The Lighter Side: "The Weight of Ownership"June 10, 2024“The Lighter Side” is a monthly cartoon feature by Greg Bishop, DVM, that highlights the humorous and light-hearted perspectives in the world of animals and veterinary care. Visit sasquatchpaw.com for more of Dr. Bishop’s work.
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Tackling pet obesity requires team effortSeptember 8, 2023In a 2022 Association for Pet Obesity Prevention survey, 59 percent of dogs and 61 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese.
Canine OA: Why counting calories isn't just for humansJanuary 27, 2021One of the most concerning health trends in the U.S. is the number of overweight dogs, a growing epidemic that has been associated with a dramatic increase in a wide range of health conditions.
Ending pet obesity drives academic, corporate collaborationDecember 1, 2020Improving the health of animals by eliminating pet obesity is the primary focus of a significant renovation at the Kansas State University (K-State) College of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital.
Osteoarthritis in pets on the rise alongside obesity epidemicJune 25, 2019The prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in pets has skyrocketed in the past decade, with the condition seeing a 66 percent increase in dogs and a 150 percent increase in cats.
As U.S. pet obesity balloons, vets, owners talk diet, nutritionApril 20, 2018The dog and cat pet obesity epidemic in the U.S. continues to grow, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In the organization's 2017 annual clinical survey, 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. In 2016, APOP found 54 percent of dogs and 59 percent of cats were overweight or obese. In the survey, pet owners and veterinary professionals were questioned about diet and nutrition, sources of pet food advice, the benefits of corn, dry versus canned, whether pet food has improved, the best sources of pet dietary recommendations, and more. Among the findings: 58 percent of pet owners and 54 percent of veterinary professionals reported having tried to help their own pet lose weight via low-calorie and weight loss diets combined with increased exercise. 25 percent of pet owners and 43 percent of veterinary professionals said they were "too busy" to exercise their dog; 21 percent of pet owners and 19 percent of veterinary professionals cited behavior issues as a barrier. Inadequate access to exercise areas and physical limitations of the owner and pet rounded out the reported challenges. 48 percent of …
Giving the topic of sound veterinary nutrition the respect it deservesDecember 20, 2017Do enough professionals among the veterinary profession treat companion animal nutrition with the significance it deserves? What's driving the US pet obesity epidemic? Are practitioners doing enough to address it? Veterinary Practice News asked Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVN, president, American Academy of Veterinary Nutrition, and a clinical veterinary nutritionist at AAHA-accredited Red Bank Veterinary Hospital in Tinton Falls, N.J., these questions and more about the topic of diet and nutrition. Here's what she had to share. Why did you decide to specialize in veterinary nutrition? During the summer between my first and second year of veterinary school, I worked with the nutrition department at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) through a summer research program. The focus of this research was canine obesity. This experience was the foundation of my interest, which solidified during my clinical year when I spent additional time rotating through the nutrition services at UTCVM, Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus, N.J., and Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. I had excellent mentorship at all of these facilities that helped guide me on my way (shout out to Drs. Angela Witzel, Joe Bartges, Claudia Kirk, Laura …
