How Fit is your Pet?

By Shannon M. Pecora, MA

Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital  

            Are you ready to show off that flat stomach and those toned arms at the pool or beach this summer?  If so, you’ve probably been working hard over the past few months—watching what you eat and getting appropriate exercise.  You are in control of your diet and exercise, and you’re seeing your efforts pay off!

            Now, imagine that you have no access to your food supply.  You have to wait for someone else to offer you meals, in a single dish or via a free-flowing food dispenser.  It’s not as though anyone has missed filling that dish or dispenser before, but you can’t be quite sure what the future holds.  Hadn’t you better try to eat everything right now, just in case your body needs to prepare for leaner times?  If you stockpile fat reserves now—even if that happens to be every single day—you’ll be ready if those meals ever do stop coming for a while.

            And about that exercise—what if you were given a bed and told that you could just lay around all day?  No one else will be around for much of the day anyway, and why bother playing with that tennis ball or stuffed animal all by yourself? Eventually, someone should open a door or offer you a clean box for when you have to potty, so there’s no real reason to strain yourself by moving around too much.  Plus, in the evening you’ll get to sit on the couch—maybe even in someone’s lap—in front of the TV for a while, and at least that’s some fun attention.

            If you haven’t guessed by now, the above describes the point of view of a typical couch potato PET. Hopefully, this helps illustrate why pet owners need to be diligent when it comes to their pets’ physical fitness. A quick test for dog and cat owners can be done the next time you go to scratch their ears or rub their tummies. From the side, you should see a definite upward tuck behind the rib cage as the stomach leads into the groin area. From above, you should see the shoulders, waist, and hips line up in an hourglass shape.  You should also not have much trouble feeling the ribs and spine under the fur and skin; these bones should not protrude, but they should also not be hidden under a thick layer of fat.

            Your vet can offer specific advice for your pet’s nutrition and activity routines.  Sometimes prescription food or specialized physical therapy is in order, but sometimes small adjustments in meal sizes or walks and play times can be beneficial. You don’t need to put your dog in a Speedo or your cat in a bikini, but overall physical fitness is vital for every member of your family!

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