Are you worried your furry friend is a bit on the podgy side? If so, two local vet clinics might have the solution.
Coastal Veterinary and Pet Care Centre on Pinjarra Road and Mandurah South Veterinary Hospital in Falcon have teamed up to put on a Biggest Loser-style competition for pets.
If your dog or cat is on the heavy side, feel free to take them in to either clinic where one of the vets will assess their body weight and help you work out a diet plan.
Registered vet Nikkole Hoar said she came up with the idea for the challenge after noting the increasing amount of animals coming in overweight.
“It’s becoming one of the most serious problems in pets we see,” she said.
“And it’s not necessarily the owner’s fault. It’s pretty easy to accidentally overfeed your pets.
“A lot of people don’t know the right amount of food , or they forget that if you’re giving your pet treats throughout the day, you have to cut down the amount of food you give them at dinner time.”
Ms Hoar said exercise was also something under pressure, with people’s work loads and elderly owners often unable to walk pets as much as they need.
“Often with people’s busy lifestyles and that kind of thing, they sometimes don’t get out as much as they should,” she said.
“And this can lead to all sorts of problems. Respiratory problems and just generally being down are big ones, but arthritis is the thing we’re seeing the most.”
Ms Hoar said the symptoms of obesity often lead to further problems in animals.
“If your pet’s not really moving around much, they can get really down, and their quality of life lowers. A lot of what we’re doing is just to raise that quality of life.”
The campaign runs until the end of September.
At the end of the campaign the pet that has lost the most weight will win a supply of Hills Metabolic pet food, as well as a food dispensing toy – one for each dog and cat winner.
To get involved, contact either Coastal or Mandurah South Veterinary Clinics.
