读者文摘:宠物长寿指南(2)（在线收听）

One. Watch Their Weight. An estimated 60 percent of cats and 56 percent of dogs are over-weight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.

观察他们的体重。据英国宠物肥胖预防协会估计，60%的猫和56%的狗超重或肥胖。

That can lead to big trouble. "Excess weight increases the risk of conditions like diabetes, some cancers, and certain breathing problems,

这会导致出现大问题。超重会增加患糖尿病、某些癌症和某些呼吸疾病的风险，

while the extra strain on joints can hasten the onset and worsen the severity of arthritis,"

而关节的额外压力会加速关节炎的发病，加重关节炎的严重程度。”

says Jo Gale, global scientific advocacy and stake-holder relations manager for Mars Petcare.

玛氏宠物护理公司的全球科学倡导和股东关系经理乔·盖尔说道。

One study found that being overweight shortened dogs' life spans by up to 2.5 years compared with ideal-weight canine peers.

一个研究发现，和理想体重的犬类同类相比，超重会使狗减少2.5年的寿命。

How can you tell whether your pet needs to drop some pounds?

怎么判断你的宠物是否需要减重呢？

When you look at your dog or cat from above, you should see a distinct tuck at the waistline, and you should be able to feel (but not see) the ribs.

当你从上面看你的狗或猫的时候，你应该能看到腰部有一个明显的褶，你应该能感觉到(但不能看到)肋骨。

If not, a few small changes could help: Walk your dog a few extra blocks a day, limit treats, and weigh your dog or cat regularly.

如果不是这样，一些小的改变就有用：每天多遛狗走几个街区，少吃零食，定期称狗或猫的体重。

Two. Visit the Vet. As with humans, early exams can spot problems soon enough for successful treatment.

去看兽医。和人类一样，早期的检查可以尽早发现问题，以成功接受治疗。

"Because pets age more quickly than humans, issues can creep up fast,"

“因为宠物比人类老化的速度更快，问题会迅速加重。”

says Pete Lands, DVM, director of emergency and critical care at Saint Francis Veterinary Center in Swedesboro, New Jersey.

新泽西斯韦兹伯勒圣弗朗西斯兽医中心的紧急和重症监护主任皮特·兰德斯说。

Keep up on routine treatments such as vaccinations and deworming.

坚持常规治疗，如接种疫苗和除虫。

Or consider a cat or dog wellness plan, which includes exams, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and tests.

或者考虑一个猫或狗的健康计划，这包括进行检查，接受疫苗，洗牙和进行测验。

Three. Don't Fret About Gluten. Pets have specific nutritional requirements to stay healthy—most cats need to eat meat every day to get their protein.

不要担心麸质。宠物有特定的营养需求来保持健康——大多数猫需要每天吃肉来获取蛋白质。

But just like the human world, the pet world has its fair share of dietary crazes, most of which you should ignore.

但就像人类世界一样，宠物世界也有自己的饮食狂热，你应该忽视其中的大部分。

For instance, there are plenty of gluten-free dog foods for sale now,

比如，现在有很多的无麸质狗粮可以购买，

but gluten allergies seem to be "extremely rare" in pets, according to a report published by Tufts University.

但根据塔夫茨大学发表的一份报告，麸质过敏症在宠物身上似乎“极为罕见”。

Visit petfoodinstitute.org for more dietary information.

获取更多的饮食信息，请访问“petfoodinstitute.org”。

Four. Make an Exercise Plan. Pets need daily workouts to stay healthy, so a formal exercise regime is a good idea.

制定一个锻炼计划。宠物需要进行每日的锻炼来保持健康，因此一个正式的锻炼计划是个好主意。

Aim for between 30 minutes and two hours of daily activity, such as walking or running, recommends petmd.com.

在线宠物健康咨询网建议，每天运动30分钟到两个小时，比如走路或跑步。

Athletic breeds such as German shepherds and collies will require more exercise, while smaller dogs such as bulldogs can benefit from a short walk around the neighborhood.

像体格健壮的德国牧羊犬和牧羊犬等品种的狗将需要更多的锻炼，而较小的狗，如斗牛犬可以受益于附近的短步行。

You can stimulate your cat by playing with a laser pointer (avoid aiming it at your cat's eyes), providing catnip-infused toys, or adding perches to your home.

你可以用激光棒增加猫的运动（避免用激光照射猫的眼睛），提供樟脑草填充玩具，或增加你家的栖木。

And believe it or not, GPS- or WiFi-enabled devices can track your pet's steps, calories burned, heart rate, and other indicators.

而且，信不信由你，装有GPS或者可以连接无线网的设备可以记录你的宠物的步数，燃烧的卡路里，心率，和其他的指标。