A new issue arising on how we look at our pets.
Dogs and cats are suddenly showing obesity symptoms.
It shows in their appearance.
It shows in their weight.
It shows in their activity levels.
More and more pets are indoor pets.
They become one of the family.
We have begun to feed them the foods we think that they like.
We talk to them as if they were our child.
We buy them clothing to accent their personalities.
Dogs are no longer left outside to simply watch the yard while being on the chain.
Sure, some are there to take walks and play fetch.
We enjoy our pets just the same.
Those cats and dogs that live with us may be allowed to eat our leftovers away from the table.
Some of them are given treats that we take for granted.
We let them sleep all day while we may be at work.
We seldom decide what they do all day, unless we hire a dog walker, or take them for day care.
We need to actively engage our pets.
A dog needs a daily walk to keep his or her joints mobile and to keep the heart working effectively, just like we do.
We may need to be creative to keep our cats active also after they leave the kitten stage.
Dogs and cats are displaying more illnesses that humans have.
More diabetes, cancer, and diseases.
The joints may suffer due to excess weight.
The heart can be stressed with too much fat.
I am sure the animals feel the lethargy, the disinterest in moving, the frequent discomforts of being overweight.
I have heard people say that if their pet is happy eating what we eat, why should I be bothered.
They enjoy that interaction with their pet.
Seriously, our own obesity is the result of unhealthy choices of foods, preservatives, eating for stress relief, not enough water to stay hydrated, Sometimes our weight is already health related or provoked by disease.
We have choices.
Our pets just trust us to feed them, love them, and keep them safe.