Pet Weight Management Services

Maintaining a healthy weight for your pet is crucial because it directly affects their overall health, lifespan, and quality of life.

1. Prevents Chronic Diseases
   • Obesity: Increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and respiratory issues.
   • Underweight Pets: May indicate underlying health problems like parasites, dental disease, or metabolic disorders.
2. Supports Joint & Bone Health
   • Extra weight puts stress on joints, leading to arthritis and mobility issues.
   • Maintaining a lean body helps prevent hip dysplasia and joint degeneration.
3. Enhances Energy & Activity Levels
   • A healthy weight allows pets to move easily, play, and stay active.
   • Overweight pets tire quickly and may struggle with exercise.
4. Promotes a Longer Lifespan
   • Studies show that lean pets live longer than overweight pets.
   • A proper weight reduces the risk of serious illnesses and improves longevity.
5. Affects Organ Function
   • Excess fat can strain the heart, liver, and kidneys.
   • Being underweight may mean poor nutrient absorption, leading to organ failure over time.
6. Improves Quality of Life
   • A well-maintained weight ensures better mobility, less pain, and a happier, more active pet.

Helping your pet achieve or maintain a healthy weight involves a combination of proper nutrition, regular exercise, and routine health monitoring. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Feed a Balanced Diet
   • Choose High-Quality Pet Food – Ensure it meets their age, breed, and health needs. Ask us for a recommendation.
   • Portion Control – Follow feeding guidelines on the food package and adjust based on your pet’s activity level.
   • Measure Meals – Use a measuring cup or scale instead of guessing. Free measuring cups are available at our front desk.
   • Avoid Free-Feeding – Stick to scheduled meals rather than leaving food out all day (especially for overweight pets).
2. Monitor Treat Intake
   • Limit Treats & Table Scraps – Treats should be less than 10% of daily calories.
   • Use Healthy Alternatives – Try small pieces of carrot, cucumber, or lean meats instead of high-calorie treats.
3. Encourage Regular Exercise
   • For Dogs:
     • Daily walks (at least 30 minutes for most breeds).
     • Play fetch, tug-of-war, or interactive games.
     • Try agility training or swimming for a variety.
   • For Cats:
     • Use wand toys, laser pointers, or feather teasers for playtime.
     • Encourage movement with cat trees, scratching posts, and climbing shelves.
     • Use food puzzles or treat-dispensing toys to make mealtimes more active.
4. Monitor Their Weight & Body Condition
   • Weigh Your Pet Regularly – Check weight at home or during vet visits. You are welcome to stop in, have us get a weight and add it to your pet’s medical record.
   • Check Body Shape – You should feel (but not see) their ribs and notice a slight waist.
   • Look for Warning Signs – Sudden weight gain or loss may signal a health issue.
5. Regular Vet Care
   • Annual Wellness Visits – Helps assess weight, rule out medical conditions, and adjust diet or exercise plans as needed.
   • Ask for a Weight Loss Plan – If your pet is overweight, we can recommend a safe and gradual weight reduction plan.

You can tell if your dog or cat is overweight by using a combination of visual assessment, touch, and weight monitoring. Here’s how:

1. Feel for Their Ribs & Spine
   • Healthy Weight: You should feel the ribs and spine with a thin fat covering.
   • Overweight: You must press firmly to feel ribs/spine.
   • Obese: Ribs and spine are completely buried under fat.
2. Look at Their Shape from Above & Side
   • Healthy: A visible waistline behind the ribs.
   • Overweight: A straight or rounded body with no waist.
   • Obese: A wide, oval shape with a bulging belly.
3. Watch for Signs of Excess Weight
   • Dogs:
     • Tires quickly on walks or play.
     • Struggles to jump, climb stairs, or get up.
     • Heavy breathing even at rest.
     • Evaluating Your Dog’s Body Condition: https://youtu.be/X681PWCX4Ps
   • Cats:
     • Hesitates to jump on furniture or climb.
     • Sleeps more than usual.
     • Can’t groom properly (dirty fur or matted areas).
     • Evaluating Your Cat’s Body Condition: https://youtu.be/Fwu8HQliLC8
4. We use the Purina Body Condition Score (BCS) a scale from 1 to 9, where 1 is too thin, 9 is obese, and 4-5 is ideal.
   • Ideal Weight (4-5/9)
     • Ribs are easily felt but not visible.
     • There’s a noticeable waist when viewed from above.
     • Tummy has a slight tuck (not hanging) when viewed from the side.
   • Overweight (6-7/9)
     • Ribs are hard to feel under fat.
     • Waistline is less defined or absent.
     • Belly appears rounded or saggy.
   • Obese (8-9/9)
     • Ribs are completely covered with fat.
     • No visible waist; body looks oval or round.
     • Belly hangs significantly, sometimes touching the ground.
     • Fat deposits are noticeable over the back, neck, and tail base.

Purina Body Condition System charts

body-condition-system-dog.pdf

body-condition-system-cat.pdf