These days, it’s all too common for people working with animals to see an overwhelming number of obese cats and dogs. Just like humans, excess weight on animals comes with health risks like arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and other chronic diseases.

Obese cats have problems grooming and get matted areas and dirty areas that can encourage infection. The amount of weight needed to develop these problems is far less compared to humans, according to information from Hill’s Pet Nutrition. One pound of fat on a cat and two pounds on a dog is equivalent to 15 pounds of fat on a human.

There are a few things pet owners can do to minimize weight gain, such as feeding measured portions, according to the animal’s size and age and the type of food. Pet food bags frequently carry that information. Rather than leaving a bowl of food for the dog to “graze” all day, the food should be left down for 15 minutes then removed if it isn’t eaten. Don’t feel bad if they don’t eat, they will soon get the idea that they need to eat when it’s there. Feeding quality foods rather than foods with lots of filler is also a good idea. There are reduced calorie foods available but you can achieve the same results with appropriate portions. Adjust the amount of treats your pet gets. They can add quite a bit of weight given too liberally. Rather than give your pet a whole biscuit or treat, break it into three pieces. They won’t know the difference. You can even taper pets off treats if you want to.

Food for training can still be a reward, just give smaller pieces. Some people give their pets table scraps. Not wise. While some food is all right for pets, such as meats, chicken, fish and vegetables, some people food is too fattening, such as breads and pasta. (That’s right, you Italian dog lovers, quit feeding your dogs pasta Bolognese). My mother used to cook an extra pound of macaroni just for the dog. Not a good idea. When you feed your pets meats and vegetables, you should reduce the amount of pet food. Exercise is also important for pets. Walking or playing with your dog is a great way to help then slim down and with your cat, throw around cat toys.

When you try to help your pet lose weight, don’t abruptly cut back on food. This can actually create other health problems. Do it gradually and consult your vet before you do this. Switch food gradually to avoid gastrointestinal problems. If your pet is on a special food, you need to consult your vet before changing it. If you plan to exercise a pet that spends 18 hours a day sitting around, don’t try running 3 miles the first day. Exercise needs to increased slowly. Arthritic or dysplastic animals may not be able to exercise much. My advice, as always, is to discuss your plan with your vet for guidance.