The Basics
- Obesity can be considered the most common disease of dogs in the United States.
- Causes of obesity may include overfeeding, inability to recognize an appropriate body condition and lack of or inability to exercise.
- Obesity should be addressed as a disease and as a complicating factor of orthopedic disease.
- Weight loss as little as 11% of the total body weight can have a positive impact on mobility when limited by osteoarthritis.
- Obesity can be considered the most common disease of dogs in the United States.
- Causes of obesity may include overfeeding, inability to recognize an appropriate body condition and lack of or inability to exercise.
- Obesity should be addressed as a disease and as a complicating factor of orthopedic disease.
- Weight loss as little as 11% of the total body weight can have a positive impact on mobility when limited by osteoarthritis.
Our Patients with Obesity
- Any pet needing a tailored nutrition plan to achieve an ideal body condition.
- Pets with owners struggling to understand how to coordinate illness, pain, lameness, surgery, aging and bloodwork results with nutrition and calories.
- Any pet with orthopedic pain and loss of mobility limiting the ability to exercise and leading to a sedentary lifestyle.
How Does Rehabilitation Help?
- Movement and therapeutic exercise designed to target a specific patient’s ability and need can enhance metabolism, improve mobility and increase muscle mass.
- Overweight patients needing surgery or recovering from surgery can benefit from therapeutic movement as part of their pre or post operative plan.
- Monitoring muscle mass and strength in addition to weight helps develop a complete picture when assessing current and ongoing nutritional needs.
