Pet Weight Loss Counseling in Vancouver

Our Vancouver veterinarians offer a combination of dietary counseling along with a medically supervised exercise program to safely assist your pet with successful weight loss.

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Weight Loss Rehabilitation Options

Obesity management is an important situation that requires collaboration between yourself and your veterinary care team.

The most important thing is that we are helping your pet to lose weight and feel better through a safe and controlled environment.

Here is some more information on planning:

• Dietary Counselling

  There are some cats and dogs that have specific dietary requirements. This can be due to a number of factors such as allergies and conditions that your pet may be experiencing.

  While it may seem simple to just choose food that sounds good for your pet and feeding as per the package's instructions, this is not an ideal way of managing your pet's health and weight. The most ideal option is to speak with your vet to determine which food will be best for your pet's overall health.

  Your vet will perform various testing as well as a physical examination to determine any possible allergies, nutritional deficiencies, or conditions that need special attention and may need a specific diet to control.

  Your vet will determine the weight that your pet should lose and from there decide on a weight loss program and dietary suggestions in order to best serve your pet.

• Exercise Program

  A complete dietary program is only half of the treatment plan. Ensuring that your pet is participating in enough exercise will help the weight loss treatment program to be successful.

  Exercising during weight loss is also a great bonding experience for you and your pet, as you will be paying together as much as possible.

Weight Loss Treatment FAQs

Here are some of our most frequently asked questions, or contact us if you have any further questions about weight loss plans.

• What are some causes of obesity in cats and dogs?

  There are many possible causes behind obesity in pets, something as simple as not exercising enough could quickly lead to this condition.

  There are also many foods, snacks, and treats available on the market that may be responsible for driving the uptick of obesity in pets.

• How does obesity affect my dog's overall health?

  Obesity will cause a severe decrease in your pet's range of motion as well as causes a great amount of discomfort, as well as predisposing them to various conditions such as orthopedic problems, respiratory issues, diabetes, and, potentially, liver and pancreatic diseases.

  If your dog is suffering from obesity then their lifespan could potentially be shortened by as much as two years.

• What are some potential symptoms of obesity in pets?

  Here are some of the symptoms you may see if your dog or cat are experiencing obesity:

  Cats

  Symptoms of obesity in cats include:

  • Indistinguishable waistline
  • Ribs not detectable (you should be able to easily feel your cat's ribs while petting, without pushing down
  • Bones in hips, spine, and shoulders not detectable with gentle petting (these should be easily detectable)
  • Excess fat in the primordial pouch (belly)

  Dogs

  Symptoms of obesity in dogs include:

  • Weight gain
  • Rib cage cannot be detected (you should be able to easily feel your dog's ribs, spines and hip bones, but not see them)
  • Waistline is invisible (should be visible when petting)
  • Excess body fat
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Distended abdomen
  • Lack of mobility
  • Lethargy

  Your vet will be able to examine your pet and tell you if you should be concerned about the weight of your pet.

• What is the importance of weight loss planning and treatment?

  It is important to only begin weight loss for your pet under the direct care and supervision of a qualified veterinary professional.

  Each pet is different, and your vet will work with you and your pet to determine a plan that is best suited for your pet in order to help them return to a weight that is healthy for them.

  This will allow them to safely engage in physical activity, enjoy a better quality of life, and spend many more years with you.

• What are some options for helping my pet at home?

  One of the main ways that you can help your pet on their weight loss journey is by being active with them and providing enough exercise on a daily basis.

  You should never feed your dog table scraps and try not to offer treats too often or overfeed, and these are all contributing factors to weight gain. 

  Your vet will be able to provide specific weight recommendations for your pet's individual needs.