Limit feeding dogs and cats to prevent obesity, arthritis, diabetes...

I created this blog to entertain and to educate. (And, if you enjoy the blog, you will enjoy my upcoming book LAUGHTER AND TEARS, a Veterinarian’s Memoir and Lessons.)  One of the most important and money saving tips that a veterinarian can teach is how to properly feed a pet. In other words, what exactly is limit feeding and why is it such a big deal. Too many pet owners think their pet(s) won’t overeat. They feel guilty if food is not always available. Others think they are limit feeding because once or twice daily they put food in their pet’s bowl and ultimately (maybe by the end of the evening) it is finished. But, if your pet doesn’t empty his bowl before he walks away, he is not limit-fed and he is at increased risk for obesity, arthritis, diabetes and many other serious, health issues.

I define limit feeding as first determining how much food is necessary to maintain your pet’s ideal weight and then dividing this amount into 2 daily feedings. (A pup may be fed 3 to 4 times daily but no pet should be fed once daily.) A healthy pet instinctively will eat enough to maintain or increase his weight. In other words, a limit-fed pet will empty his food bowl within minutes twice daily 7 days a week. (Dogs may take less than a minute and cats may take several minutes.)

What’s the big deal? If your pet is limit fed and one day he doesn’t finish his food, there is a problem and either you or the vet needs to determine what that problem is. If food is always available, it is never obvious when your pet’s appetite changes.  

Why else would you limit feed? I have been making house calls for almost 40 years. The most common reason I go to someone’s home is that their pet is having a hard time getting around. They are arthritic and the owner is deciding whether euthanasia is the most humane solution. Often the reason for the arthritis is chronic obesity from over feeding (and under exercising). Most pets will overeat if food is always available.
  

How do you decide how much to feed your pet? The pet food probably has feeding suggestions on the label. But, remember these recommendations are for maintaining an ideal weight. If your pet should weigh 25 pounds but weighs 35 pounds, you should look at the instructions for feeding a 25 pound dog and even this might be 25% more than your pet needs. Your veterinarian might be your best resource for feeding instructions, but the bottom line remains, your pet’s ideal daily ration will be less than he wants but enough to maintain his ideal weight. For example, if his ideal weight is 20 pounds, this may be 1 cup of a quality name brand pet food each day. Every morning I carefully measure this 1 cup. He is then given ½ in the morning and the balance in the evening. This is measured once daily because it is easier and more accurate than measuring twice daily.

Limit feed your pet (dog or cat)! You will prevent weight problems, you will be evaluating how your pet feels twice daily, and you won’t be wasting expensive pet food or cleaning up excessive poop after your pet (either in the yard or the litter box).

How can I start my pet on this limit feeding schedule? Is it even possible to change a dog or cat from a free fed schedule to a limit fed schedule?  It’s much easier than you might think and whether your pet is a dog or cat, the process is the same. Once you begin to limit feed, if your pet walks away before the bowl is empty, pick up the balance and either throw it away or add it back to the main food container. (If this is beyond an introductory period, you need to know why he didn't finish his food.) It is not added to the other meal and it is not left out. It doesn’t take long for your pet to learn that this is no longer an all day buffet. He is getting hungrier before each meal and soon (within a few days) he is eating what he needs to maintain his (current) weight. Over time you can slowly adjust the amount until he is maintaining his ideal weight.