- Welcometo our hospital
- ObesityLearn more here
- Dental DiseaseLearn more here
- EmergenciesWhat should you do?
Obesity
Obesity is one of the leading health problems in companion animals today, affecting close to 40% of dogs and cats visiting a veterinarian. Pets who are overweight have an increased risk of heart disease, respiratory problems, hypertension, diabetes and arthritis.
A pet’s obesity can be due to many factors, including overfeeding, lack of exercise, and/or an inappropriate diet. Additionally, there are some diseases that can cause weight gain, most commonly hypothyroidism, or abnormally low levels of the thyroid hormone. This disease can result in inexplicable weight gain, skin abnormalities, or other problems and is diagnosed through a blood test.
If your pet has been gaining weight without any plausible reason it is a good idea to have him/her checked out by a veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions that may be contributing to the weight gain.
Visiting the veterinarian is also a good idea when you would like to determine if your pet is overweight, or if you would like to help your pet lose weight. During your visit the doctor will give your pet a thorough health exam and you will be given recommendations based on your pet’s individual needs. These recommendations will include potential diet changes, appropriate feeding amounts, and exercise requirements so that you can help your pet reach or maintain a healthy weight.
What is a Body Condition Score?
1 – EmaciatedA pet with a body condition score of 1 is considered emaciated; and the ribs, lumbar vertebrae, and pelvic bones are visible at a distance. There is no discernible body fat and and obvious absence of muscle mass.
2 – ThinA pet with a body condition score of 2 is considered thin; and the ribs are easily felt and are visible with no obvious fat. The tops of the lumbar vertebrae are visible, and the pelvic bones are less prominent. There is an obvious waist and abdominal tuck.
3 – IdealA pet with a body condition score of 3 is considered ideal. The ribs are felt without excess fat covering. The abdomen is tucked up when viewed from the side.
4 – StoutA pet with a body condition score of 4 is considered stout and has a general fleshy appearance. The ribs are felt with difficulty and there are noticeable fat deposits over the lumbar spine and tail base. There may not be an abdominal tuck.
5 – ObeseA pet with a body condition score of 5 is considered obese and has large fat deposits over the chest, spine, tail base, neck, and limbs. The waist and abdominal tuck are absent, and the abdomen is distended.
**photos & information courtesy of Ohio State University
The Biggest Loser contestants’ were fed Hill’s r/d, a prescription diet food, and their weight loss was tracked over a 12-week period of time. The winners were determined by calculating the percentage of weight lost during the contest period.
Grand Prize Winner Sophie Bevan Percentage of body weight lost: 9.4% Not only do I love my new food, but I love life now more than ever before. After losing the weight, I’ve regained so much energy that sometimes I even wear out my new 1 year old brother Samson (seen sleeping with me on the bed). I am so lucky I was saved by Four Paws Rescue and adopted into such a great family with my new little brother and big sister cat Sabrina. Thanks Science Diet and Antelope Animal Hospital for helping me to be healthier and extending my great life!
2nd Prize Winner Charisma Belliston Percentage of body weight lost: 9.2% Before After Before After
Baby Boy LolaWe are excited to announce the 2011 winners of “The Biggest Loser” contest!
Hi, my name is Sophie. I was found almost 3 years ago in the cold snowy streets of Preston Idaho, looking for food and shelter for myself and my 2 baby puppies. Four Paws Rescue of Logan, Utah rescued me.After a short time with Four Paws Rescue in Logan, Utah I was adopted by some new owners who gave me a new home with as much love as I want. I even gained a few “love” pounds because of that.My owners became concerned for my future health because of the weight I put on and they put me on a strict diet. I lost a ton of weight and won the “Biggest Loser” competition at Antelope Animal Hospital.
Our other Contestants
1. Only dogs are eligible to enter the Biggest Loser contest. 2. The Biggest Loser contest will run from 7/1/11-10/9/11. Each participant will have his/her weight loss tracked over a 12-week period of time. 3. Winners will be determined using the percentage of weight lost, not the number of pounds. For example, if a dog’s initial weight is 50 lbs and he loses 5 lbs, the percentage of weight lost is 10%. If another dog’s initial weight is 15 lbs and he loses 2 lbs, the percentage of weight lost is 13.3%. This will allow both large and small dogs an equal chance of winning the contest. 4. All participants must have an initial exam performed between 7/1/11-7/15/11. This will be a complimentary exam and we will keep the pet in the hospital for the day so that we can take measurements and photos and put together a personalized feeding and exercise plan. 5. All participants will receive a personalized feeding and exercise guide, which will be updated/adjusted throughout the contest depending on the amount of weight lost. 6. All participants will be placed on Hill’s prescription r/d diet. This is the only purchase that is required for this contest. For each bag purchased (8lbs, 17.6 lbs, or 27.5 lbs), you will receive an 8 lb bag of food free. The approximate cost of food per day for your dog’s weight is listed below. 7. All participants must have a weekly or biweekly complimentary weigh-in at the clinic to track their progress between 7/1/11-10/9/11. 8. All participants must have a 6-week progress exam performed between 8/15/11-8/26/11. This will be a complimentary exam and we will keep the pet in the hospital for the day so that we can take measurements and photos. 9. All participants must have a final exam performed between 9/26/11-10/9/11. This will be a complimentary exam and we will keep the pet in the hospital for the day so that we can take measurements and photos. 10. Prizes: Grand Prize winner will receive 6 months of free dog food, an 8”x10” professional pet portrait, 12 months of Heartgard Plus, a $50 Visa gift card, and a $50 PetSmart gift card. The 2nd place winner will receive 3 months of free dog food, 6 months of Heartgard Plus, and a $25 Visa gift card.The Biggest Loser Contest Rules
Hill's r/d Approximate Feeding Costs
Weight (lbs)
Bag Size (lbs)
Bag Cost
Amount Fed Per Day (cups)
# of Days Bag Will Last
Cost Per Day
5
8.5
$21.29
3/4
63
$0.34
10
8.5
$21.29
1
47
$0.45
15
17.6
$37.89
1 1/3
73
$0.52
20
17.6
$37.89
1 2/3
58
$0.65
40
27.5
$54.19
2 3/4
55
$0.98
60
27.5
$54.19
3 3/4
40
$1.34
80
27.5
$54.19
4 3/4
32
$1.70
100
27.5
$54.19
5 1/2
28
$1.96
Dental Disease
Taking care of your pet’s teeth is a very important part of a veterinarian’s job. When a pet has significant dental disease, it can affect much more than just its mouth. There often is pain associated with dental disease that can lead to difficulty eating and drinking. Bacteria associated with dental disease can also travel throughout the body causing problems in areas such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys.
When a pet has severe dental disease their quality of life can be significantly decreased due to the pain and infection. Left untreated, bacteria will eat away at the periodontal ligament until the teeth either fall out or need to be extracted. This is why I recommend preventative care, such as brushing the teeth regularly, proper diet, as well as periodic dental cleanings while under anesthesia.
Signs of dental disease can include bad breath, loose or discolored teeth, drooling, or bleeding. You may also notice your pet eating 1 kibble at a time or dropping food while it is eating. Your pet may shy away when you reach toward its head or be reluctant to play with toys due to the pain it is feeling. Owners have reported that their pets act younger or livelier once their dental issues have been resolved.
Prevention of dental disease is the best way to keep your pet’s mouth healthy. Not only can this increase the overall well-being of your pet, but can also improve the well-being of your pocketbook! Over time, you will spend significantly less money on prevention than you will by waiting to address the problems caused by progressive dental disease.
The Different Stages of Dental Disease
The progression of dental disease, or periodontitis, is generally described in four different stages:
Stage I (least severe), Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV (most severe)
Stage I
Canine
Feline
Pets with stage I dental disease will exhibit gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and a soft, sticky film (plaque) will cover the surface of the teeth.
Stage II
Canine
Feline
In stage II, the gingivitis has worsened and the gums are now infected. This infection is starting to eat away at the gums and periodontal ligament. The plaque has hardened and is now called tartar. Halitosis, or bad breath, will be noticeable at this point.
Stage III
Canine
Feline
Pets with stage III dental disease are experiencing more severe infection, leading to bleeding and loose teeth. The pet may experience behavioral changes due to pain. At this stage periodontitis may be irreversible.
Stage IV
Canine
Feline
In stage IV, the teeth are so diseased that they may start falling out or need to be extracted. The infection has become so severe that it has eaten away at the gum and bone tissue causing the roots to be exposed.
Most of us have routine dental cleanings every 6 months. Unlike most of us, pets will not sit still long enough to have their teeth thoroughly cleaned, which is why they need anesthetic dental cleanings. During a dental cleaning the teeth are scaled and polished using an ultrasonic scaler that cleans both above and below the gum line. Once the teeth have been cleaned, we apply a thin layer of OraVet to add a protective barrier to the teeth. This initial application will last 2-3 weeks, and you will be sent home with an easy-to-use kit to reapply this protective barrier once weekly thereafter. A complete dental cleaning also includes full-mouth dental x-rays. 90% of the tooth is below the gum line, and there may be changes in the bone structure that are not apparent without seeing x-rays. This allows us to catch some problems while they are still fixable. Sometimes there are teeth that we are unable to save. These diseased teeth need to be surgically extracted, which relieves the pain and discomfort the pet was feeling. All patients receive a nerve block at the extraction site to help reduce the pain associated with the extraction.The Importance of Anesthetic Dental Cleanings
The prevention of dental disease is important for overall good health. As the new saying goes, “It’s good to chew, better to rinse, and best to brush.” Brushing daily is the number one way to prevent dental disease in your pet. If your pet has never had its teeth brushed, start slow and don’t force the issue if they get scared. Make sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste. By introducing them to brushing a little each day, your pet should eventually become used to the process. Another effective way to prevent dental disease is to use Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d. T/d is designed to remove the plaque and tartar from the teeth by scraping the tooth surface as the pet bites into it. This kibble is specially designed not to shatter like ordinary kibble. A fun experiment you can try at home shows you how effective the t/d is in cleaning your pet’s teeth. Simply coat the pointed end of a small screwdriver with whiteout and push the screwdriver into the center of a piece of t/d kibble until it breaks. The t/d scrapes the plaque and tartar off of your pet’s teeth the same way it scraped the whiteout off of the screwdriver. Tartar Shield is another product that is available in our hospital. Available products include soft rawhide chews, dog biscuits, cat treats, and dissolveable tablets for your pet’s drinking water. These products have been proven to reduce the formation of dental plaque, calculus, and gingivitis when used regularly. Another way to help prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar is a product called OraVet. After a dental cleaning, you will be sent home with a supply of OraVet that you will apply to the outside surface of the teeth once weekly. This gel will provide a protective barrier against plaque as well as providing a barrier against harmful bacteria.Prevention of Dental Disease
Signs of a Healthy Mouth
Parts of a Canine Tooth
