A 2022 study conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found, "61% of cats and 59% of dogs (in the U.S.) are estimated to be overweight or have obesity."

Those extra pounds can put your furry friend at risk of serious diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and cancer - which shortens their lifespan. 

Forever wouldn't be long enough with our faithful friends, so let's make sure we are doing all we can to help our dog or cat live their best and healthiest life. 

The same rules apply to people and pets when it comes to shedding pounds and getting fit - exercise more and eat less. 

How To Tell If Your Pet Is Overweight

The first step on this fitness journey is to figure out your pet's current body condition score (BCS) and weight.

The BCS scale ranges from 1 (emaciated) to 9 (dangerously obese) with an ideal score of 4 to 5. You can perform this test at home by examining your pet's ribs, hips, and spine. Learn more here. 

Consult with your veterinarian, who also use the BCS to evaluate pets, to find out what a healthy weight should be for your pal based on their age and breed. 

Exercise Plan 

Start off with slow, short walks and gradually increase the length and intensity. 

Dr. Ernie Ward, DVM and founder of APOP, suggests, "dogs need at least thirty (30) minutes of physical activity a day, and cats should strive for three five-minute structured play periods." 

Physical activity doesn't just have to be walks. Here are several other ideas to get your pet moving. 

• Chasing toys/balls
• Agility/obstacle course
• Hiking
• Swimming
• Hide and Seek
• Going up and down stairs
• Playdates

There are even pet activity monitors that you can attach to your pet's collar to track their steps and miles and keep track of their progress on your phone. Plus, you can show the collected data to your vet at your pet's next checkup. 

Diet Plan  

Those two dreaded words anyone on a diet knows all too well - counting calories. This applies to our pet's diet as well. 

Your vet can help you figure out how many calories your dog or cat should be consuming each day.   

Feed a nutritious and balanced pet food to your dog or cat, and don't forget to count treats.

We are all guilty of giving our furry friends extra treats or heaping scoops of food, but we are not doing them any favors. Instead, rub their belly or play fetch to spoil your pet. 

If you are going to share a snack with your pet, choose a healthy option for you both like carrots and blueberries. 

Always consult your vet before making any changes to your pet's diet or exercise routine.

By helping your pet live their healthiest life, you will also be improving your health- talk about a win-win!