Nutrition & Weight Management

Obesity in pets has become a very serious matter as obesity is steadily on the rise in the pet population. A clinical survey conducted in 2017 by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention found that an estimated 56% of canines and 60% of felines are overweight or obese in the United States.

Considering these findings, our medical team has made it a point to carefully monitor your pet’s weight and guide our clients to maintain an ideal body size for their pets. 

Numerous consequences can arise due to obesity in pets. This includes kidney dysfunction, liver disease, respiratory disorder, chronic inflammation, metabolic and endocrine disorders, cancer, high blood pressure, and a lesser quality of living. 

Just like humans, weight gain in pets is gradual and does not happen overnight. However, it is not always easy to notice weight gain in pets. For small dogs and cats, just a few pounds can be enough to seriously affect their health. 

Weight loss for your pets may not be an easy process, but consulting with your veterinarian can certainly make a difference. Our highly trained medical team can offer expert advice and tips to help you get your pet into better physical condition and stay healthy. 

Obesity can be due to several reasons in pets, consider the following when asses the shape of your pet: 

• Food. Sometimes we like to give our pets a little extra food from the table, or a couple more treats here and there. It may seem harmless, but oftentimes those calories can add up fairly quickly and lead to obesity. 
• Lack of exercise. Although your pet may spend hours outside enjoying themselves, they may not be getting the proper exercise that they need. However, a simple daily walk is all it takes to keep the weight off dogs. As for cats, choose toys that require physical activity. Running, jumping, chasing will help your cat maintain ideal body weight. 
• Premature spay/neuter procedure can interfere with hormonal releases which affect metabolism.
• Medications. Some medications may include side effects that can cause weight gain by either an increase in appetite or by affecting metabolism.