Articles and News

Health Risks of Excessive Weight in Dogs and Cats
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

Health Risks of Excessive Weight in Dogs and Cats

Pets suffering from obesity are prone to a torrent of weight-related disorders. If your pet needs to shed a few pounds, consider these serious consequences of obesity as you’re looking for motivation.

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Pet Obesity General Information Infographics
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

Pet Obesity General Information Infographics

General pet obesity information and U.S. pet obesity survey results graphics. Set also includes previous pet obesity survey infographics, canine longevity study, AAHA Weight Management Guidelines, and consequences of pet obesity.  

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Walking the Dog: Tips for getting the most out of exercising your pooch
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

Walking the Dog: Tips for getting the most out of exercising your pooch

Veterinarians typically recommend walking as a key element of most canine weight loss regimens. Sounds simple enough, but is it really? I have found that few dogs will naturally walk at a pace that generates the elevated heart rates needed for sustained aerobic activity. Of course, make sure your portly friend can begin a weight loss exercise program by having her examined by your veterinarian before beginning any physical activity program.  Follow these helpful tips to pace your pooch for optimal weight loss.

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Better Pet Fitness in Four Steps
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

Better Pet Fitness in Four Steps

More pets are suffering from obesity. The latest data from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) reveals over half the nation’s dogs and cats are overweight or obese. With increasing weights come increased weight-related disorders, especially osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes. It’s up to pet owners and veterinarians to reverse this trend and save our dogs and cats from suffering needlessly. While this task may be daunting and challenging to some, we can succeed. Here are a few tips on how you can help your pet in the quest to go from fat to fit in four steps.

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The Secret Life of Pet and Human Obesity
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

The Secret Life of Pet and Human Obesity

There’s a secret life of pets we don’t often talk about. The secret begins with the fact that over half the nation’s dogs and cats are now classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare provider. Nearly 59% of cats and 54% of dogs equaling an estimated 50.5 million cats and 41.9 million dogs are at risk for weight-related disorders. In addition to confronting pet obesity and its associated maladies and complications, I’ve also been uncovering another secret of pet obesity: Inflammation. In fact, I’d go as far as to say inflammation is the new obesity and is the real secret we need to reveal to both pet parents and the public.   

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The 5 Biggest Questions You Must Ask About Pet Obesity: How to Check, What to Feed, and How to Exercise
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

The 5 Biggest Questions You Must Ask About Pet Obesity: How to Check, What to Feed, and How to Exercise

This is an incredibly important issue because pets with obesity are at increased risk for developing serious weight related disorders such as diabetesarthritishigh blood pressurekidney diseasecancer, and more.  We must do better.

To help you better care for your furry loved one, I’d like to share the top five questions you need to ask your veterinarian to keep your pet healthy. They’re simple, won’t embarrass you, and just may save a life.

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7 Surprising Ways to help Your Pet Lose Weight (and Why It’s Important)
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

7 Surprising Ways to help Your Pet Lose Weight (and Why It’s Important)

According to the latest veterinary surveys, over half our nation’s dogs and cats are overweight. This means almost 90 million pets are at risk for developing crippling arthritis, debilitating diabetes, catastrophic kidney and heart disease, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer. How can you slim down your super-sized pet, keep them fit and reduce their risk of developing many serious diseases? The answer may be easier than you think. Try these seven tips to trim excess pounds from your pet and keep them trim.

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Pet-to-Human Weight Translator
Dr. Ernie Ward Dr. Ernie Ward

Pet-to-Human Weight Translator

Vets concerned about the growing pet obesity epidemic want people to know that a 12 pound Yorkie is the same as an average female weighing 218 pounds and a 14 pound cat is equivalent to a 237 pound man. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has created an online pet weight translator and tables of the most common breeds that compare those extra pounds on our pets in terms of love handles we can all relate to.

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