The Importance of Weight Management for Pets

Pets have a healthy body mass index, just like humans do. Although a person may feel like he or she is not spoiling his or her pet by giving them all types of human food or overfeeding them their own food, it's not always healthy for them. In fact, sometimes it causes a great deal of health problems for the pet.


What a Vet Will Do


A veterinarian in St. Clair Shores may recommend an owner place a pet on a special diet if the pet gains a considerable amount of weight over a short period of time or has become overweight. The doctor may even prescribe a special variety of food to help the owner manage the pet's weight.


Why Pet Weight Management is Important


Pets may suffer from similar complications as a result of having too much body fat. For instance, the pet may become diabetic as a result of the weight and may require medications. When a pet has diabetes, it is hard on his or her small bodily organs such as the heart and kidneys, causing even more health problems for the cat or dog.


Excess weight is hard on a pet's heart. The average life expectancy of pet dogs ranges between 10 to 15 years. A pet with a heart problem has less of a life expectancy, which means the owner has less time with his or her pet. Just like with humans, being overweight has the potential to cause hypertension.


Some animals naturally have joint issues more so than other breeds. For instance, larger dogs like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds are already more prone to osteoarthritis. The excess puts even more stress on the joints, making it more difficult for animals who already have a joint problem. Moreover, dogs who are overweight are more likely to develop arthritis.


Cancer is common in certain breeds of animals. Animals who are overweight are more prone to certain types of cancer.  The extra weight can cause health issues, it also has the potential to decrease the pet's quality of life.







veterinarian st clair shores