Love your pet… love your vet
Winter weight worries Shorter days, inhospitable weather and the lure of a cosy sofa all conspire against us and our pets in the winter months, leaving both pets and owners prone to putting on a few unwanted pounds.
This is a problem because, while it is all too easy to gain weight, it isn’t nearly as easy to lose it!
Long term, this can have health risks since carrying excess weight can cause or worsen a range of conditions including:
Arthritis: if joints are under constant strain from extra weight, they are more likely to become arthritic and painful.
Diabetes: for cats,
being obese is a huge risk factor for them developing diabetes.
Heart disease:
excess body fat puts the heart under increased strain and can hasten the onset of heart failure, especially in ‘at risk’ breeds.
Sadly, affected pets often become old before their time, have a diminished quality of life and a reduced life expectancy.
So – now is the
perfect time to assess your pet’s weight! Dogs should have a visible ‘waist line’ with ribs that can be felt on palpation. By contrast, if you can pinch an inch or more, and if your pet’s
tummy sags down, a diet is probably in order. To achieve weight loss, pets need a combination
of a specially formulated calorie controlled diet and more exercise. All pets need regular exercise and increased walks, more frequent play, or increased access to outdoors.
It is possible to return your pet to a healthy weight. The good news is that as your pet loses weight, the benefi ts of increased vitality are usually seen quite quickly. So, if your pet has gained weight, or seems to have slowed down, give your vet a call – they are there to help!
Keith Moore BVSc MRCVS Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Hillside Veterinary Centre Love your pet… love your vet
1st
vet consultation FREE with this voucher
Visit us at 116 Wareham Road Corfe Mullen Wimborne BH21 3LH t: 01202 698899 e:
mail@hillsidevets.co.uk www.hillsidevets.co.uk
Please mention The Corfe Mullen Link when responding to adverts Simply cut out the voucher and present on arrival at reception. Offer limited to one
voucher per household and applicable to new client registrations only – Mar19 CML 21
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