The new year is the perfect time to set positive intentions for the months ahead. Beyond personal goals, veterinarians encourage pet owners to focus on the well-being of their animals. If your pet is overweight, below are a few recommendations from animal hospitals to ensure they stay fit and healthy.

4 Veterinarian-Approved Tips to Help Your Pet Shed Weight

1. Schedule Annual Physical

To kick off the new year, schedule an appointment at your local pet hospital. Talk to your veterinarian about your furry friend’s food and exercise habits. Allow them to evaluate your pet’s physical condition and provide a road map to optimal health that may include diet food, habit changes, and medication.

2. Manage Portions

Pets that always have access to food and graze throughout the day can end up eating much more than is necessary. Establish proper meal times twice a day and measure out portions to ensure your pet is getting the nutrients they need based on their size and veterinarian recommendations.

3. Ignore Begging

It’s is hard to avoid your pet when they are begging. However, allowing them to eat your leftovers or enjoy treats throughout the day can cause weight issues. Have a family meeting and make sure everyone commits to restricting treats when pets beg.

4. Exercise Regularly

You should also find ways to keep your pet active. Whether it’s extra walks with the dog or playing games and buying toys that get cats moving around the house, finding ways to get your pet active is crucial to their cardiovascular health and weight loss.

Are you looking for an experienced veterinarian that can help you create a healthy diet plan for your overweight pet? If so, take your four-legged friend to Montgomery Animal Hospital. Conveniently located in Cincinnati, OH, pet owners throughout Hamilton County have relied on this accredited AAHA hospital for comprehensive veterinary care for over six decades. To schedule an appointment, call today at (513) 791-7912. For more information on their services, visit the website.