Concerned about your pet being overweight or underweight?
Ask us about a free weight clinic with one of our nurses for your cat or dog.
Nearly half of the patients that we see are overweight or struggling with a weight-related condition. This can include both underweight and overweight pets. Symptoms may range from high blood pressure to breathing difficulties, malnutrition, painful joints and cardiac conditions.
Weight can be difficult to control. It can also be affected by a pet’s age, breed, exercise routine or underlying conditions (such as hypothyroidism), as well as too many treats from family members!
Despite these challenges, there are strategies that can help pet owners achieve a healthy weight in their pets, which in turn will prevent weight related problems arising. With this in mind, we are offering FREE weight clinics with our qualified veterinary nurses to both dogs and cats. They will be offering one-on-one consultations in order to determine the cause of any weight problem. They will then offer advice on how to help your pet reach a healthy target weight. There will be regular ‘weigh-ins’ and check-ups to help monitor progress, troubleshoot and stay on track.
To book a free weight clinic for your pet, please give us a call or
Benefits of Pet Weight Loss
Once you start to help your pet to lose weight, within a matter of weeks you will start to notice that their levels of activity and energy will come on leaps and bounds. In as little as 4 weeks they may begin to play again, enjoying a happier and healthier life, with much less anxiety.
If your pet is overweight they may suffer from increased risks of:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Breathing problems
- High blood pressure
- Lethargy and reluctance to exercise
- Inability to clean themselves properly
Here at Eastcott Vets, we believe that prevention is the best medicine wherever possible. That's why our team is dedicated to supporting you and your pet's health with a nutrition programme and weight management plan so your pet can feel happier and healthier. We can support you with expert advice and guidance on diet, the optimum environment for your pet to live in, and how best to exercise your pet.
It is imperative that your pet maintains a healthy weight to delay the onset of long-term diseases caused by obesity. The quality and quantity of your pet's life are impacted by being overweight. Maintaining a healthy weight may also decrease pet healthcare costs and reduce the care you may need to administer to an overweight pet.
Managing your pet's weight shouldn't be a burden, and you don't have to do it alone. The team at Eastcott Vets is here to support you every step of the way when it comes to treating obesity in your pet.
Book a weight check consultation today
FAQs
Is my pet at risk of obesity?
Some factors beyond our control can mean our pets are at a higher risk of obesity such as breed, age, and gender. Other factors associated with overweight pets are more easily influenced, such as home environment, diet, and dental treatment frequency. However, the most important factor, it goes without saying, is that excess weight is simply an intake of too many calories compared with calories burnt off. Animals that are carrying extra weight are susceptible to conditions such as arthritis, and diabetes, and can cause breathing and heart problems too. Both diet and exercise are two things that owners have complete control over when it comes to their pets. If you are concerned, it is worth asking your veterinary team here at Eastcott Vets about ways we can help and the support that we can offer.
Is my pet overweight?
It's important to understand if your pet is carrying a little extra weight, so you might be wondering how you can know if your pet is overweight. As a rule of thumb, when holding your pet, you should be able to easily feel their ribs. You can perform a quick check by seeing if you can easily feel their ribs under a small layer of fat, if you have to press hard to feel their ribs then your pet may be overweight. But if you are unsure, bring your pet in to see one of our expert team here at Eastcott Vets who will be able to advise accordingly.
What exercise should my pet be doing?
Exercise activity should be based on age, breed, gender and current physical abilities. Working out what stimulates your pet and keeps them occupied should then follow to help build an exercise routine that works for them. We can support you with tips and advice along the way. If your pet is obese, it is important to remember to start slow and increase activity over time as your pet starts to lose weight and regain their stamina. A dog might love to go for extra walks, getting outside with them is the best thing you can do to help them stimulate their body and mind. But, no matter what type of pet you have a new toy that encourages play will bring excitement as well as exercise into the home.
What happens during a weight consultation appointment?
The vet or veterinary nurse will get a comprehensive history from you and perform a full clinical examination. Your pet will be weighed and receive a body condition score. Depending on what is found recommendations will be made. Further tests such as blood tests might be advised if a medical condition is suspected. If not, advice will be given on exercise and diet to help get your pet back to a healthy weight.
