeeding
- Divide the daily allowance into several meals for the most efficient weight loss
- Keep your pet in another room when preparing or eating your own meals
- If you have several pets, feed them separately
- Don't leave any food lying around
- Make sure you have enough of the recommended food for holidays and, if you're going away, give clear feeding instructions to the person looking after your pet
- Introduce the new food gradually over a 7-day period by mixing your pet's former food with increasing proportions of the new food, until only the new food is being fed
| | Dog Exercise Tips- Regular walk
Take your dog to the local park or just along the street. - Resistance walk
Try to walk your dog on different surfaces like sand, shallow water, fallen leaves, snow or on a rough surface. - Enhanced walk
Use obstacles when you're out walking like benches, trees, ditches and logs for your dog to jump over, crawl under or balance on. - Fetch
Throwing a ball or toy is great exercise for your dog, and you can make him work harder by doing it on a hillside or stairs. Don't throw sticks, though, as they can splinter and cause injury. - Hide and Seek
Hide a toy or some kibbles and let your dog find it. - Swimming or hydrotherapy
Ideal for dogs with arthritis or back problems. Ask your veterinarian about hydrotherapy. - Obstacle courses
Set up low hurdles (use a broom stick across two objects), tunnels (available from pet shops or use cardboard boxes) and a slalom course (objects set one yard apart) to exercise your dog.
To a dog, a walk is an all-round workout that keeps his body and his mind healthy. But it's important that your dog is exercised every day, not just at weekends. Regular exercise will help him lose weight as well as keeping him fitter, healthier and happier. Extra long walks at the weekend can actually do more harm than good, especially if your dog suffers from arthritis. He may appear to keep up, but he can be stiff and sore the following day. | | Cat Exercise Tips
- Toys
Homemade or pet shop toys help to encourage your cat to get moving. - “Catch the Light”
Shine a flashlight on the floor and walls and let your cat play. - Boxing
Let your cat play in a box or paper bag. - “Hunting”
Put your cat's food in different places each day (including on top of tall furniture) and bring out the hunter in your cat!
Healthy cats who spend a lot of time outdoors will get plenty of exercise by hunting, playing and exploring. Overweight and indoor cats on the other hand, often suffer from lack of exercise. But exercising your cat is not difficult, and as well as helping her to lose weight, it makes a big difference to her overall health and happiness. | |