Is Fido Too Fat?

Are we feeding our pets too much? Apparently so. One quarter of our
cats and dogs are overweight, according to nutrition facts recently
gathered by the National Research Council.

"It does not surprise me that pets are more and more obese," says
psychologist Alan Entin, an expert in pets. "They have same lifestyle we
have."

"We tend to treat pets as members of the family," says Entin. He
surmises that many families may be guilty of overfeeding their pets
because they are trying to make them happy. Most pet owners don't see
that an extra snack or two could affect their pet's weight.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in every three
Americans is obese and two out of three citizens are overweight. "We
overfeed our kids, and we do the same with our pets," he continues. "We
really have to set limits and realize what we are doing."

A healthy, average size 10-pound cat needs about 275 calories a
day. The average 35-pound dog needs more--an average of 1,000 calories a
day. The pet nutrition survey was last updated in 1986 and is used by
veterinarians and pet-food makers.