Ledbury Focus September 2019 Ledbury Focus September 2019 v2 | Page 16

Vet Talk with Martin Leith BVetMed MRCVS Are you struggling with your pet's weight? W eight gain in our pets is a huge problem. It is thought that up to 1 in 3 house- hold pets are overweight; not only does this shorten their life expectancy by 2 years but it also increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and in some species prevention of self-grooming can occur. Small furries such as rabbits and guinea- pigs are at higher risk of fly strike occurring especially in the warmer weather due to problems grooming. Fly strike is when flies lay eggs on moist warm areas of fur/skin and these hatch into maggots, which feed on the flesh. We recommend you check your small furries 2-3 times daily and contact us if you are worried that your pet has this. In conjunction with checking your pet’s weight, we also recommend assessing their Body Condition Score, which we can help you with. We can provide you with help and support throughout your pet's journey, by providing free of charge weight clinics. Our experienced nurses offer hints and tips on ways to help your pets shift the pounds. Exercise is a great way to help your pet with weight loss. This can be in the form of on/off lead walks, a run or zooming around the house chasing toys. There are options to help keep your pet stimulated and prevent fast eating - toys like kongs, treat balls, green feeders and cat feeding trees offer a way to encourage your pet to work for their food. Sometimes simply reducing the amount of your pet’s normal food can help with weight reduction. Occasionally specialist diets are needed; in our weight clinics we can advise you on this and work out a safe amount of food to be given daily. Here are some facts that you may not know: • 1 grocery-brand dog treat = 2 burgers • 3 slices of salami = 2 burgers • 80g tin tuna = 3 ½ burgers • 15g cheese = 2 burgers If you are concerned about your pet’s weight, please contact the surgery for an appointment with Bethan who is our nurse in charge of weight clinics. 24 hour Emergency Cover 01531 632276 16 To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected]