Obesity is one of the biggest health issues facing pets, with recent studies showing that approximately 60% of dogs and cats are overweight or obese.
Veterinarians Dr. Bernard Hodges and Terence Ferguson joined us to help us learn more. They were recently nominated for an NAACP Award and work with Hill's Pet Nutrition to help dogs and cats achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
They also costar on Nat Geo Wild's “Critter Fixers: Country Vets.”
What can you tell us about this trend in pet health?
“There is a growing concern about obesity in pets. The main thing is awareness. We teamed up with Hill's Pet Nutrition to address this issue and keep pets healthy.”
What does obesity mean for pets?
“Obesity is one of the most important issues we are tackling. Every extra pound can make the difference between being healthy and being overweight.”
How can pet parents determine if their pet is overweight?
“Hills has devised the Love Test. L locates your pet's ribs, O looks from above, V looks from the side, and E evaluates eating habits. Once you have the answer, you can incorporate it into Hill's tools and consult your veterinarian to come up with a diet specifically formulated for your pet.”
How difficult is it to manage weight loss in pets?
“By working with your veterinarian and using these simple tools, you can easily keep your pet healthy.”
What are the most important tips for pet weight loss and maintenance?
“Make sure your fur baby is active, consult your veterinarian to prescribe a diet, and check the nutritional content of Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight. 7% of pets fed this diet will lose weight in the first week.”
For more information on Hill's campaign, visit EndPetObesity.com.
This segment is paid for by Hill's Pet Nutrition and is for advertising purposes. The opinions expressed by guests on this program are their own and are not endorsed by the television station.
