Pet Obesity

Just like us, a well-balanced nutritional intake and regular exercise is important for your furry friends. October 8 is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day, and with that we thought it important to highlight approximately 54% of cats and dogs in the United States are overweight. Today we want to help raise awareness to the dangers obesity may have on your pet. 

If you are unsure your pet is overweight there are several tools for which you can utilize to help better assess. First and foremost is your veterinarian, followed by online resources that show specifics on breeds and their ideal appearance and weight. A general rule of thumb to go by is being able to feel their ribs, but not seeing them. 

Here are some additional tips to help aid in keeping your pets weight in check. 

1. Talk with your veterinarian as they are the best resource for helping you. They can work with you to create a plan to help control, monitor and improve your pet’s weight. They are also able to recommend ways to help your pet lose weight in a healthy and safe way.
2. Calorie control. A wide variety of pet foods exist, always be certain to check nutrition labels for the best quality ingredients. Avoid foods that contain fillers. Avoid table scraps and try to limit the number of treats. Try to ensure treats are of the healthy variety. 
3. Consistency. Ensure feeding portions are consistent, place a cup in the bag to keep amounts the same. Feed them on a consistent schedule, and avoid overfeeding. Consider using an automatic feeder as this helps to keep a consistent schedule and amount. 
4. Go outside! Not only is it great for your pet, but you too! Take a nice walk around the neighborhood or park. A session of catch is always a great way to keep your dog moving and staying healthy. 

Similar to humans, pet obesity can have the same severe unfavorable effects as well. Disorders that are common with pet obesity include high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and so forth. If you are unsure about your pets weight, schedule an appointment with us today and start the conversation of getting them on a healthier track! 

Keeping Your Pets Fit

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

It is important to promote positive lifestyle for your pet.  Cats and dogs are both prone to becoming overweight without exercise and a healthy diet.  Here are a few tips to help you improve your pet’s fitness and avoid obesity.

Pet Health Tips:

• Spend Time Outdoors – Now that the weather is warm, you can take your pets for a walk or let them play outside.  Running, jumping and chasing are natural ways to get your dog energized.  There are plenty of outdoor enclosures available that allow cats to run, roam, and pounce outside too!
• Consistent Exercise – A moderate level of exercise each day is ideal for a fit and healthy pet.  Keep toys handy to keep your dog or cat energized for a play session, whether indoors or outdoors.
• Portion Control – Feed your pet using a designated measuring cup.  This is a great way to make sure you know exactly how much food they are consuming each day.  This can keep you from over feeding your pet, especially as your pet ages.

If you are concerned about your pet’s fitness and nutrition, we encourage you to contact our office.  The experienced veterinarians at Bregman Vet Group can provide you with advice for your pet’s individual needs.

Does Your Cat Look Forward To Teeth Brushing Time?

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Brushing your cat's teeth shouldn't be a chore for you or your furry friend. Instead, it should be an enjoyable time for the both of you. As you know, do not overly restrain your cat. If you take things slow and give lots of praise, you and your cat will start looking forward to your brushing time.

Brush your cat’s pearly whites at home by following these simple steps:

• Before starting, get your cat use to the idea of having their teeth brushed.
• Gently message their gums with your finger or with a cotton swab.  
• Then, put a little cat-formulated toothpaste on their lips to get use of the taste. 
• After, introduce the toothbrush, try to get a small and soft bristle brush. They make toothbrushes that go over your fingers to help message your cat’s teeth. 
• Lastly, apply the toothpaste and gently brush your furry friends teeth.

A veterinary exam before may help to find out if your cat’s gums are inflamed or have gingivitis. If this is the case, brushing too hard could damage their gums.

If you have any concerns in regard to your pets health, please contact the Bregman Veterinary Group at any one of our locations. For more information, please visit www.bregmanvetgroup.com.

Follow us on social media for more pet care tips!
Facebook – Twitter – YouTube - Pintrest 

Is Your Pet Overweight? Try a Pet Treadmill!

 THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Whether a pet is overweight, injured or just lacks exercise, taking them on a walk or letting them roam outside is pointless. If your pet doesn't enjoy getting exercise on its own, it should be forced to work out to stay healthy, and that’s what the pet treadmill offers.

Veterinarians are now using a special water treadmill to help cats and dogs rehabilitate and get them back to their proper health. Brittney Barton, a veterinarian who is working on this project states: “It’s kind of like a Cadillac. It’s a very specialized piece of equipment, so it has a very long bed treadmill. We can adjust the speed. We can even kind of mix it up a bit and put some exercise balls in and do some specialized exercises.”

During these sessions, patients can spend anywhere from fifteen to forty minutes on the treadmill, all depending on the health of the pet.

The treadmill seems to be working with most patients; mostly every pet that has been exercising on this treadmill has been getting stronger and fit. One of the patients, “Skinny the cat”, was rescued last year weighing 41 pounds, and since using the treadmill he has shed over 10 pounds of fat!

For more information on how to give your pet a healthy lifestyle, please visit our Facebook page or call any of the Bregman Veterinary Group locations. 

Your Pet's Health is Important to Your Family's Health

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Keeping your family pet free of illness and disease can prove just as beneficial for your family as it is for your pet. Humans are definitely not immune to diseases that animals carry so it is important to keep your pet healthy. In order to keep your pet and family safe, you must learn about the animal you want, and then take care of it accordingly, says the dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Joan Hendricks.

First you must understand your pet’s behavior. Knowing about the breed’s requirements for a healthy life is important in matching them to your family. Not satisfying a pet’s natural tendencies can lead to them getting sick, and behavioral disorders.

After finding the right breed for your family, training your pet properly is crucial for the safety of your family and others. A simple bite or scratch can spread a disease to your family.

Cleaning up after your pet should be an obvious way to prevent the spread of illness, but it is often looked over. Keeping up with your pets waste is important, especially if you have small children because they are more likely to put hands in their mouth.

Keep up with the medical records of your pet and make frequent veterinarian stops with a young animal. Make sure your pet’s teeth are healthy to avoid bacteria and large veterinarian bills. At the least, a once per year visit is necessary!

Trust in your pet food. A varying diet and overfeeding could upset your pet’s stomach or lead to obesity. Scraps from the table will do more harm than good (Vegetables are okay for dogs, not cats). The science behind pet food is highly advanced and will keep your pet in the best condition.

For more information on how to keep your pet in good health, please contact the Bregman Veterinary Group  by calling any one of our locations or by visiting us on the web. 

Keeping Pets Active Can Benefit Both Pet and Owner!

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP 

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

Over 73 million U.S. households in America own a pet, this equates to about 6 in 10 Americans owning some type of pet, a number that seems to be growing each year.  Among them, 73 percent own dogs and 49 percent own cats, with an obvious overlap.  

Experts agree that taking your pets out and helping them maintain a healthy weight is essential to a longer and healthier life for your pet. "The popularity of extreme sports is not only rising for humans, but pets seem to want to get in on the action too," said Dani Deblasi, general manager of the Petco in Totowa. "There's a barrage of ways for pet owners to get active with their pooch and we offer suggestions on how to have fun in the sun and keeping pets safe from the hot weather."  

It seems that more and more people are teaching their dogs to ride a skateboard, which is a cool new way to exercise your pet, but Deblasi suggests putting mesh booties on their paws to protect them from the concrete.  During the hot summer it is always fun to get in the water and take a ride on a boat.  This can be fun for your pet as well, although we suggest letting them get acquainted with the territory while docked and keeping the first outing short.  For pets that prefer to stay on dry land, Hydro Collection toys are a great way to entertain them while keeping them hydrated.  

Dog friendly beaches are easy to find and many dogs enjoy the freedom of running in and out of the surf or playing Frisbee with their owner.  It is a good idea to bathe your pet after they spend the day in the water because dirt, chemicals and other pollutants can make a dog sick, especially if they lick their paws or skin.  "In addition, many surf-dog competitions are popping up on the west and east coasts, dogs everywhere are hanging 10," she noted. "If pets are accompanying the family on a surf and sand trip, make sure to familiarize dogs with the ocean in shallow water first. Keep dogs safe by making sure they are wearing a life vest made for pets. 

It's always important that owners keep a close eye on pets in the ocean. The strong currents and waves can be dangerous for pets. Also pets need sunscreen just as much as their human counterparts but any sunscreen used should be labeled for use on pets."  So get out on a beautiful day and exercise with your pet, it is a good way to keep you and your pet happy and healthy. 

What do you do to keep your pet healthy? Let us know on our Facebook page, linked HERE! 

A Searing Narrative of Rabies, and the Desperation to Forget It

THE BREGMAN VETERINARY GROUP 

www.BregmanVetGroup.com

When thinking about vaccinating your pets, do you ever think about protecting not just them, but yourself as well? James Gorman, read a book, “Rabid: A cultural History of the World’s Most Diabolical Virus,” considering himself a public health hero, for simply vaccinating his dog.  

Gorman read that, “rabies, on its inexorable death crawl through the nervous system to the brain, can cause sustained erections, and on rare occasions frequent, and uncontrollable ejaculations in human males.” Although, in developing countries rabies is not a common disease to get, in the rest of the world, mainly Africa and Asia, 55,000 people die each year of rabies. 

People assume rabid dogs are stray, but in Africa, most of these rabid dogs are owned.  

This ARTICLE goes to show just how important it is to vaccinate your pets, not only for their own health, but for your own!