The Dangers of Over-feeding Your Pet

Many pet owners do not really worry about how much their pet eats.  They simply sit out a bowl of food and let them help themselves.  Doing so can be very hazardous to the health of your pet.  Keep reading to learn about some of the dangers of over-feeding your pet.

Letting your pet eat too much food will obviously increase the chances of it becoming obese.  There are plenty of obese pets nowadays.  Being overweight will increase the risk of your pet developing a range of health conditions.

One of the most serious dangers of over-feeding your pet is the development of heart problems.  Your dog or cat may have hypertension, or high blood pressure.  The risk of suffering a heart attack or heart disease will also increase.

Your pet's body is only designed to carry a certain amount of weight.  If your pet gains more weight than the body is designed to support, it will put too much stress on the joints.  Arthritis commonly occurs.  Just like with the condition in humans, arthritis is quite painful for dogs.

This is particularly a problem for active cats.  If your pet is overweight because of being fed too much, it may also be inclined to be less active.  This will only make the problem worse.

Cats which have been fed too much will have a more difficult time grooming themselves properly.  They may try to groom all areas of their fur, but may not be able to reach them.  The fur in these locations can become matted.  In worst case scenarios, the skin can develop irritation, rashes, or an infection.

Obese cats will also have an increased risk of developing fatty liver disease, also known as hepatic lipidosis.  This disease develops because your cat's liver cannot process the proteins and fats in its body properly.  You can easily notice when your cat develops this condition because its eyes will turn yellow.

These are some of the many dangers of over-feeding your pet.  Heart problems are the most serious.  However, other conditions such as arthritis or fatty liver disease may also become a problem.

If you see your pet is eating too much, you will need to restrict its portions.  It is best to talk to your veterinarian to see exactly how much food your pet is supposed to be eating on a daily basis.  You will probably need to start feeding your pet smaller meals three or four times a day.