FRANKLINVets Overweight Pets Increased anaesthetic/surgical risk - increased fat deposits lead to slower recovery from anaesthetic drugs and can make surgery more difficult due to increased fat obscuring organs Diabetes mellitus - increased fat dampens the body's ability to respond to insulin Stephanie Reid BSc(Hons) BVSC Need a Commercial farm vet?: Equine Lifestyle farm Pets Heart disease/hypertension - pumping blood to excess tissues puts additional strain on the heart Decreased liver function - fat can accumulate in the liver decreasing its function Decreased immune function - more prone to bacterial and viral infections Reducing and maintaining a healthy weight in your pet requires a combined approach, ensuring they are receiving both adequate nutrition and the right amount of exercise. Most animals do not present to our clinics primarily for being overweight, but it is a topic we discuss with owners daily. While you may not notice your pet slowly gaining weight, because we see your pets more infrequently (as well as often having a record of their weight from previous visits) we are often better placed to pick up on subtle changes. A study carried out by the SPCA found more than 25% of dogs and 20% of cats in New Zealand were overweight or obese. For animals that need to lose weight, it is important to feed a low-calorie, high-protein, high-fibre diet to ensure safe weight loss. Royal Canin's Satiety range is a good option for this Weight loss should be achieved slowly, no more than 3-5% of their body weight per month Weigh out your pet's food. "Eye-balling portions can lead to overfeeding and inadvertent weight gain Puzzle feeders or creating activities in which your pet 'earns' their food slows down the rate at which food is ingested Unfortunately, those few extra kilos can exacerbate or accelerate the onset of several Increasing exercise in a safe manner is also essential. Exercise should be introduced slowly and consistently to avoid injury. Your vet will be able to formulate a plan with you that is best suited to your pet's individual requirements. Our team of locally based vets are here to help 24/7. other health conditions. These include: Arthritis/joint disease - carrying around all that extra weight can lead to irreversible damage to your pet's joints KOPU 99 KOPU ROAD. 07 868 5007 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM PAEROA 3 PUKE ROAD. 07 862 7295 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM Skin and coat problems - obese animals, particularly cats, can have difficulty properly grooming themselves. Accumulation of oils WAIHI 40 KENNY STREET. 07 863 8684 MON-FRI 830AM-5PM Maintaining a healthy weight is an important component of prolonging the quality of life of our pets. If this is something you would like to know more about or assistance with achieving in your pets, then pop into your local Franklin Vets clinic for a free weight consult. WAITAKARURU 563 STATE HWAY 25. 07 868 9030 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS VET SERVICES and debris in skin folds can also lead to www.FRANKLINVETS.CO.NZ skin infections FRANKLINVets Overweight Pets Increased anaesthetic/surgical risk - increased fat deposits lead to slower recovery from anaesthetic drugs and can make surgery more difficult due to increased fat obscuring organs Diabetes mellitus - increased fat dampens the body's ability to respond to insulin Stephanie Reid BSc(Hons) BVSC Need a Commercial farm vet?: Equine Lifestyle farm Pets Heart disease/hypertension - pumping blood to excess tissues puts additional strain on the heart Decreased liver function - fat can accumulate in the liver decreasing its function Decreased immune function - more prone to bacterial and viral infections Reducing and maintaining a healthy weight in your pet requires a combined approach, ensuring they are receiving both adequate nutrition and the right amount of exercise. Most animals do not present to our clinics primarily for being overweight, but it is a topic we discuss with owners daily. While you may not notice your pet slowly gaining weight, because we see your pets more infrequently (as well as often having a record of their weight from previous visits) we are often better placed to pick up on subtle changes. A study carried out by the SPCA found more than 25% of dogs and 20% of cats in New Zealand were overweight or obese. For animals that need to lose weight, it is important to feed a low-calorie, high-protein, high-fibre diet to ensure safe weight loss. Royal Canin's Satiety range is a good option for this Weight loss should be achieved slowly, no more than 3-5% of their body weight per month Weigh out your pet's food. "Eye-balling portions can lead to overfeeding and inadvertent weight gain Puzzle feeders or creating activities in which your pet 'earns' their food slows down the rate at which food is ingested Unfortunately, those few extra kilos can exacerbate or accelerate the onset of several Increasing exercise in a safe manner is also essential. Exercise should be introduced slowly and consistently to avoid injury. Your vet will be able to formulate a plan with you that is best suited to your pet's individual requirements. Our team of locally based vets are here to help 24/7. other health conditions. These include: Arthritis/joint disease - carrying around all that extra weight can lead to irreversible damage to your pet's joints KOPU 99 KOPU ROAD. 07 868 5007 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM PAEROA 3 PUKE ROAD. 07 862 7295 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM Skin and coat problems - obese animals, particularly cats, can have difficulty properly grooming themselves. Accumulation of oils WAIHI 40 KENNY STREET. 07 863 8684 MON-FRI 830AM-5PM Maintaining a healthy weight is an important component of prolonging the quality of life of our pets. If this is something you would like to know more about or assistance with achieving in your pets, then pop into your local Franklin Vets clinic for a free weight consult. WAITAKARURU 563 STATE HWAY 25. 07 868 9030 MON-FRI 8AM-5PM EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS VET SERVICES and debris in skin folds can also lead to www.FRANKLINVETS.CO.NZ skin infections