Pet obesity is a growing concern in veterinary medicine. We want to work with you to reverse this unhealthy trend in our canine companions. Overfeeding can result in heart disease, diabetes, joint and spine issues, and a shortened lifespan. Overweight pets are less active because they cannot run and jump like they used to. They may even experience difficulty standing up or walking in more extreme cases. With a high-quality diet, exercise and regular counselling, we can help to regulate your dog’s caloric intake and whittle down that waistline in a safe, medically supervised way.
When is a dog considered to be overweight?
Sadly, people have become so accustomed to seeing overweight dogs that many of us do not even realize when our dog is overweight. The veterinarian will use a body condition scoring system to determine whether pets are over, under, or normal body weight. Dogs should have a visible waistline. At 10% over optimal body weight, it’s time to start addressing the issue with one of our customized weight-loss plans.
Are some breeds prone to obesity?
Some breeds are certainly less active than others making them more prone to weight gain. However, ultimately, we are in full control of how many calories our dogs consume each day. Smaller dogs need far fewer calories. This is why we recommend accurately measuring or weighing food at meal times. Treat calories add up fast too!
Why should my dog have a weight loss consultation at the clinic?
Our registered veterinary technicians will develop a plan tailored to your pet’s nutrition and weight-loss requirements. Using one of our prescription diets, regular weigh-ins, and customized progress reports, we will help you correct your pet’s state of health. You will be amazed at how different your pet looks and acts as the weight comes off. Once they have reached their target weight, a weight maintenance plan will be put in place to keep them feeling great. Best of all, this counselling service is FREE with the purchase of food to our registered clients.
