Weight Management for Pets

Mount Carmel Animal Hospital believes that maintaining a healthy weight is a key component to a long and healthy life for all pets. Our goal is to give all owners the tools to help their pets maintain a healthy weight throughout their entire lives.

Did you know that:

Overweight dogs live an average 2 years less than their healthier counterparts
Over 50% of dogs are overweight or obese
Over 58% of cats are overweight or obese
Obesity triggers whole body inflammation increasing the chances of arthritis, diabetes and cancer
Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of your pet. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his/her body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.

Obesity develops when energy intake exceeds energy requirements. The excess energy is then stored as fat. Once a pet is obese, he may remain obese even after excessive caloric intake stops. The majority of cases of obesity are related to simple overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise. Certain groups of dogs appear more prone to obesity than others. Specific breeds (Labrador retrievers and pugs, for example) and older dogs are particularly prone.

Our team can provide assistance to help your pet achieve and maintain a healthy weight and live a longer, healthier life. We offer nutritional counseling, exercise program design, and Underwater Treadmill sessions.

Mount Carmel Animal Hospital participates in Purina’s Project Pet Slim Down, a comprehensive plan to help your pet achieve a healthy weight thereby helping him/her live longer. We offer a selection of healthy diets to help your pet achieve and maintain a healthy weight.