After months of Hope Vets ‘on the road, we proudly opened our purpose built surgery in November. From our fully equipped home we can now provide for all your pets health and wellbeing needs.
Why is it that we recognise our own need to shape up, but we forget about our pets? Dark winters often mean that dogs and cats get out less. Add in a few too many treats and no wonder many pets are left fighting the bulge. So – New Years Resolutions for pets, why not?
Being overweight is not healthy. Our tubby pets suffer increased incidence of heart disease, joint disease and diabetes – they just dont live as long and they age much more quickly. A slim 8 year old Lab will still be dashing about but add 5 kilos and they slow right down. A recent study showed that a lean Lab lives on average 1.8 YEARS longer than its overweight counterpart! If thats not enough reason to turn over a new leaf for your pets this year, then what is?
So, is your pet overweight? Have a feel of the ribs – you should be able to feel them really easily, without being able to see them poking out. The waist should be slimmer than their chest making them hourglass shaped from above and not barrel shaped. If you arent sure – just drop in, we do free weight checks and will be happy to advise.
How do you get your pet to lose weight? Well, eat less, eat better, exercise more, same as you. You can cut out treats and feed less, but pets may feel hungry and start to scavenge. You may prefer special diets which enable you to feed the same amount but give fewer calories. You dont have to feel mean – dogs will often enjoy treats like carrot sticks as much as biscuits and chews, and you can even buy low calorie treats from the supermarket. Then all you have to do is walk for a bit longer each day and your dog will start to feel the difference. With regular weight checks we can help you monitor your progress.
Come and see us at Hope Vets, Shantock Hall Lane, Bovingdon, HP3 0NQ.
Details on our website at www. hopevets.com or call 01442 83198.
Stephanie