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Caring for your pets includes choosing the right kind of food, providing adequate space for exercise, and giving them lots of love and attention. But when it comes to keeping your pets healthy, sometimes you need a little help. Just like humans, pets are prone to weight gain or illness. The vets at Cat & Dog Hospital of Columbia in Columbia, MD, will often prescribe a special diet to help pets lose weight and prevent future health problems.

Here are three issues a proper pet diet can prevent:

  • Diseases: Vets will adjust your pet’s diet if it is overweight. Both cats and dogs can develop diseases like diabetes, but in most cases, this is preventable if they maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Joint Pain: As they age, pets are susceptible to arthritis, a painful inflammatory condition that causes swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in their joints. Arthritis is common in older dogs but affects cats as well, and extra body weight makes everyday movements even more painful. vet
  • Grooming Issues: Good grooming habits are important to help your pet look and feel well. Overweight dogs and cats struggle to groom themselves properly, especially on the back of the body. This leads to flaky, matted fur and an uncomfortable animal.

If your dog or cat is overweight, in pain, or just isn’t acting normal, it may be time to adjust its diet. Contact the professionals at Cat & Dog Hospital of Columbia to find out what changes need to be made. Call (410) 995-6880 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website for a full list of pet care services.

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