Obesity in Pets

Believe it or not, over 50% of pets are obese or overweight. That's not a good statistic! Obesity can lead to numerous health problems including osteoarthritis, insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injury, kidney disease, many forms of cancer, and decreased life expectancy. Yikes!

The good news is obesity is reversible. Plus, if caught early, the risks of developing other obesity-related issues are greatly decreased. As part of your pet's annual exam, your veterinarian will evaluate your pet's body condition score, a measure of overall weight and health. However, you can evaluate your pet's obesity at home as well by asking yourself the following questions:

• Can you feel bone along your pet's spine? 
• Can you see or feel a waist line when viewing your pet from above or from the side?  
• Are you able to count his ribs? Can you feel your pet's ribs at all?  

If you answered no to any of these questions, your pet may be obese or overweight. Click on this link to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention for more information on how to fight pet obesity. There are also several companies, including Tagg and Whistle, that make activity monitors for your pet similar to a Step Tracker for people. 

If you are concerned that your pet may be overweight, stop in for a weight check or call us and we can help you get your pet back on the right track!