Veterinary Wellness Blog
Category: Obesity
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Pet
December 1, 2016Every December many of us start to think of the coming year and we often make resolutions for things we are going to do differently or try to achieve in the coming months. This year, why not set a resolution for your pet or for both of you? In America, 54% of dogs and 58% of cats are classified as overweight or obese. So while you may make a resolution to lose weight yourself, why not include the household pets as well? Start by using an actual measuring cup instead of “eyeballing” amounts of food, look for lower calorie foods and treats, limit overall treat intake, and try meal feeding instead of leaving food out all the time. Contact us to learn more about how to formulate a safe weight loss plan for your pet. We can recommend diets and calculate the amount of food you should be feeding. Another part of weight loss is getting more active. Things you can do with your dog to help get more activity for both of you include walking, jogging, running, hiking, and skijoring. If one or both of you is a bit out of shape or just is not used to a lot of exercise, a slow build up to activity is recommended, as pets […]
Learn MoreWinter Weight Woes
January 3, 2014As winter continues on, pets’ waistlines can start to fill out. Lack of activity outdoors (lets face it, who wants to walk in negative 20 with 2 feet of snow?), shorter days leading to more sleeping, and a lower metabolism can all lead to weight gain in winter. There are ways to help prevent this however. Cut back on their food. Starting when the weather turns colder and you know activity will start to drop, cut back on food intake about 10%. Decrease treats as well, and avoid the temptation to share holiday foods with your pets. Increase activity indoors. If you have an area where your pet can play indoors, take advantage. Throw a ball down the hall or stairs and allow your pet to retrieve it. Use a laser pointer or cat toys on strings to encourage your pet to move around. Use feeder toys or puzzle toys. Feeder toys increase your pet’s mental activity to help combat long days of boredom from not being able to go outside. The pet has to work and move around to get the food to come out, so they burn calories while eating. This also will take longer than eating from a dish, giving the pet something to do other than lay around. Take […]
Learn MoreProviding the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
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