by Dr. Heidi Booth
I always used to be skinny. Never had to worry about what I ate or how much. I was also much better about exercising, keeping in shape.
Sigh.
Now, nine years after having my son, I guess I can't call the extra weight I carry "baby fat" anymore. The excuse is worn and well, rather pathetic. So now I have to watch what I eat and how much I eat as well. Exercise is also not high on my priority list, although I know it should be.
Why bother telling you this? Because many of us in the U.S. have weight issues and not surprisingly, so do our pets. We enjoy feeding them little treats, and spoiling them. They also know by looking at us with their large brown sweet eyes, we might just give them one more treat. Aww, what's one little more piece going to do?
But the sad truth is, we are killing our pets with kindness by overfeeding them. Weight issues can lead to diabetes, arthritis, and orthopedic issues, just to name a few.
But we can do something about our pet's weight. We can be responsible for what we feed them, how much exercise they get, and making sure there is no underlying medical problems that might lead to their increased weight gain (such as hypothyroidism in dogs). Summertime is the perfect time to start a weight loss program because the weather can't give us a reason for NOT walking the dog.
Below are some articles about obesity and what the hazards are of our pets being overweight. If you are ready to start a weight loss program give our hospital a call, schedule a weight analysis, and we can get your pet started toward a healthier weight and a healthier lifestyle.