Fall 2007

A recent study

 by Purina found

 that pets kept

 at their ideal

 weight lived on

 average 1 ½ to

2 years longer 

lives than those

that were

overweight!

Overweight Pets- An Increasing Problem

Run your hands along the sides of your pet- can you feel his ribs? Does your dog or cat have an obvious “waist”- a narrowing of their width behind the ribcage? If you answered “no” to either of these questions, then there is a good chance that your pet is overweight. 

It is estimated that as many as 45% of dogs and cats are overweight. Overfeeding and lack of exercise is the most common culprit of pet obesity.  There are several health problems that can cause pets to become overweight, such as Cushing’s disease and hypothyroidism in dogs. Regular trips to the veterinarian can help to rule out medical conditions that could be contributing to your pet’s weight. Treating these underlying conditions will greatly improve your pet’s health and chances of success in a weight loss program.

 Being overweight also causes an array of serious health problems for pets. Overweight pets have added stress on their joints, bones and muscles from carrying around extra weight. This can cause muscle and ligament strains and tears, joint deterioration, and rapidly developing arthritis. Pets with a predisposition to orthopedic problems, such as hip and elbow dysplasia or back problems, are at an especially greater risk of having more rapid and severe complications as a result of being overweight. 

Obesity requires that the heart work harder to pump blood to the body, which can cause high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Being overweight requires more effort from the heart, muscles and respiratory systems to perform their basic functions, leading to decreased endurance and stamina.  Excessive amounts of fat building up in the liver can lead to decreased liver function and even failure.  In addition, diabetes, digestive problems, and even cancer can be attributed to being overweight.

When it comes to reducing caloric intake, in some cases a simple reduction in the amount of food fed, or changing to a “light” diet, might be sufficient to being about weight loss. In more severe cases, a prescription weight loss diet might be recommended to help ensure calorie restriction.                

Along with diet reduction, exercise is the cornerstone to helping your dog lose weight.  Be sure to begin an exercise program with short, easy walks, gradually increasing in time and energy, as the pet’s own activity level dictates. Once you and your dog get into the habit of a daily exercise regime, you may find that you are both looking forward to, and benefiting from it!

It is important to remember that rapid weight loss is almost as damaging to your pet as being overweight was in the first place-especially in cats there is a potential for severe complications if weight loss progresses too quickly. The goal of any diet program should be a slow but steady weight loss, with a noticeable improvement in your pet’s health. Periodic rechecks of your pet’s weight with your vet will help to keep the goal in sight, and determine when your pet has reached his or her optimum weight.

 An exam with the veterinarian should be performed prior to starting any kind of weight loss program with your dog or cat. Along with ruling out any medical causes of obesity, we can help design a program that both you and your pet can live with. After determining a target weight we can provide valuable suggestions and support in helping to slim down your pet.

 After you begin your pet on a weight loss program, we are here to offer you free weight checks to monitor your pet’s progress. Come in for a weight evaluation exam and pick up your free Pet Weight Loss package to get started on the path to weight loss and better health for your pet.

New Vaccine

Protocols 

New Vaccine Protocols

We have been working hard to adjust our vaccine protocols to match the current recommendations by the major veterinary associations. We now recommend a three-year vaccine for Distemper/Parvo after the initial puppy vaccination series, and a three-year vaccine for feline FVRCP after the initial kitten vaccination series.  The reason for the three-year protocol is to avoid possible health risks created by over vaccination, such as vaccine reactions, possible development of autoimmune diseases in dogs, and vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas in cats.

 As an alternative to these vaccines, we also offer an annual vaccine blood titer test that can be performed to access your dog or cat’s vaccine antibody status from previous vaccinations. If antibodies are adequate, no vaccination may be necessary for that year. If a specific viral antibody is low, as indicated by the titer, we can vaccinate only for the specific virus.