People aren’t the only ones packing on the pounds during the pandemic as 33% of pet owners say their pet has gained weight during quarantine, according to a study out of the state of Washington. LSU Vet School Assistant Professor of Community Practice Nancy Welborn says pets are receiving extra TLC from their owners.
“They are obviously giving more treats to their pets, so we need to be mindful of that and know that if we want to treat our pets, we need to give appropriate treats and also be mindful of how often,” said Welborn.
Welborn says the same issues that weight gain can cause in people can show up in animals as well.
“That increases problems with heart function, their cardiac function, breathing patterns. It can increase problems with arthritis and things like that,” said Welborn.
Welborn recommends knowing the appropriate daily caloric intake for your pet and taking a quarter portion of that in kibble and feed it to them throughout the day.
“They don’t really care what they are getting. All they know is that they are getting something extra through the day and that’s what makes them happy,” said Welborn.
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