Obesity is the most prevalent health problem in pets today, affecting one in every four cats and dogs across America. A pet is classified as obese when there’s excessive body mass that results in impaired health and/or body function.
Perhaps the biggest concern with obesity is that it leads to many comorbid conditions that can reduce your pet’s quality of life. Overfeeding, inactivity, hypothyroidism, neurologic or orthopedic conditions that limit mobility can all contribute to obesity in pets.
Pet obesity can lead to a wide range of other negative health problems, including:
In cats, risks also include urinary tract disease, skin disease, and fatty liver disease.
Here’s what you can do to make sure your pet remains at a healthy weight:
It also helps to think outside the box (or bowl!) – using food puzzles, backyard mazes, or handing out treats only after exercise can also keep your pet’s weight in check.
When you partner with our team, we can create a specialized diet plan suited for your pet’s physiology. In many cases, special metabolic and mobility diets are good choices for severely overweight dogs and cats. These prescription diets provide the necessary protein and nutrients to keep them healthy while restricting the excess food that is causing obesity.
Thanks to our partnership with Pet Aquatic, we can provide aquatic therapy, which uses an underwater treadmill to help patients who have lost mobility due to arthritis or other conditions. Because the treadmill is submerged in warm water, the buoyancy and temperature help remove the stress from your pet’s joints while reducing swelling.
Real Patients, Real Results
“Lola” is a beautiful 6-year-old bulldog who began experiencing many compilations due to her obesity. Her excess weight caused her to sustain injuries to her legs and joints, making it harder for her to get around. With the help of her owner, our veterinarians devised a plan to tackle her obesity. Our plan included a prescription diet, joint supplements, and aquatic therapy. Over the course of a couple of months, “Lola” went from 87.5 pounds to 75!
Battling pet obesity calls for dedication and discipline – this goes for the owner as much as the pet. However, the results are well worth the adjustments. Give us a call to get started!
