New campaign urges Filipino owners to think about health and wellness for pets

MANILA, Philippines – “Weight Watch 2014” — everyone’s first guess is it’s a weight loss campaign of some kind, but they would be wrong on two counts. First, it’s not about losing weight, it’s about being healthy. Second, it’s not about you — it’s about your dog.

US-based pet food industry representative Pet Food Institute, along with local organization Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippine, launched the Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured campaign with the idea that Filipino pets could use a healthier lifestyle.

The Philippines was “the dog capital of East Asia” in 2012 — there was one dog for every eight people, according to an article by the Atlantic. Despite this, the average monthly spending on dog food per dog was a mere $0.24, as compared to the $13.89 spent by the US and the whopping $53.22 by Norway.

Given the growing number of pet owners and the pets’ impact on the owners’ well-being, the campaign seeks to provide educational initiatives and materials on responsible pet ownership. It states that PFI and VPAP both “remain committed to promoting and encouraging Filipino pet owners to provide proper nourishment and care to make their pets well-fed and well-nourished cats and dogs.”

Quick guide to well-nurtured pets

The recent campaign aims to make pet owners more aware of the essential nutrition that dogs need in order to be healthy. Below are the main points the campaign tries to enforce to watch out for your pet’s health and happiness — something that will ultimately affect your own.

Track every snack

If there’s one thing you really need to watch, it’s yourself — particularly in the amount of food you dole out to your pet. It’s important to follow the feeding instructions on a pet food label and measure the right amount of food or treats fed daily.

The other thing is the kind of food you’re feeding your pet. All nutrients—such as essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals — must be present in appropriate amounts for a cat or a dog. This is why a complete and balanced meal of commercial pet food is important.

The other benefit of commercial pet food makers from the US is that you can be sure their products are regulated and follow extensive research and safety procedures.

Weigh it out

Assessing your pet’s weight regularly might sound obsessive, but bear in mind that pets become increasingly exposed to obesity (and other common nutritional diseases) when they don’t have a good diet and lack physical activity. Weight watching helps reduce the risk of developing serious health problems like heart disease, breathing problems, diabetes, and even cancer.

Pet owners can do several things to track their pet’s weight. One way is to feel the ribs by running both hands down on the sides of the pet’s body. If you can’t feel the ribs easily, then it may be overweight and another look at the diet is in order.

Another way is to observe the pet’s profile to detect any sudden weight changes. The pet’s waistline should be defined when viewed from above and its abdomen must be tucked up when viewed from the side.

…But don’t diet it out

Pet owners must remember that putting a cat or dog on a severe diet is not a good idea.  First and foremost, be sure to communicate all your observations to a veterinarian so that a pet’s weight problem can be verified and treated appropriately. The veterinarian will be able to tell you exactly how to follow a routine to help a pudgy pet get back to the ideal body condition. Keeping the pet in ideal shape is critical to prolonging its lifespan.

Resist the urge to poison your pets

Adorable as your pet can be, you have to do your best to resist feeding them just anything, particularly food that’s meant for you. Although it may not seem harmful, things like chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, caffeinated beverages, and alcohol may be poisonous to cats and dogs.

Feeding commercial pet treats is a way to avoid these dangerous food ingredients and take the worry out of treating a pet, as well as provide all the nutrition a pet needs. 

Rethink your reward system

Believe it or not, you don’t have to resort to treats to reward good behavior. Rewarding pets in a way that does not involve giving extra food reduces the risk of putting on the extra pounds.

You can start by giving treats in conjunction with some other cue, such as giving praise or using a clicker. Cats and dogs will come to associate both events together, so that eventually you can reward your pet with praise or the click of a clicker alone. 

Generally, cats and dogs can understand different forms of praise and feel significantly rewarded by them. By praising pets in an excited voice, petting, or engaging them in special activities such as swimming, running or even a car ride, they will feel rewarded.

Play to gain, not lose

Like their owners, pets need the big “E” to keep in healthy shape. But pet owners need to understand that interactive play should not be hyper-focused on losing weight. Exercise is good for the pet in that it increases strength, improves sleeping habits and decreases stress.

Choosing the right workout routine will depend on many factors such as weight, size, and breed. Again, the veterinarian is the best bet for figuring out the right routine — you do need to watch out for overstraining the cat or dog if engaged in an activity not matched with its physical attributes. (For example, short-snouted dogs can sometimes have difficulty breathing and can really only endure short and slow-paced workouts.)

Keep it fresh

Finally, as basic as it sounds, many pet owners need reminding that their pets do need to have constant access to fresh and clean water. This is especially true if your pet is engaged in activities that require more energy, and doubly so in our warm weather.

Water helps the body absorb nutrients during digestion and helps cools the body down to maintain a normal temperature. You’ll know if your pet needs more water just by observing; a well-hydrated pet should have good skin elasticity, a shiny coat, and normal activity level.