Whether we like it or not, we may be bound to add a few kilos on our waistline during the holiday season, which might have an impact on our pet’s weight. Let’s face it, after a long year when we are relaxing with our family and friends the last thing on our minds is what we are putting in our mouths!

We are also exposed to so many delicious foods that we don’t normally have during the year, making it difficult for us to resist! Each event presents itself with the opportunity to celebrate with food that we often lose track of calories and portion sizes!

Before you know it, we are returning to the office to find our clothes slightly tighter on us than what they were before the holidays. We also see that our pets have become a little rounder which might be thanks to people sneaking food to them under the table when you are not watching! Naughty naughty!

With all the hustle and bustle it’s easy to “forget” our exercise regime as we often go away during this period, making it difficult to stick to our routines. We tend to relax and become more lenient when sticking to things we normally take seriously such as what we feed our pets, how often we feed them (and ourselves 😊) and whether we ensure that they get their daily exercise.

Some pet parents are not able to take their pets with them on holidays leaving them at the mercy of a kennel or a pet sitter who might not have enough time in the day to ensure that your pet gets the necessary exercise you would like them to get.

Don’t despair! It’s not the end of the world! Now that the holiday season is over, below are some tips from the Petinsurance.com.au team on how to help your pet shed some of the unwanted kilos.

  • Investigate how much you are feeding – try reducing their food by a small percentage or instead of feeding them one big meal a day make it twice a day and smaller portions.
  • Get back to your exercise regime – don’t overdo it if you haven’t exercised in a while. Take shorter walks every day with your dog and spend quality time with them instead of trying a new lengthy walk. Remember to watch your dog for cues on when they want to stop. You want to make sure they are still having fun whilst getting some exercise in.
  • Find non-food rewards that your dog loves – even though they might be accustomed to having a tasty snack as a reward, why not reward them with a belly rub or a verbal praise which they will enjoy just as much.

There are so many healthy dog food options that you can make for your pet. You even may want to consider letting your pet sit with you while you cook, turning the experience into a bon ding session.

It is always important to remember that you are not alone and you have just over 348 days before the holiday season starts again so, make the most of it!