Here at Central Animal Hospital in Scarsdale, we often see pet patients who are overweight. Pets from all around Westchester , including Scarsdale and White Plains, are becoming obese from too many calories and not enough calories burned. As a result, our pets are suffering from the same illnesses that humans suffer: high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, greater risk of musculoskeletal injuries, digestive problems, and respiratory problems. If you have an overweight pet, we urge you to bring him or her in for a veterinary checkup soon.

Our Scarsdale veterinary services include diet, nutrition, and weight counseling for pets. We can also detect any disease processes that may be due to pet obesity. We will discuss the reasons behind your pet’s weight situation with you to determine what diet, exercise, environmental and lifestyle conditions may be aggravating the problem. We can also find out whether there are any underlying health problems (such as hormonal issues) that are causing your pet to gain weight.

Once we understand the reasons behind your pet’s weight situation, we can work with you to develop a plan to bring his or her weight down in a healthy, natural way. For the health and life of your pet, it is important that you get the entire family on board with any dietary or exercise changes that need to be made. For example, it is best to nominate one person in the family to be in charge of all of the pet’s meals and snacks. This way, your pet’s caloric intake can be tracked exactly. Our pharmacy carries prescription pet foods specifically designed to help pets lose weight and get the nutrients they need to support good health.

On the other hand, everyone in the family can be involved with helping your pet get more exercise. We love seeing pets all over Scarsdale, White Plains and Westchester outside playing and walking with their families! 

What is your pet’s favorite way to exercise?