Top Tips for Tip Top Weight Loss!

• Encourage good eating habits from when your pet is young;
• Feed your pet only at meal times and do not give in to demands for extra food.
• Use treats only as a training aid or a reward for good behaviour
• Do not vary the food too much, this will encourage your pet to be fussy.
• Do not encourage begging behaviour by giving in to it.
  
• Weigh out your pets food.
• Never estimate the amount you feed your pet, always weigh it out.
• Use a see though plastic container to mark on the amount of food, so you do not have to weigh it out every day.
• If you feed a mixed diet of dry and tinned food, remember to reduce the recommended daily allowances of each to ensure you do not overfeed.
  
• Feed twice daily instead of once
• Feeding two small meals a day compared to one large one can really help to keep your pet feeling full, and stop them begging for treats when they get hungry
• Feed an appropriate diet for your pet
  
• Consider switching to a 'light' diet if your pet is over weight, or prone to gaining weight.
• There are now specific diets for neutered pets, mainly cats, which are lower in calories and help prevent other health problems.
  
• Cut back on treats
• Treats and 'extras' can really add calories to your pets diet, try to cut back on them as much as possible,
• Only reward your pet when they have done something worth rewarding.
• Remember, your attention and fuss is just as important to your pet as a treat.
• When you do treat your pet, look at what is in your hand and break it in half, instantly halving the amount of calories they take in!
• Try treating your pet with carrots instead of biscuits.
• Use a 'daily food tub'
• Keep the plastic container with your pets daily food allowance on the side. Use the biscuits out of that to treat them or give them extras.
• When the tub is empty, you know your pet has had their daily allowance, and they shouldn't have any more.
• This is particularly good for families where more than one person feeds or treats your pet, as everyone knows when the tub is empty, thats it for the day!
• Do not give table scraps
• Table scraps are one of the biggest culprits for encouraging your pet to gain weight and if they need to go one a diet, they should be cut out completely.
• Human food is often loaded with calories, and many animals stomachs cannot cope with its richness.
• If you cannot resist your pets pleading eyes at the table, then remove them from the room while you are eating.
• Increase your pets exercise
• This is vital if your pet is to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
• Dogs should have at least 1 hours off the lead exercise every day.
• Encourage cats to play, or let them outside.
• Make sure they are not getting fed elsewhere
• This is particularly relevant for cats, who will often pop to the neighbours for a second breakfast!
• However, many dogs will often spend the day with family or friends while their owners are out at work.
• Make sure everybody knows that your pet is on a diet and not too feed them any extras.
  

• Its the breed...
• It is certainly true that some breeds of pets, especially dogs such as Labradors are very prone to weight gain. However, this doesn't mean they have to be fat.
• If your pet is prone to weight gain, follow the tips above and consider feeding a 'Light' diet as their normal ration, not just to help them lose weight.
• Plenty of people are on permanent diets to maintain a healthy weight, so why not our pets?
• They have been neutered...
• Neutering certainly makes an animal more prone to weight gain, not only does their metabolism slow down, but they are more interested in food.
• However, it is not inevitable that your pet will gain weight!
• Ensure you cut back on their daily allowance after they have been neutered, and consider feeding either a low fat diet, or one specifically designed for neutered pets.
• I feel cruel feeding them less...
• Your pet will be happier and much healthier if you cut back on their food and help them lose weight.
• Pets enjoy treats, but they also love attention and they will not love you any less if you cut back on the biscuits but give them lots of cuddles.
• Try replacing fatty treats like biscuits with healthy one such as carrot sticks.
• They won't eat 'diet' food..
• It is important to persevere with dietary changes, pets will often refuse a new food at first, but don't give up!
• Change the food over very slowly, take at least a week, adding in some of the new food and taking out the old.
• Over-weight animals are often so because they are fed a very rich diet, which is tasty but bad for them! Lighter diets are generally blander, so they may refuse them at first.
• Add interest to the diet food with fresh vegetables, resist the temptation to top it with more fatty snacks such as tinned food or fresh meat.
  
• I cannot exercise them any more than I do...
  
• Dogs should have at least one hour of off the lead exercise but this can be difficult if you have a busy lifestyle.
• Consider hiring a dog walker if you are too busy or find walking difficult, some charities will help with exercising if you are old or on a low income.
• If your dog is naughty off the lead, try dog training classes to teach them return commands and allow them to socialise with other dogs.
• Get your dog to chase a ball or play games, this way they do all the running around!
• Dog agility classes are a really fun way of exercising your pet, and are a good way to bond with your dog and teach them commands
• Try encouraging your cat to play and go outside.

The Cinnamon Trust is a charity which will help elderly or infirm owners by exercising their pets if they are unable to do so.

Please note, this is an advice only website, if you have any specific concerns or queries about your pets, you should contact your vet.