PASSION FOR PETS: If you can't feel your pets' ribs, it's time to put them on a diet

I'm on a diet. Or at least I'm trying to be. I'm one of many people re-looking at their eating habits and trying to find ways to trim the fat and get in shape.

There are two obvious approaches; eat less and/or exercise more. It seems simple, although it's often easier said than done.

As I struggle with my own willpower to stop eating treats and get active, I'm increasingly finding it hard not to overindulge my pets.

I own three dogs and one cat, all of which were svelte and active all summer, but now seem to be getting thicker around the middle. The long walks of the summer have been replaced with more sedentary evenings watching TV and I'm starting to feel guilty, not only about my own overindulgence, but for overindulging my pets, too.

So I've decided to take action, because it's always better to act sooner rather than later when it comes to weight gain. Just three pounds of extra weight on a 10-pound cat equates to an equivalent weight gain of an extra 45 pounds for a 150 human. An extra 12 pounds on a Labrador retriever would be the equivalent of the same human gaining almost 30 pounds. So even a little bit of extra weight on an animal can represent a significant weight gain, which may cause extra strain on the joints, heart and lungs.

It also puts your furry loved one at increased risk for diseases like diabetes.

A recent survey at the PawsWay Pet Discovery centre in Toronto has found owners often don't realize when their pets are overweight, and pets that are moderately overweight are often mistakenly considered to be a healthy weight.

So how can you tell? One of the best ways is to assess its body condition score. This is a hand's-on technique that veterinarians find effective to assess if a dog or cat has excess weight.

It is particularly helpful in dogs, as body structure varies so much between breeds. When a dog or cat is at an ideal weight you should be able to feel their ribs easily, without excess fat covering them up, and when looking from above, your pet should have a noticeable waist between the rib cage and the hips.

In addition, when you look at your pet from the side, their abdomen should tuck up nicely, although on cats this might not be as obvious. Palpable ribs, a defined waist and tuck indicate a pet in good shape. If you don't see those attributes, it's time to act.

Most pet foods formulated for weight management have feeding guidelines for both weight maintenance and weight loss.

What's not provided are guidelines for use of treats.

Ideally no treats should be given, especially if you are feeding for weight loss. However, if you're like me, you may rely on treats for obedience, which makes it difficult to not use them.

I'm not alone; another PawsWay survey has shown owner's who have put their pets on a weight loss program generally find it hard to restrict treats.

So if you must, choose the lowest calorie treats possible, set out a small amount for the day and break them up. It's not the size of the treat that matters to the pet, it's that they are getting a reward.

If you give treats then be sure to compensate by feeding a little less at meal time, and check with your veterinarian before starting any weight-loss program.

We will keep you posted on our progress.