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"Life is a Combination of Magic and Pasta" 
-Federico Fellini 
Animal Doc AM Multi-Media with Dr. Don DeForge
21August2012

What is our happiest time of each day?  It is when we gather to eat as a family or find a moment of silence away from the maddening world to have a cup of coffee; a sweet treat; or maybe a large scoop of our favorite ice cream.

Our pets also seek the wonders and magic of the varied food that we present to them.  Unfortunately, our selection of foods is not always the best.  We overload our pets diets with treats that are loaded with fats and carbs leading to obesity.  Obesity is a trigger for many medical conditions including the problems listed below.

Here are just a few side effects of obesity in our pets that can be prevented with a close scrutiny of diet:
  • Diabetes
  • Heart problems
  • Orthopedic problems
  • Arthritis aggravation
  • Breathing problems
  • Liver disease
  • Lethargy and tiredness
Ignore the guaranteed analysis on food bags.  The food you feed your pet should be AAFCO approved.  AAFCO stands for the {Association of American Feed Control Officials} Look for either AAFCO formulated or Animal Feeding Testing Trials performed using AAFCO Guidelines.  If this is not on the bag, do not purchase the food without speaking to a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition [DACVN].  Call Tuft's School of Veterinary Medicine and ask for a Consultation appointment with Dr. Lisa Freeman who is a DACVN.  There is a fee for this consult but it will be one of the best investments in your pet's care your have ever made.

All puppies and kittens should have an AAFCO Complete and Balanced Puppy or Kitten food till 12 months of age; this should be extended in giant breed dogs till 18 months of age when your companion's growth potential is completed.  At that time, with your veterinarian's consult, change to an AAFCO Complete and Balanced adult food.

Try these healthy treats for your pup or adult dog as a treat:


  • Sweet Potato-cooked and diced or mashed
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Watermelon
  • Cooked Pumpkin
  • Non-fat Plain Yogurt
  • Baby carrots
  • Banana
  • Watermelon 
  • Apple slices
  • Stringless sugar snap peas
  • Broccoli cooked
  • Melon slices diced
These treats must be fed in moderation at first; the amounts can be increased once your dog is used to them.  Also, remember some cats love yogurt and will eat blueberries, melon slices, and strawberries.  These are so much better than the biscuits and treats that are on every super market shelf which are just explosions of calories.

See CHOW HOUNDS, a resource book on pet obesity, by Dr. Ernie Ward at Amazon.com
It is Dr. Ward's personal plan to save our pets by controlling pet obesity.  For the good of the pet you love~~ make a commitment today to research and modify your pet's diet.

Dr. Don DeForge
Animal-Doc AM- Multi-Media
DoctorDeForge@yahoo.com
Follow us on Twitter
Silver Sands Veterinary Center
www.SilverSandsVeterinary.com
1-800-838-3368
Blogger-21August2012

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