WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Oct. 11, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital announced that the animal hospital will offer pet weight loss and weight management services. More than half of all pets are overweight or obese, according to a 2014 survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. An estimated 57.9% of cats are overweight or obese and 52.7% of dogs are overweight or obese. The animal hospital is working with pet owners to help them better understand the importance of proper pet nutrition and how to select the right pet food for their pets’ unique health needs.
With over half of all pets either overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, the veterinary team at Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital is taking action to reduce these statistics. The veterinary hospital cautions that excessive weight in pets can lead to a host of health problems, including aggravating joint disease and heart disease, increasing the risk for diabetes and shortening a pet’s life span.
“Many pet owners fail to realize that their pet is overweight or understand the serious health consequences associated with this,” said Winnipeg veterinarian Dr. Mander. “The first step in fighting pet obesity is to raise awareness. Pet owners may think a pet is ‘healthy’ when in reality, the pet is overweight. Pets should at most have a thin layer of fat over their ribs.”
Dr. Mander says that sedentary lifestyles and overfeeding are common causes for obesity in pets.
“Pets that spend most of their time inside resting are more likely to gain weight,” said Dr. Mander. “The problem is that pet food companies often recommend serving sizes that are for active pets rather than sedentary pets. Consequently, even if pet owners are following food guidelines, they can end up overfeeding. A 15-minute walk around the neighborhood at night isn’t sufficient exercise for pets being fed an ‘active pet’ diet.”
The Winnipeg veterinarian says he is working closely with pet owners so that they can better understand what appropriate food serving sizes for pets are. This also includes how to assess whether or not a pet is at a healthy weight based on age, size and activity level.
“In addition to sedentary lifestyles, one of the biggest causes for obesity in pets is overfeeding, especially from treats,” said Dr. Mander. “Pet owners often want to show their love and affection for a pet by giving him or her a treat. Too many treats, however, add up to a lot of extra calories.”
For pets that are overweight, Dr. Mander advises decreasing food portion sizes and limiting treats while increasing exercise. “Even cats need regular exercise,” said Dr. Mander. “I recommend playing interactive games with a cat for 10 to 15 minutes.”
For more information on pet obesity prevention and treatment at Fort Garry Veterinary Hospital, visit http://fortgarryvethospital.ca/.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-than-half-of-u-s-pets-are-overweight-or-obese-survey-finds/