Obesity

fat cat

Excess weight is a serious health problem for dogs and cats and is common in many countries. The two main causes of obesity are too much food and too little exercise. Other contributing factors can be due to hormonal influences, certain genetic factors, and other disease processes.

If you pet is carrying extra weight, it can:

  1. Increase the risk of heart disease by forcing the heart to work harder.
  2. Increase the risk of arthritis as extra weight can stress the joints, cause joint pain, and make it harder for your pet to move around comfortably.
  3. Obesity can cause breathing problems, skin and hair coat problems.
  4. Especially in cats, obesity frequently leads to diabetes.

All of these problems can make your pet uncomfortable and limit the way they interact with you and other family members.

Treatment is to rule out and treat any medical causes, such as hypothyroidism. Reducing caloric intake and increasing exercise can help your pet successfully lose weight. Lifestyle changes and a weight loss program are essential. Your veterinarian can help determine if your pet is too heavy and provide guidelines for achieving their ideal weight. Slentrol is an oral weight loss drug for obese dogs that are not able to lose weight by other means.

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

A R Animal Hospital

Monday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-7:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-4:00 pm

Sunday:

10:00 am-2:00 pm

Testimonial

  • "I just want to say how great everyone is at A R Animal Hospital. Dr. Sidhu always takes the time to explain any issues that our pets may have and gives us alternatives on how to help them get well. As a result, we have three healthy and happy pets. Kobe, Zoe, and Buddy want to thank the staff for taking good care of them when they visit. We would recommend A R Animal Hospital and Dr. Sidhu to anyone who wants to give their animals the best of care. Thank you!"
    Julie Drivas