Many people don’t realise that they have an overweight pet until it is pointed out by their vet. Find out what you can do about it.
You wouldn’t be crazy to think that everywhere you look there seem to be overly plump pets struggling under their own weight. The fact is that 25-30% of cats and dogs are now overweight. The causesPets are eating too much and exercising too little. The overeating is usually a symptom of diabolical puppy dog eyes and the melting hearts of pet owners. Getting your pets exercise can be especially difficult. The resultsOverweight pets have a shorter lifespan. Additionally, they are much more at risk of health issues, such as: diabetes (especially cats), arthritis, cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. Is my pet overweight Healthy weight: Overweight: Weight reduction strategies Diet No extra food What food? They’re healthy. What now? Exercise Dogs Cats Healthy puppies Obesity in pets often starts when they are very young. If animals develop too many fat cells whilst in
Chocolate is no friend to your dog! No matter how much they beg, giving chocolate to your canine is very unhealthy for them. To be extra safe you should always keep your chocolate treats hidden and out of reach of your mischievous dog. Why do dogs get sick from chocolate? Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are poisonous to dogs. The effects are worsened by how quickly dogs eat, especially puppies! Meaning they can have finished an entire cake before they even start feeling sick. The poison causes a rapid and weak heart beat, constricted blood vessels, and stimulates the nervous system. The most dangerous types of chocolate to dogs is dark and cooking chocolate, but semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate and hot chocolate are also poisonous to some degree. Basically the higher percentage of cocoa the worse off the dog.How
Rabbits are herbivores and need a varied, balanced diet full of nutrients. They require a large amount of fibre and even have a specialised digestive tract to process it. Staple Diet In the wild, rabbits eat everything from grass and flowers to fruit and even chew on bark and branches. A mixture of hay and vegetables is a good way to mimic this nutritional diet for your domestic pet. Try to offer a variety of vegetables, scraps and off cuts are fine, leafy greens are a particular favourite. But don’t overdo it on the lettuce, as this can cause diarrhoea. About 250 grams of vegetables per day for every kilo of bodyweight should keep your rabbit healthy and happy. Rabbits tend to pick out what they like. Always remember to give your rabbit access to fresh water 24 hours a day, just make sure
Clean teeth can boost the health and happiness of your dog, not to mention improving that breath! Bad teeth and gums can increase the chance of heart, liver and kidney disease. Healthy teeth also help prevent dribbling, toothache and any reluctance to eat. Toothbrush & toothpasteWe stock finger brushes as well as small and large head toothbrushes with specifically designed long stems, allowing you to reach a dog’s back teeth. As dogs tend to swallow some of the toothpaste, human toothpastes are best avoided as they can cause health problems. The Moorabbin Veterinary Hospital stocks specially made chicken and beef flavoured toothpastes that your dog will love and are completely safe to swallow. How to brush teethPlaque on dog teeth takes 24 hours to begin converting to tartar (that hard brown stuff on the sides of teeth), so you only
Food for healthy petsDietary requirements of healthy pets vary depending on a number of factors including breed, sex, age and activity level. Whenever feeding it is important to ensure that an adequate supply of clean, fresh water is readily available. Moorabbin Veterinary Hospital stocks Advance Pet Food®, a range of premium pet foods for all ages, lifestyles and special needs. All Advance Pet Food® products come in both dry and wet form, are made here in Australia and offer excellent digestibility. Advance Pet Food® delivers guaranteed palatability and contains no artificial colours. As additional proof of our confidence in the performance of our products, all the Advance Pet Food® range comes with an unconditional full money-back guarantee. Our team is fully trained to assist you in making the right decisions for your pet’s diet. We can organise a weight control