Like humans, the general health of pets is affected by the ability to manage weight.

Obesity, or even being overweight, can not only lead to a variety of insidious conditions and diseases but also on average it shortens the life of the pet by two years.

Vets across the country are reporting more and more incidence of overweight and obese pets. While the reason for this is unclear, what is certain is a greater number of pets will be susceptible to joint injuries such as ACL tears, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more.

Dr. Zeltzman is so concerned about the rise in overweight pets that he includes food recommendations in all of his discharge instructions, in order to ensure his patients maintain a healthy weight during their recovery from surgery. In addition, he is the co-author of Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound, a practical and easy-to-read book about helping dogs and their owners lose weight and stay fit together.