PetHealth

Your pet’s daily calorie needs depend on how active they are, their size, health and their age. It’s recommended dogs get 2 solid exercise sessions per week, on top of a daily walk. Cats need 30 minutes of active play every day. Before you start counting calories, consult a vet or use an online tool to estimate the ideal average daily intake for your pet. And beware: fewer calories does not always equal healthier, even when the goal is weight loss. Find out more at: ivorycoat.com/en-au/food-check PH Why is hydration so important to pets and how do you know if your pet is dehydrated? AH The principles of hydration are the same in pets as they are in people. When the body is hydrated, there is better flushing of the by-products out of the body, and the flow of blood improves organ function. Our pets rarely tell us how they are feeling. But severely dehydrated pets will often have a ‘skin tent’ that is slow to drop back into position when you lift it up. Their eyes may be sunken and they will generally be weak and lethargic. For cats, you can also monitor how many wet patches there are daily in their kitty litter. For dogs, monitor how long and how frequently they urinate for during walks or when they wake up in the morning. Around 50–60 millilitres of water per kilogram of body weight is what dogs and cats need each day. But water isn’t the only way pets can stay hydrated. Try wet pet foods, such as canned meals or frozen portions, adding water to soften kibble, or feeding vet-approved human foods to increase hydration.

PH What are some good strategies for creating healthy boundaries with your pet? AH All pets are part of the pack and it is important for our pets to recognise their place in our family group. Creating boundaries for eating, sleeping and walking will help your pet understand what is acceptable and what is not. Not feeding your dog at the table, ensuring your dog waits for you or your command to walk through a door and getting them to sleep in their own secure area will help them know what is acceptable. Some people enjoy their pets sleeping in their beds or sitting on the couch with them, and this is not a wrong thing to do, but there are consequences. If certain behaviours have been occurring for a long time, you may need to start with little steps, such as making your dog sleep beside the bed (rather than on it) for a while, rather than just locking them outside all of a sudden. monitoring a pet’s weight? AH Pets need energy for day-to-day activity, to regulate body temperature, perform metabolic work and keep the digestive system pumping. So, calories are not inherently bad for your pet. In fact, they are a crucial energy source. PH How important is counting calories in

Forget Dr Google, we put

your most commonly asked pet questions to Ivory Coat’s vet, Dr Angus Hayes.

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