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Weight Management
Obesity affects two-thirds of all pets in the United States. This makes it one of the most common health problems for pets. Without proper weight management, many pets develop health problems related to obesity, including painful arthritis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, difficulty breathing, skin masses, hormonal problems, and shortened lifespan.
Luckily, obesity is one of the easiest problems to prevent and control. Careful feeding of an appropriate diet, avoidance of excessive treats or feeding of human foods, and proper exercise will help your pet live a long and healthy life. Studies have shown that overweight dogs live 2 years less than dogs kept at an ideal weight.
At Scott County Animal Hospital, our technicians and doctors have training in nutrition and feeding to help determine how many calories your pet needs in a day. We can make recommendations to you regarding the amount you should feed, appropriate treats, and can recommend prescription diets when appropriate to help your pet lose weight. We can also help you develop an exercise plan to help your pet lose weight.
For dogs which have trouble slimming down, we also have available prescription medication to help dogs lose weight, and thyroid hormone testing to detect hypothyroidism - a disease which sometimes causes dogs to gain weight.
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