News You Can Use
Family status may hurt your pet’s health, behavior
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Pam McTeer
May 11, 2005
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Does that pet dog or cat have its own room? Does it travel with the family on every vacation? If the answer to both is yes, don’t feel alone.
“All of us to some extent treat our pets like family members,” says Thomas Lenarduzzi, an associate clinical professor at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “That’s part of the reason you get them.”
However much they may love a pet, owners should learn to establish limits for their affections, he adds.
For one thing, treating animals like family members can lead to pet obesity, malnourishment or even behavioral problems. Obesity has been proven to cause arthritis or other joint problems and even decrease their life spans, he observes.
To avoid these problems, Lenarduzzi recommends:
—Feeding only pet food and avoiding “people food,” which can cause vomiting, diarrhea or, over time, dietary deficiencies. Pet food is scientifically balanced to satisfy the animal’s nutritional requirements, he adds.
—Limiting food intake by working with a veterinarian to determine the pet’s ideal weight and calorie intake, then feeding only at specific times.
—Constantly reminding pets of their place as family companions. This can be especially true of certain dogs, which can become aggressive when feeling they are the dominant family member.
—If a dog does develop behavioral problems, enroll it immediately in an obedience school for “counter conditioning” to eliminate confusion about who is the leader.