SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom: Own a porky kitty and or a chunky pooch? Well you're not alone. Welcome to a new online phenomenon - the online obese pet club. Here rotund pets can join their pudgy paws together in the virtual world of the World Wide Web - just as long as you don't mention the dreaded f-word - 'fat'.
Well, to be honest these websites aren't exactly for horizontally-challenged pets to seek solace and companionship with each other. Rather, they are for over-indulging owners looking for help with their four-legged furry paunches.
Pets Get Slim is the joint-brainchild of UK-based television vet Joe Inglis and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It is intended to help pets fight the battle of the bulge and motivate pet owners to keep their charges on a diet. Visitors can get advice and fat-burning tips and can also find out their pet dog or cat's ideal weight. However members can have more fun, be able to upload photos of their pets and share experiences of pet weight loss. Pets can even be voted as the "pet slimmer of the week."
Pet obesity is a growing problem (no pun intended). According to the UK RSPCA around 50% of dogs and cats are overweight. As Joe Inglis told BBC News: "If a pet is obese or a little overweight, it matters. A pet's quality of life goes down because of weight issues."
If owners are too busy to exercise their dog, cat or other pet, they can get help. Known as Pets in the City, the Fat Club program for pets resembles popular TV show The Biggest Loser, sans the elimination and $250,000 cash prize. The Fat Club is an intensive four-week course. It starts with the initial weigh in, with exercises gradually intensifying, and the pet's physical fitness level and diet being closely monitored. The program ends with a final weigh-in. The prize? You get a happier and healthier pooch who will enjoy a better quality of life.
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“Statistics say an astonishing 35% of the US pet population is considered overweight”
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Not to be forgotten, US pet owners are also doing their part in helping pets shed those pounds. Statistics say an astonishing 35% of the US pet population is considered overweight, according to Star Community Newspapers. Having plump pets is a weighty issue that could lead to health problems including stiff joints and dental problems. in addition, a US company has launched the very first diet pill for dogs.
Need somemotivation to maintain your pet's new fitness regime? The PetFit website keeps track of the results of your pooch's progress. PetFit also gives feedback and tips on how to set and maintain weight and fitness goals. It also instructs owners on how to burn calories, develop exercise programs and food do's and dont's.
As with humans, the main cause of pet obesity is too much food and too little exercise. In a nation where supersizing is second nature, supersizing pets is an increasing yet disturbing trend. No, it's not an easy task to deny your loved one a treat, especially when those irresistible beady eyes look at you and beg. But with the right
kind of food containing proper nutrients, you can put your porky pet on the right track.
Yes, porky pets (i like that term!) is a growing problem and brings a lot of health problems. Good thing my cat is a finicky eater. But i'm glad that there are programs now designed to help fat cats and dogs. At least owners who over-indulge their pets with food have a support group telling them not to do so. This is really great! Hope people support this program.
I just hope that when they get em together in a meeting they share tips on how to shed off pounds and no more recipes for pet goodies
it's actually a very scary thought that even our pets are now becoming heavier and heavier just like their human owners. this website is good but i do hope that it does something good for all those obese pets.
everything is fast getting to be obese, humans and pets alike. we all need to start exercising. to start it is always the hardest thing to do. we keep on procrastinating about it.
This is really a good club! I hope it's more advertised though. Never would have learned about it if it weren't for petshed. People should learn about this coz there are just too many fat pets around.
seriously this was bound to happen because of the way we over spoil our pets. you feed them more than they need and what do you expect? over spoiling pet owners disgust me
I think that there should be some rewards in pet weight loss programs so that owners will be more motivated to stick to the diet and excercise regimen of their pets.
This is a good program. I hope they'd make one for horses too. These big guys are getting more and more weighty. It would not be such a bad idea to have fat burning camps/clubs in places where horse population is high. lol
seriously, pet owners should really start dieting their obese pets and not wait for something bad to happen to them. websites like these are good but do we really need to join a club just to start exercising? lol
i've always believed in the saying "Eat to Live and NOT Live to Eat." people should really start watching what they eat. there are just so many artificial ingredients in our food now and it's not doing us and our pets any good. eat healthy and everything follows next.
i believe in another saying though...."You only live once!" lol
yes you only live once so its a waste if you don't live a good life and a good life can be achieved by a healthy lifestyle. this is good effort but i can only hope that they don't just join the club to not feel alone i hope they really do somethin to solve the problem .
i would never want an obese dog. i'm a health buff myself and would not want any pooch of mine to be overweight.
Cats really do have a tendency to just balloon up and you don't notice it. You wake up and suddenly, they are HUGE! What i do is that i am very strict with portion control. A certain amount of food is what they will eat, nothing more. Hard to resist when they beg but it's all about love for your pet - ya don't want them fat and unhealthy.
uh-oh i'm guilty of overfeeding my pet. my cat loves to eat and i hate to admit it but i really find it hard to not give her anything especially when she asks for something. she's not as fat as garfield yet but i'm definitely going to start her on a strict diet.
In the wild, cats eat an almost all-meat-and-bones diet, from small birds and rodents. The low-fat, high-carb foods that are advertised as "diet" or "weight management" actually makes cats GAIN weight, and raises their blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes.
Check the ingredient labels. Look for canned foods with no added grains, like rice or wheat. Avoid the ones with gravy, or the ones that sound like they're meant to appeal more to you than to your cat.
If your cat prefers dry foods, look for the premium brands with the highest protein and fat % content you can find. Yes, they are much more expensive than the other brands, but you can feed your cat much less of them.
Other important notes:
When reducing daily feeding size, do it gradually. Fat cats can develop serious liver problems if their food intake drops too quickly.
Don't feed your cat fish-flavored food more than a few times a week - it can cause urinary blockages, especially in males.
just like people, it's not good to have an obese pet. i have a few horses in my stable and even horses have a tendency to become over weight. any responsible pet owner should watch what they give their pets as well as give them enough exercise everyday.
Again this is a reminder to us that having a pet is a responsibility and not just a whim. It requires extra effort especially in ensuring their health and pet owners must always be prepared for this. A 'fat club' is an indication of how much we have to do.