I was dressed up again, against my will, by the technicians. However you can print these out and add them to your Christmas tree to make it even more amazing. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Be safe and stay away from the tinsel, you will never catch it.....its everywhere!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
For all you cat owners out there
Happy Fall everyone! Thought you might like a change of pace from my extremely informative blogs and liven it up with quotes and sayings about the all important cat! Many of them are true....a few I disagree with only because as a cat I know where I stand....way above the humans of course.
But also on an informative note, don't forget to keep up on your furry friends heartworm prevention and flea control. Even though the weather is cooling off as we head towards winter, it is ever important that us pets receive our monthly preventatives because we live in such a mild climate. Mosquitoes and fleas are here year round and I hate being itchy scratchy!! Enjoy!
Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this. ~ Anonymous
No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. ~ Leo Dworken
After dark all cats are leopards. ~ Native American Proverb
A cat's eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world. ~ Irish Legend
There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat. ~Wesley Bates
Cats come and go without ever leaving. ~Martha Curtis
Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later. ~Mary Bly
Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. ~Garrison Keillor
Most cats, when they are Out want to be In, and vice versa, and often simultaneously. ~Louis J. Camuti
People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life. ~Faith Resnick
Kittens are angels with whiskers. ~Author Unknown
No heaven will not ever Heaven be unless my cats are there to welcome me.
~Author Unknown
I love cats because I love my home and after a while they become its visible soul. ~Jean Cocteau
A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes. ~Indian Proverb
Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Jackson Braun
Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~Colette
One cat just leads to another. ~Ernest Hemingway
A cat is a tiger that is fed by hand. ~Proverb
If only cats grew into kittens. ~R. Stern
But also on an informative note, don't forget to keep up on your furry friends heartworm prevention and flea control. Even though the weather is cooling off as we head towards winter, it is ever important that us pets receive our monthly preventatives because we live in such a mild climate. Mosquitoes and fleas are here year round and I hate being itchy scratchy!! Enjoy!
Thousands of years ago, cats were worshipped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this. ~ Anonymous
No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. ~ Leo Dworken
After dark all cats are leopards. ~ Native American Proverb
A cat's eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world. ~ Irish Legend
Even cats grow lonely and anxious.~ Mason Cooley
The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it. ~Doug Larson
There's no need for a piece of sculpture in a home that has a cat. ~Wesley Bates
Cats come and go without ever leaving. ~Martha Curtis
Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later. ~Mary Bly
Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose. ~Garrison Keillor
Most cats, when they are Out want to be In, and vice versa, and often simultaneously. ~Louis J. Camuti
People that hate cats will come back as mice in their next life. ~Faith Resnick
Kittens are angels with whiskers. ~Author Unknown
No heaven will not ever Heaven be unless my cats are there to welcome me.
~Author Unknown
I love cats because I love my home and after a while they become its visible soul. ~Jean Cocteau
A cat is a lion in a jungle of small bushes. ~Indian Proverb
Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic. ~Lillian Jackson Braun
Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet. ~Colette
One cat just leads to another. ~Ernest Hemingway
A cat is a tiger that is fed by hand. ~Proverb
If only cats grew into kittens. ~R. Stern
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Hallween Fun and Safety! Boo!!
Halloween is almost here! Time for lots of candy, scary costumes and lots of trick-or-treaters! Its also that time to be careful of potential dangers for us pets!
First of all, pets HATE to be dressed up!! See my picture below, do I look happy??!! The technicians insist upon dressing me up every year, this time I am a cowboy! I'm a girl by the way!!
If your pets like to be dressed up, take some precautions. Never leave them unattended with their costumes on, especially if it has small pieces affixed to it that could be easily swallowed. Make sure the costume doesn't impair vision, movement or air intake. If you feel like your pets would like their fur dyed or colored, consult the veterinarian first as some can be toxic to pets.
With regards to candy and chocolate....chocolate is a huge threat to dogs, especially Baker's chocolate, which can make a 50 pound dog very sick!.
Sweets candy if ingested in a large quantity can cause pancreatitis which can be potentially fatal or cause organ damage.
Candy wrappers are off limits too because of the risk of causing bowel obstruction which may require surgery.
Candles can cause great injury to curious noses and wagging tails. In order to prevent burns, keep your pets away from any flames.
And last but not least, don't forget to have fun as well as being safe!
For further info regarding Halloween safety please see the following link: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/10/pet-poison-helpline-warns-pet-owners-about-halloween-dangers/
First of all, pets HATE to be dressed up!! See my picture below, do I look happy??!! The technicians insist upon dressing me up every year, this time I am a cowboy! I'm a girl by the way!!
If your pets like to be dressed up, take some precautions. Never leave them unattended with their costumes on, especially if it has small pieces affixed to it that could be easily swallowed. Make sure the costume doesn't impair vision, movement or air intake. If you feel like your pets would like their fur dyed or colored, consult the veterinarian first as some can be toxic to pets.
With regards to candy and chocolate....chocolate is a huge threat to dogs, especially Baker's chocolate, which can make a 50 pound dog very sick!.
Sweets candy if ingested in a large quantity can cause pancreatitis which can be potentially fatal or cause organ damage.
Candy wrappers are off limits too because of the risk of causing bowel obstruction which may require surgery.
Candles can cause great injury to curious noses and wagging tails. In order to prevent burns, keep your pets away from any flames.
And last but not least, don't forget to have fun as well as being safe!
For further info regarding Halloween safety please see the following link: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/2012/10/pet-poison-helpline-warns-pet-owners-about-halloween-dangers/
Happy Halloween goblins!!
Betty Crocker
(Please see below more ridiculous photos of me)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Back to school!
Going back to school!!
It’s that time again kids…..back
to school!! Luckily since I am a cat and
know EVERYTHING I don’t have to attend school.
Most kids are getting new pencils, notebooks, pens and an all new
wardrobe. Kids might also be getting
vaccines or immunizations. Don’t forget your
pets!
Dogs and cats need to be kept up
to date on their Rabies vaccine, which is required by CA state law. There are also some other core vaccines that
they need to keep them healthy and safe.
Dogs and cats need yearly blood work to monitor their overall health as
well as being current on heartworm prevention and flea control.
Be sure to call us to set up an
appointment today to get your pets current on vaccines, blood work and
heartworm and flea control.
Toodles,
Betty Crocker
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Foxtails!!
Its that time of year again everyone......foxtail season!! At Cordova Veterinary Hospital we have seen our fair share already of foxtails in the eyes and ears of both cats and dogs.
I'm sure you have seen those fan tail weeds that grow during the spring and turn yellow towards the start of summer. The annoying weeds that get stuck in your shoes and socks when your out walking? Or perhaps you have a few of them growing in your back yard?
Since I'm an indoor only cat and refuse to get my paws dirty, I have decided to send out two of my field reporters for this story. Dookie, a 2 year old American Bulldog and Dustmop (what an ugly dog) who is a 1 year old Poodle mix to scout out the foxtails. As the pictures show, you can see that longer haired dogs like Dustmop are a magnet for weeds, such as foxtails, and smoother coated dogs not as much. However, don't let that fool you! Foxtails can also become lodged between the toes especially in dogs like Dustmop with furry feet.

Foxtails are very adept at making their way in small crevices like ears, eyes and the nose of either dogs or cats. This can cause great injury if left untreated. Warning signs to look for if you suspect your pet has a foxtail:
Thanks to Dookie and Dustmop for their great reporting skills. I guess Dustmop isn't so ugly after all!
~Betty Crocker
I'm sure you have seen those fan tail weeds that grow during the spring and turn yellow towards the start of summer. The annoying weeds that get stuck in your shoes and socks when your out walking? Or perhaps you have a few of them growing in your back yard?

- shaking of the head nonstop
- sneezing uncontrollably (if in the nose)
- discharge from the nose such as blood
- pawing at the face/eyes
- discharge/weeping/squinting of the eyes
- ears can be painful when touched
- paws can become swollen as well as have small wounds in between the toes
Thanks to Dookie and Dustmop for their great reporting skills. I guess Dustmop isn't so ugly after all!
~Betty Crocker
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Heartworms! 'Tis the season.....
Hello all,
Hope ya'll have been enjoying the warmer weather we have had lately. With the warmer weather, comes a few unwanted guests, namely mosquitoes. Did you know that mosquitoes help to transmit heartworm disease? A mosquito takes a blood meal from an infected animal like a dog or coyote and then as it bites an uninfected animal, the microfilariae, or the larval stage of the parasite, enter in the blood stream and from there take about 6 months to develop into a full grown adult. The adult worm makes its home in the heart, hence the word Heartworm disease. Heartworm disease can be fatal if left untreated!!
The current treatment for a dog with heartworm disease is a very costly and the medication is on an allocation basis only. However this diease is preventable!! Here at Cordova Veterinary Hospital we recommend giving your dog a once monthly pill such as Interceptor or Sentinel to help prevent this disease, which is much more cost efficient, on top of being easier to do. We also recommend that dogs be heartworm tested annually, even if they are on a preventative.
Cats should not be forgotten in this potentially fatal disease! We are also susceptible to this awful ailment. Cats should be given Revolution once monthly as this protects us not only from fleas but heartworm disease too. Even though I live in an air conditioned castle, a.k.a. Cordova Veterinary Hospital, I am given Revolution on a regular basis, because you never know where mosquitoes are lurking.
**My information was taken from http://www.heartwormsociety.org/ which has helpful information that I encourage you and your pets to read. Also below is an interactive map to find confirmed cases of heartworm disease as well as tick borne diseases.
http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html#where
Thanks for you undivided attention, I've got to get back to filing, its never ending here!!
Hope ya'll have been enjoying the warmer weather we have had lately. With the warmer weather, comes a few unwanted guests, namely mosquitoes. Did you know that mosquitoes help to transmit heartworm disease? A mosquito takes a blood meal from an infected animal like a dog or coyote and then as it bites an uninfected animal, the microfilariae, or the larval stage of the parasite, enter in the blood stream and from there take about 6 months to develop into a full grown adult. The adult worm makes its home in the heart, hence the word Heartworm disease. Heartworm disease can be fatal if left untreated!!
The current treatment for a dog with heartworm disease is a very costly and the medication is on an allocation basis only. However this diease is preventable!! Here at Cordova Veterinary Hospital we recommend giving your dog a once monthly pill such as Interceptor or Sentinel to help prevent this disease, which is much more cost efficient, on top of being easier to do. We also recommend that dogs be heartworm tested annually, even if they are on a preventative.
Cats should not be forgotten in this potentially fatal disease! We are also susceptible to this awful ailment. Cats should be given Revolution once monthly as this protects us not only from fleas but heartworm disease too. Even though I live in an air conditioned castle, a.k.a. Cordova Veterinary Hospital, I am given Revolution on a regular basis, because you never know where mosquitoes are lurking.
**My information was taken from http://www.heartwormsociety.org/ which has helpful information that I encourage you and your pets to read. Also below is an interactive map to find confirmed cases of heartworm disease as well as tick borne diseases.
http://www.dogsandticks.com/diseases_in_your_area.php
http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm.html#where
Thanks for you undivided attention, I've got to get back to filing, its never ending here!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Take care of your heart!
Have you ever heard of an Echocardiogram? I haven't, until I talked with Dr. Siemens, our traveling Cardiologist who visits Cordova Veterinary Hospital twice a month. Dr. Siemens is very kind and caring about her patients and spoke with me about echocardiograms and the importance about them.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. This advanced test is available for dogs and cats, just like it is for humans. An echocardiogram is usually done by a cardiologist or a radiologist since it takes specialized training to do one properly. Unlike chest X-rays, an echocardiogram will allow for exact measurements of the heart chambers, assess the strength of the heart, and detect all kinds of heart problems. Your veterinarian might recommend an echocardiogram for your pet if they hear an abnormal heart sound with their stethoscope, if the heart looks enlarged on chest X-rays, if your pet is showing symptoms typical of heart disease, or if your pet's heart needs to be evaluated prior to anesthesia.
The echocardiogram is not painful and it is almost always done without sedation. This test normally takes about 15 minutes to perform, during which the pet is asked to lie on its side on a table in a quiet, dark room while a technician holds and comforts it. The following is a list of some of the heart problems that can be found in dogs and cats: leaky heart valves, a weak heart muscle, a thickened heart muscle, narrowed areas in the heart, holes in the heart, tumors, blood clots, fluid in the heart sac, and infections within the heart. The echocardiogram will provide a lot of valuable information so that your veterinarian can make the best decisions for treatment. Being proactive and well-informed in the treatment of heart disease is very important in order to keep the pet's quality of life high and allow it to live as long as possible with its heart disease.
Check out Dr. Siemens website: http://www.healinhearts.net/
The echocardiogram is not painful and it is almost always done without sedation. This test normally takes about 15 minutes to perform, during which the pet is asked to lie on its side on a table in a quiet, dark room while a technician holds and comforts it. The following is a list of some of the heart problems that can be found in dogs and cats: leaky heart valves, a weak heart muscle, a thickened heart muscle, narrowed areas in the heart, holes in the heart, tumors, blood clots, fluid in the heart sac, and infections within the heart. The echocardiogram will provide a lot of valuable information so that your veterinarian can make the best decisions for treatment. Being proactive and well-informed in the treatment of heart disease is very important in order to keep the pet's quality of life high and allow it to live as long as possible with its heart disease.
Check out Dr. Siemens website: http://www.healinhearts.net/
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Have you heard about our Wellness plans?
Since I've been back from vacation in Maui, here at Cordova Veterinary Hospital, we have started Wellness Plans. The Wellness Plans are for all ages of cats and dogs and they offer a lot of great services!!
For instance the Feline Senior Wellness plan includes UNLIMITED office visits, all vaccinations recommended by the Veterinarian, intestinal parasite screening (up to 2), bloodwork and urine analysis (up to 2), blood pressure screen (up to 2), annual thyroid screen, FELV/FIV test, and a feline heartworm test, along with YEAR ROUND flea and heartworm prevention.
This is an annual savings of $365 for the Feline Senior Wellness plan!! The Wellness Plans offer affordable monthly payments or discounted full payment. (Any additional diagnostic testing not listed in the plan will be at an additional cost to owner)
This a great plan!! If you would like further info, please contact us here at (916) 363-9443. I wanted to sign up but since I am the hospital cat here at Cordova Vet, I get most of my services free. And the techs always clean up after me. Ha ha
Have a great week everyone!!
For instance the Feline Senior Wellness plan includes UNLIMITED office visits, all vaccinations recommended by the Veterinarian, intestinal parasite screening (up to 2), bloodwork and urine analysis (up to 2), blood pressure screen (up to 2), annual thyroid screen, FELV/FIV test, and a feline heartworm test, along with YEAR ROUND flea and heartworm prevention.
This is an annual savings of $365 for the Feline Senior Wellness plan!! The Wellness Plans offer affordable monthly payments or discounted full payment. (Any additional diagnostic testing not listed in the plan will be at an additional cost to owner)
This a great plan!! If you would like further info, please contact us here at (916) 363-9443. I wanted to sign up but since I am the hospital cat here at Cordova Vet, I get most of my services free. And the techs always clean up after me. Ha ha
Have a great week everyone!!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Great time in Maui, but good to be back home.
I had an awesome time vacationing in Maui. Everything from sunbathing, to "exploring" (hunting) the locals, and I guess, Trudi, my technician handler. (She follows me everywhere.) We took some great pictures, with me in them of course. I even told Trudi I would take a photo with her. If you have never been to a Hawaiian island, I highly recommend it!! Relaxing is the most important part of being in Hawaii, along with having fun. Cordova Veterinary Hospital is a great place to be, however vacation is nice too.
So now its back to blogging about the important things that go on at this wonderful, AAHA accredited hospital. If there is something you would like me to blog about, let me know! I always appreciate feedback and ideas from our patients and their owners.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Another great day in Maui

Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Aloha from Maui!!!
Aloha!
I have made it to the great state of Hawaii....Maui to be exact! One of my favorite technicians, Trudi, has graciously taken me with her on her vacation. (She's actually not my favorite, I have to say that, but at least she doesn't give me a bath.) And what a great vacation it has turned out to be! Being a hospital cat here at Cordova Veterinary Hospital is very hectic. We have been whale watching mostly, I have been bird watching! Below is a picture we took of a large heron. It was fishing for koi.....so was I!! :) Also below is a picture of a gorgeous sunrise over the Maui mountains. Stay up to date on my new pictures and stories here in Maui with Betty's blog.
Aloha!


Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A little urine accident....
Hello all! This is a little embarrassing but after some coercing by the staff, I have finally decided to blog about it.
I had an accident in my kennel here at the hospital overnight….although the technicians are great about my demands for a clean litter box at all times, I still did not use my litter pan. I urinated on my bed and also on a small pile of dirty towels in our laundry room. The technicians were taken aback when they noticed this in the morning and decided to have me evaluated by the veterinarians to make sure I wasn’t ill or have a urinary tract infection. After having an exam, which I don’t really care for, although they are very gentle, I had to have a urine sample taken. Since I won’t urinate on command as you humans do, the technicians kindly laid me on my back on the table and used the ultrasound probe to find directly where my bladder is located. A small pinch later from the needle and they had their urine sample! I ran off quickly to clean my fur and gather some dignity.
My urine sample was tested for any infection, blood, stones or possibly even diabetes. Luckily I’m as healthy as a horse and it was determined that my inappropriate urination was behavioral. After much debate, I demanded another litter box so I don’t have to always go back to my kennel (castle) during the day. Since then I have been accident free!!
So don’t be afraid my friends, to have your owners bring you in for any urinary accidents, sometimes awkward things happen and it’s better to have them checked out sooner rather than later.
Betty Crocker
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Time to lose some weight!!
Hi everyone! Here is a great article from Dr. Kendall Younger about obesity in your pets. What great information about overweight pets!!
Obesity
Obesity is one of the most common medical problems that we see in pets at Cordova Veterinary Hospital, affecting up to 50% of pets in the US. While many people think of obesity in pets as merely a cosmetic problem or may even find fat pets “cute”, all that extra weight can lead to many serious life threatening problems and can significantly shorten your pet’s life. A very important study of age-matched Labrador retrievers found that dogs kept slim lived almost 2 years longer than their overweight counterparts! That’s the equivalent to 15 years in a human!! Check out this body weight translator to see how much 5 extra pounds on your pet would be equivalent to on you: http://www.petobesityprevention.com/pet-weight-translator/
Some of the serious health problems associated with obesity includes:
Arthritis: All the extra weight on the joints in the knees, elbows, spine, and hips can lead to painful and crippling arthritis. Keeping your pet thin can avoid putting this strain on the joints and prevent development of arthritis, and getting weight off of an already overweight arthritic dog may decrease or eliminate the need for medications used to manage the pain of arthritis.
Diabetes Mellitus
Extra body fat leads to insulin resistance in pets just as it does in humans. In fact, obese cats have been found to have a 50% decrease in insulin sensitivity. Weight management is especially important in decreasing a cat’s risk for the development of diabetes mellitus and getting the weight off once a cat has been diagnosed can be instrumental in potentially reversing their diabetes. Unfortunately, once a dog develops diabetes, he will be insulin dependent for the rest of his life and will need injections twice a day and regular blood tests to monitor the diabetes. One-hundred percent of dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts and go blind (usually within a year of diagnosis). Diabetic dogs and cats are also predisposed to many serious health problems such as diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis, liver disease, and increased risk of infections.
Respiratory Problems
The obese pet may have several inches of fat around his or her ribs, making it more difficult to inflate the lungs. This can lead to an annoying persistent cough, or more serious life-threatening problems like collapsing trachea, overheating, and heat stroke.
Extra body fat leads to insulin resistance in pets just as it does in humans. In fact, obese cats have been found to have a 50% decrease in insulin sensitivity. Weight management is especially important in decreasing a cat’s risk for the development of diabetes mellitus and getting the weight off once a cat has been diagnosed can be instrumental in potentially reversing their diabetes. Unfortunately, once a dog develops diabetes, he will be insulin dependent for the rest of his life and will need injections twice a day and regular blood tests to monitor the diabetes. One-hundred percent of dogs with diabetes will develop cataracts and go blind (usually within a year of diagnosis). Diabetic dogs and cats are also predisposed to many serious health problems such as diabetic ketoacidosis, urinary tract infections, pancreatitis, liver disease, and increased risk of infections.
Respiratory Problems
The obese pet may have several inches of fat around his or her ribs, making it more difficult to inflate the lungs. This can lead to an annoying persistent cough, or more serious life-threatening problems like collapsing trachea, overheating, and heat stroke.
Increased Surgical/Anesthetic Risk
Dosages for anesthesia drugs are calculated based on an animal’s lean weight (without extra fat) and accurate dosing can be difficult if a large amount of a pet’s weight is fat. Anesthesia also inherently suppresses the respiratory and cardiovascular system and the increased fat encasing the chest can make good ventilation and breathing more difficult when the pet is under anesthesia, increasing the anesthetic risks further. Abdominal surgery is especially complicated by very large amount of fats that can be stored in the abdomen, making visualization, surgery, and control of bleeding very difficult.
Dosages for anesthesia drugs are calculated based on an animal’s lean weight (without extra fat) and accurate dosing can be difficult if a large amount of a pet’s weight is fat. Anesthesia also inherently suppresses the respiratory and cardiovascular system and the increased fat encasing the chest can make good ventilation and breathing more difficult when the pet is under anesthesia, increasing the anesthetic risks further. Abdominal surgery is especially complicated by very large amount of fats that can be stored in the abdomen, making visualization, surgery, and control of bleeding very difficult.
Hepatic Lipidosis (“Fatty liver”)
When an overweight cat stops eating due to illness or psychological stress, their body mobilizes fat for energy. The liver becomes overwhelmed with all this fat and cats can develop liver failure. If your cat ever stops eating for more than 3 days, this can be a life threatening emergency and you should bring him or her in immediately to be evaluated.
Why is my pet overweight, how much should I feed, and why can’t I get the weight off? When an overweight cat stops eating due to illness or psychological stress, their body mobilizes fat for energy. The liver becomes overwhelmed with all this fat and cats can develop liver failure. If your cat ever stops eating for more than 3 days, this can be a life threatening emergency and you should bring him or her in immediately to be evaluated.
It’s very difficult to give an exact amount of food that each pet should eat because there are so many variables that are involved, just like in people. Different foods have different amounts of calories, all pets have different levels of activity, and even this can change from season to season or if there are changes in the household - such as a new baby or injury - leading to decreased exercise. The best way to tell how much to feed your pet is to evaluate his Body Condition Score (BCS) [http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/resources/Files/dog_chart.pdf] and adjust the food accordingly until you can easily feel the ribs under the skin without much fat in between and you can see a nice tuck in the waist when viewed from above. You may need to adjust the amount occasionally depending on the other factors mentioned above (exercise, calories, extra treats, etc).
A cup of food depends on the cup – Make sure your “cup” is an actual 8oz measuring cup. Please ask us for a free measuring cup to measure your pet’s food to ensure you are feeding the right amount!
I’m feeding how much the bag told me to!
Most pet foods include on their label some sort of feeding schedule that indicates how much food should be fed to a pet of a certain weight. The problem is that each pet is an individual and just as one person weighing 150 lbs can be obese and another person of the same weight may be skinny, the same is true of pets. These guidelines are meant as a starting point only. If your pet is too fat on the recommended feeding schedule, then you should reduce the amount of food or change to a diet that is higher in fiber so that a satisfying volume of food can still be eaten without adding calories.
It must be genetic.
Some animals simply have the genes that predispose them to obesity. Dog breeds with genetic tendencies towards obesity include the: Golden Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Beagle, Shetland Sheepdog, Boxer, Cairn Terrier, Basset Hound, Cairn Terrier, and Labrador Retriever.
Could there be a medical problem?
Metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease can predispose a pet to obesity and can make getting the weight off very difficult. If you can’t seem to get the weight off or if you are concerned that your pet may have an underlying medical problem, please call to schedule an appointment to have your pet evaluated.
But I only give her a few treats a day…
Giving treats to our pets is one way that many owners show their love and helps to strengthen the bond. But giving too many treats or those that are high in calories can be very unhealthy. Just a few yummy treats may be the equivalent of a whole meal in calories, especially for small dogs, and this may be undermining your efforts to control your pet’s weight. Consider low calorie treats, available at most pet stores and from Cordova Veterinary Hospital, or healthy snacks such as carrots, green beans, and apples.
Basic tips for controlling how much your pet eats:
- Feed all pets separately
- Feed a measured amount two meals a day.
- Commit to regular weigh ins. Know what the goal weight is and how long it should take to reach this goal/or how to tell if the pet is on target.
- Consider interactive toys that can be used when you are not home or where your own participation is minimal.
Want to join our Chub Club??
- Cordova Veterinary Hospital actually has a weight-watchers type program to help owners stay on track with their pet’s weight loss goals, remain motivated, and keep accountable for their pet’s weight. If you are interested in learning more about our Chub Club, including how to receive one FREE bag of Hills R/D weight loss diet, please call and ask to speak to Rosea (RVT), our technician in charge of the Chub Club!
Good links for pics:
BCS link: http://www.purinaveterinarydiets.com/resources/Files/dog_chart.pdf
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