Are you able to tell if your pet is overweight or obese? Unfortunately, pet obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., as in 2014 the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) determined that 53% of dogs and 58% of cats are overweight or obese. That’s an astounding 100,000,000 cats and dogs, which I feel is an unacceptable reflection of how we as a society treat our beloved pets. Associated with being overweight or obese are many potentially irreversible health problems, including arthritis, invertebral disc disease (IVDD), glandular disorders (diabetes, pancreatitis, etc.), heart and blood pressure abnormalities, skin fold inflammation and infection, cancer, and more. Owners should always strive to keep their companion canines and felines slim on a life-long basis through calorie restriction. Additionally, metabolism-elevating activity should be undertaken every day. Check out my interview with eHealth Radio Network where I give my top tips for pet-obesity awareness and prevention- Leading Veterinarian Dr. Patrick Mahaney Discusses How to Combat Pet Obesity.
Dr. Patrick Mahaney
Thank you for reading this article. Your questions and comments are completely welcome. Please feel free to communicate with me through Twitter (@PatrickMahaney) and follow my adventures in veterinary medicine by liking Patrick Mahaney: Veterinarian Acupuncture Pain Management for Your Pets on Facebook. Copyright of this article (2016) is owned by Dr Patrick Mahaney, Veterinarian and Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist. Republishing any portion of this article must first be authorized by Dr Patrick Mahaney. Requests for republishing must be approved by Dr Patrick Mahaney and received in written format.