An estimated 51.5% of dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese, that is approximately 89 million pets according to a 2009 study by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.  Obese pets are at greater risk for developing diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, respiratory disorders, and even many forms of cancer. 

A recent study by Purina found that dogs fed to an ideal body weight throughout their lives had a median life span of 1.8 years longer than their littermates.  And, researchers observed that the lean dogs had fewer visible signs normally associated with aging, such as graying muzzles and reduced activity at a later age.

Being pet owners, our staff realizes how important it is to keep our fuzzy family members healthy and with us as long as we possibly can.  We have developed our Fit Pet Club as a tool to help our patients win their battle to be lean and have an exceptional quality of life for years to come.

This is Rosey.  She is very lean and fit.  Notice the tuck of her waist, her hourglass figure from above, and her well muscled body.  Rosey is this fit and exercises for no more than 30 minutes a day, six days a week!

Our 5 Step Program:

1.  See a member of our staff!  If your pet has not been examined by a doctor in the last year they will need an exam with a veterinarian.  If we have seen your pet recently you can call for an appointment with a veterinary technician.  Our staff will assess your pet's body condition and help you to get started on the road to weight loss.

2. Follow our nutrition plan!  We will help you plan a nutrition and exercise plan that will work.  Pets need to count calories too and with some simple math we can create a feeding plan.

3.  Measure each serving!  Don't just fill your pet's bowl, follow our guidelines to give your pet the proper size serving for weight loss.

4.  Limit Treats!  Give your pet extra love and attention rather than too many treats and table scraps.  Calories in treats add up quickly. 

5. Exercise, exercise, exercise!  Just 20 - 30 minutes of exercise each day is enough to make your dog fit.  Your exercise routine can be a simple as playing fetch or as involved as driving to the lake for a swim.