INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — According to an Association for Pet Obesity Prevention survey, about 60% of cats and 56% of dogs are classified as overweight or obese. That’s more than 56 million cats here in North America and more than 50 million dogs! Tom Dock from Noah’s Animal Hospitals joined Indy Style with Indy Eleven mascot Nike to let us know that Pet Obesity Prevention Day is today Oct. 13.
Like their human family members, overweight pets are prone to a number of potential health issues. Diabetes, orthopedic issues, respiratory problems, and even a shortened life span are all possible concerns for our chunky furry friends.
Energy dense foods, yummy treats and snacks, and a more sedentary lifestyle have contributed to the on-going epidemic of obesity in our pets. And, yes, the on-going SARS- CoV-2 pandemic has also impacted the waistlines of both pets and people!
While it is important to help our pets lose weight, just like us, it’s important to do it correctly and under professional supervision. Before starting any weight loss plan, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s overall health. In some cases, underlying metabolic issues, like hypothyroidism, could be a factor in your pet’s condition.
Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks when it comes to “diet” fads or foods for our furry friends. Only dog foods with less than 3100 kcal/kg or cat foods with less than 3250 kcal/kg can legally display “light”, “lite”, or “low calorie” claim.
Some owners are misled by the marketing of grain free diets and assume these are lower in calories. In reality, many grain-free diets end up having more calories per serving due to higher fat content OR carbohydrate ingredients that are higher in calories than grains.
After finding the right diet to help your pet, consider an exercise plan as well. Just remember, your overweight Lab is not going to be able to run 2 miles on the first day!! Take it slow, watch how the pet responds to the additional walks/runs/activities, and stay in communication with your veterinarian.
Cats are a little more challenging since many owners might be reluctant to try and walk their cat. Consider simply encouraging more activity with your cat by using interactive toys, like Kitty Teasers, or specially designed feeders that only dispense a small amount of food after the cat turns, flips, or otherwise engages with the toy.
Regular check-ins with your pet’s doctor and weigh-ins are also a must! Don’t be discouraged when the pounds aren’t flying off your pet…pets should not lose more than about ¼ to 1 lb per week depending on their species and breed. That means if your cat is 3 lbs overweight, it might be 3-4 months before that weight will be lost!
This event is bound to be all the fun you need for one weekend!
Pamela Terhune, founder of Grateful Rescue and Sanctuary-Muncie and Hailey Perkins of Roos Holistic Pet Supplies-Muncie joined us today to discuss the upcoming Grateful Fest fundraising event at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Muncie on June 19th.
Events include a fire truck pull, classic car show, yard sale, paint your pet party, pet parade and more.
Celebrity guest include: Al Unser, Junior, Nathan Lowe the Indy Dog Whisperer, Pet Pals TV’s Patty Spitler.
Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary is not a traditional animal shelter but a unique approach for animal rescue. Cats and dogs temporarily at-home in the Sanctuary are treated to highly individualized care. This standard of excellence extends to how the Sanctuary operates generally.
GuideStar, a database evaluating the mission and effectiveness of nonprofits, has awarded Grateful Rescue & Sanctuary with its Platinum Seal of Transparency, a level achieved by fewer than 1% of its 2.5 million nonprofits reviewed. Fewer than 1% of the 2.5 million registered nonprofits receive this distinction.
Register for the featured events and get more information at GratefulRescue.org.
For more information visit, GratefulRescue.org.
As you may have seen on Randy Ollis’s Facebook page, he’s having a mole invasion in his yard.
He asked for suggestions and got a bunch of good ones, but his good friend, Patty Spitler posted the one that got the most responses.
Take a look at how she shows him how to safely get rid of the vermin using cat urine!
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Many of us know actress, Mayim Bialik, for her starring roles on the ‘Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Call Me Kat.’
What you may not know about this amazing actress is that she also has a PhD in neuroscience and is an avid cat-lover herself.
She joined us today to talk about teaming up with Purina Pro Plan to kick off the Liveclear Challenge. This is a new thing created to help those with cat allergen sensitivities.
THIS SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY PURINA PRO PLAN.
Today, March 4th is World Obesity Awareness Day, and in honor of that, Tom Dock, BSc, CVJ joined us to talk about how you can help keep your pets at a healthy weight. Here’s more from him.
Like their human family members, overweight pets are prone to a number of potential health issues. Diabetes, orthopedic issues, respiratory problems, and even a shortened life span are all possible concerns for our chunky furry friends.
Energy dense foods, yummy treats and snacks, and a more sedentary lifestyle have contributed to the on-going epidemic of obesity in our pets. And, yes, the on-going SARS- CoV-2 pandemic has also impacted the waistlines of both pets and people!
While it is important to help our pets lose weight, just like us, it’s important to do it correctly and under professional supervision. Before starting any weight loss plan, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s overall health. In some cases, underlying metabolic issues, like hypothyroidism, could be a factor in your pet’s condition.
Don’t fall for marketing gimmicks when it comes to “diet” fads or foods for our furry friends. Only dog foods with less than 3100 kcal/kg or cat foods with less than 3250 kcal/kg can legally display “light”, “lite”, or “low calorie” claim.
Some owners are misled by the marketing of grain free diets and assume these are lower in calories. In reality, many grain-free diets end up having more calories per serving due to higher fat content OR carbohydrate ingredients that are higher in calories than grains.
After finding the right diet to help your pet, consider an exercise plan as well. Just remember, your overweight Lab is not going to be able to run 2 miles on the first day!! Take it slow, watch how the pet responds to the additional walks/runs/activities, and stay in communication with your veterinarian.
Cats are a little more challenging since many owners might be reluctant to try and walk their cat. Consider simply encouraging more activity with your cat by using interactive toys, like Kitty Teasers, or specially designed feeders that only dispense a small amount of food after the cat turns, flips, or otherwise engages with the toy.
Regular check-ins with your pet’s doctor and weigh-ins are also a must! Don’t be discouraged when the pounds aren’t flying off your pet…pets should not lose more than about ¼ to 1 lb per week depending on their species and breed. That means if your cat is 3 lbs overweight, it might be 3-4 months before that weight will be lost!
For more information, visit NoahsHospitals.com.
It’s an age old phrase, “fighting like cats and dogs,” but if you have both, they can get along according to the Indy Dog Whisperer.
For more information, visit indydogwhisper.com.
Has your pet been naughty or nice this year? Indy Style’s Amber Hankins asked our WISH-TV team about their pets and it seems some of them this year, are “on a short leash!”
Do you have a furry friend in your life who may need some help in the behavior department? Or are there certain things they do that make you go wonder, “Is this normal?” The Indy Dog Whisperer will be joining us every other Tuesday to answer your questions live on-air. Comment your questions right here on Facebook.
Each year, the next to last Saturday in August is observed as National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. Here are more facts from about the importance of taking your cats to the vet from Thomas F. Dock, director of communications/public information office for Noah’s Animal Hospitals.
1. The unfortunate truth is that our feline friends are much less likely to see their doctor than our canine companions.
2. More than 50% of cats have not seen their veterinarian in more than a year and this can lead to some serious issues. We all know that cats are masters at hiding their illnesses, so having an examination done by a licensed veterinarian at least once a year is really what’s best.
3. If your cat is one of the 59% of felines considered to be overweight or obese, many health problems can arise. Diabetes, respiratory and heart problems, or even kidney disease are just a few of the many issues that can shorten our kitties’ lifespans.
4. Veterinary experts estimate that 1-3% of ALL cats of all ages have chronic kidney disease and these numbers jump to more than 50% by the time the cat is 15 years old! While kidney disease is not curable, we can MANAGE the symptoms and disease so that the kitty has a better quality of life.
5. Finally, a recent study showed that more than 24% of client owned cats in North America had a least one intestinal parasite, including roundworms, which can be transmitted to their human family members.
6. When asked why they don’t take their cats to the veterinarian, most pet owners will discuss the challenges of getting their feline to the veterinary clinic. These include getting the cat into the carrier in the first place, the long, stressful car ride, and then the fear the owners perceive their cat is experiencing at the veterinary hospital.
7. Other reasons for avoiding the vet include the perception that the cat is independent and can take care of herself.
8. Even during our on-going COVID-19 pandemic makes a trip to the veterinarian a little different, veterinarians will still encourage this trip in order to find those little issues before they turn into big problems.
9. Feline veterinarians recommend leaving the cat carrier out so that the kitty won’t associate the carrier solely with trips to the veterinarian.
10. Ask your veterinarian about their use of feline pheromones, such as Feli-Way or the availability of “cat only” appointments in the practice. In some cases, a house-call veterinarian may work better for your special pet.
For more from Noah’s Animal Hospitals, visit their website.