 April
2010
Dillon
Dillon is a 13yr old black Labrador who first came to The Pets Practice
in 2004 when he came in for his routine vaccination. Dillon was
very overweight, weighing 43.5kg.
We had a long discussion with Dillon’s owner about the health
risks associated with obesity. These include heart disease, diabetes
and making any arthritis worse.
Dillon’s owner tried very hard and Dillon did lose weight over
the next couple of years.
In 2007 Dillon developed arthritis, a common problem
in Labradors. At that time he weighed 38kg and being overweight made
his stiffness and ability to move around more difficult.
Our Head Nurse Danielle saw Dillon for a Nurse’s
Weight Clinic and it was discussed that a more significant weight
loss would help Dillon's arthritic joints as well as his general
health.
His diet was switched from Prescription Obesity
Diet to Prescription Satiety Diet, the difference between these foods
is that Satiety diet makes animals feel fuller as there is a higher
fibre content so that Dillon would be less likely to ask for more
food. Both of these diets contain Chondrotin and Glucosamine for
help with joint support.
In addition to the weight loss Dillon received a
course of Car
rophen injections to help with the pain and inflammation
in his arthritic joints.
Dillon is now at his target weight of 34kg and he
is doing very well with a good improvement in his mobility and exercise
tolerance, which is why we have decided to make Dillon our April
Pet of the Month.
From Irene Leonard,
Dillon’s owner:
Dillon is a much loved 13 year old Black Retriever (Labrador).
Dillon joined the Pets Weigh-in Club at the Pets Practice around
2004 as he weighed 43kg and his correct weight should have been around
35kg.
Dillon's back legs had started to get stiff and he was having trouble
walking. He was also developing a limp.
In his later years, Dillon's nails on his back feet scraped along
the ground, as he was not picking up his back legs properly.
Haydn suggested we start to feed him with Obesity Dry Food to help
him lose weight. Once Dillon had maintained a reasonable weight
we changed his food to the Satiety Support Dry Food and he is now
just under 35kg.
Haydn regularly gives Dillon a course of Cartrophen Vet Injections,
which help him pick his back legs up properly.
Click
here to see March's Pet of the Month - Daisy the Golden Retriever.
Click
here to see February's Pet of the Month - Holly the Labrador.
Click
here to see January's Pet of the Month - Ebony the Labrador.
Click
here to see December's Pet of the Month - Stitch the Jack Russell
Terrier.
Click
here to see November's Pet of the Month - Charlie the Staffordshire
Bull Terrier.
Click
here to see October's Pet of the Month - Basil the brave dog.
Click
here to see September's Pet of the Month - Chelsea the domestic
short-haired cat.
Click
here to see August's Pet of the Month - Lucas the domestic short-haired
cat.
Click
here to see July's Pet of the Month - Rabby the English Lop-Eared
rabbit.
Click
here to see June's Pet of the Month - Thomas the West Highland White
Terrier.
Click here to see May's Pet of the Month - Harvey
the Boxer puppy.
Click
here to see April's Pet of the Month - Mitzi the Yorkshire Terrier.
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