Pet Obesity Warning
from Your Austin and Pflugerville Veterinarians

The Dessau Veterinary Clinic is concerned about the pet obesity epidemic. Between 25 and 40 percent of the pets in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Obesity in pets can cause significant and long-term damage to a pet's overall health. In fact, obese pets can end up suffering from many of the same medical conditions as overweight humans.

Fat pets may be forcing their hearts to work harder, leading to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease. The extra weight also puts extra stress on joints and increases the risks of arthritis. This can be very dangerous in certain breeds which are already susceptible to hip dysplasia.

Pet obesity is also linked to diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of cancer. Most upsetting is that pet obesity takes away from the enjoyable times you and your pet could be spending together, and may even lead to the early death of your pet.

Obesity Prevention Tips from Your Austin Animal Clinic

Pets need surprisingly few calories on a daily basis. The average indoor ten pound cat needs only 180 to 200 calories. A dog of the same weight needs about 200 to 275 calories. To determine if your pet might be overweight simply feel around the back and chest areas. You should be able to distinguish the backbone and ribs.

If you think your pet is overweight, we recommend scheduling an appointment at our Austin animal clinic. Our veterinarian will first examine your pet to determine if there are any medical causes for the weight gain such as hypothyroidism or genetic factors. We will advise you on the recommended weight for your pet's breed and age, and help develop a plan to safely reduce their caloric intake and increase their activity level.

What are you doing to keep your pet fit and healthy?