Source: Dr. Susan 1xbet best casino website , 785-532-5690, snelson@vet.k-state.edu
http://www.k-state.edu/media/mediaguide/bios/nelsonbio.html
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News release prepared by: Kristin Hodges, 785-532-6415, khodges2@k-state.edu

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009

K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS OWNERS SHOULD COUNT HOW MANY CALORIES THEIR OBESE PETS TAKE IN AND CONSIDER SEVERAL FACTORS WHEN FEEDING PETS FOR GOOD HEALTH

MANHATTAN -- You might watch your daily calorie intake or glance over nutritional information on food packages, but do you do the same for your 1xbet best casino website ?

Dr. Susan Nelson, a veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences at Kansas State University, said there are several guidelines to follow when feeding your 1xbet best casino website to ensure that it maintains good health.

Just like human food packages, many cat and dog food packages contain nutritional information, Nelson 1xbet best casino website . Packages often list the kilocalories, protein, fat, carbohydrates and fiber per cup. In recent years, manufacturers started listing some nutritional information, including calorie content, for dog and cat treats.

&1xbet best casino website ;In the past, we didn't know how many calories were in various treats,&1xbet best casino website ; Nelson said. &1xbet best casino website ;Now that's becoming more available, and that's because more pets are becoming obese and their owners are asking for that information. Pets are overeating and underexercising, and they're eating too many high-fat foods and treats.&1xbet best casino website ;

Nelson said these plumper pets are not only benefitting from improvements in 1xbet best casino website food quality, but also from the increased calorie content caused by the higher fat content of many premium diets. But does that call for owners to start counting calories for their pets?

&1xbet best casino website ;It's important to count calories if the pet is overweight, but it's probably not necessary if you have a pet that is of normal weight,&1xbet best casino website ; Nelson said. &1xbet best casino website ;If it starts to get pudgy, you need to take a look at how much exercise it is getting, how much food you are feeding it, and how many treats you're giving it.&1xbet best casino website ;

Calories from treats should be no more than 10 percent of your 1xbet best casino website 's diet. If owners want to count their 1xbet best casino website 's calories, Nelson said, veterinarians can make diet calculations for dogs and cats. The overall recommendation for the amount of food to feed your 1xbet best casino website is based on several factors, including the type of food you are feeding your 1xbet best casino website , your 1xbet best casino website 's metabolism and how much exercise it gets.

&1xbet best casino website ;Generally, I tell people that unless your pet is overweight, go with the guidelines on the food bag,&1xbet best casino website ; she said. &1xbet best casino website ;If the pet is a little overweight, you should feed it for its ideal weight and not for its current weight.&1xbet best casino website ;

Nelson said if you want to compare different 1xbet best casino website food brands' nutritional information, you have to look at the nutritional content calculations based on the dry matter content. Often, this is not listed on the bag, so you might have to look online or call the company to find the information.

&1xbet best casino website ;What most bags list is the nutritional analysis that is formulated on an as-fed basis,&1xbet best casino website ; she said. &1xbet best casino website ;To truly compare the nutrient content of foods, you have to look at the dry matter basis, which takes out water content.&1xbet best casino website ;

Nelson said it's typically best to start by following the feeding guidelines on the bag. She said people shouldn't assume that feeding one cup of one diet is the same as feeding one cup of another, because 1xbet best casino website foods can vary greatly in calories. She also suggests using a standard 8-ounce measuring cup for dry food.

To determine if a 1xbet best casino website is too heavy or light, Nelson said owners should look at several factors. You should not be able to see the animal's ribs, but you should be able to feel them easily with a thin layer of fat over them. When you look at the animal from the side, its tummy should tuck up at the flank area and not hang in a straight line.

If 1xbet best casino website look over the top of a dog, 1xbet best casino website should see an hourglass shape where it's broad at the shoulders, narrow at the waist and broader at the hips. If the dog starts to thicken out, 1xbet best casino website should cut back on its calories and/or have it exercise more.

&1xbet best casino website ;In general, make sure you're feeding the appropriate diet for the life stage of your pet,&1xbet best casino website ; Nelson said. &1xbet best casino website ;If your pet is pregnant, a puppy or kitten, has special health condition needs or is a senior, there are foods formulated that best meet the nutritional demands for that condition.&1xbet best casino website ;

There are breeds of dogs and cats that have high metabolisms and have trouble putting weight on, Nelson said. For these pets, there are 1xbet best casino website foods that have higher fat contents because it gives the food more calories. If the 1xbet best casino website is extremely overweight, it might need diet food along with other recommendations. These foods are lower in calories, nutritionally complete and often contain extra fiber, which helps make the animal feel full. Conversely, if you feed the animal much less of their regular food, your 1xbet best casino website is not going to get enough of the nutrients it needs.

Nelson said many people do not realize how many calories they're feeding their 1xbet best casino website because they don't account for table scraps or treats. These hidden calories can add up significantly over the day and be the main contributor to obesity. Putting your 1xbet best casino website on a diet requires attention and effort from the whole family, she said. If you have a small child, inside pets are going to eat everything the child drops, and those calories will add up.

&1xbet best casino website ;Sometimes you'll try to put your pet on a diet, and then someone else living in the house will slip it treats,&1xbet best casino website ; Nelson said. &1xbet best casino website ;You should talk with the whole family when putting your pet on a diet. Tell them the diet is necessary to keep the pet at a good weight, which in turn will make it healthier and can help it live a longer life.&1xbet best casino website ;