Pets Reducing for Rescues
Westside Family Pet Clinic and 4 Paws Swim & Fitness
“Pets Reducing for Rescues” Ideal Weight Contest Kickoff
Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, 12-2pm
Westside Family Pet Clinic (WFPC) will kickoff their 2nd annual “Pets Reducing for Rescues” Ideal Weight Contest at their Preventative Nutrition Open House. The open house will focus on the health benefits of ideal weight and evidence based supplements. The ideal weight contest will have 5 divisions: “Biggest 4-Pawed Losers,” ”Iron Dogs,” “Fat Cats,” “Special Care,” and a “Dog Pack Challenge.” Both the open house and contest are free and open to the public. WFPC encourages contestants to pledge to their favorite pet rescue organization or humane society based on pounds lost and we will have a donation matching program.
Ideal weight dogs live an average of 15% longer. Gail, Kealy et al 2002 . Additional benefits include fewer health problems and associated lower healthcare costs. Strict attention to caloric intake, the type of food being fed, and a regular exercise program can result in effective weight loss but it’s often difficult for pet owners to accomplish this on their own. Dr Phillip Roudebush et al. Certain breeds are more prone to being overweight than others and breed specific nutrition is now being marketed http://breedspecificwellness.blogspot.com/ .
“Ideal weight is perhaps the single most important preventable wellness parameter second only to pet dentistry” says Ken Lambrecht, DVM Medical Director of Westside Family Pet Clinic. “The myriad of different food & treat choices available to pet owners, many of which are calorically dense, combined with less pet activity during winter months, makes ideal weight hard to achieve & maintain. Knowing that pets can live an average of 15% longer makes focusing on Ideal weight one of the most important things we can do as prevention oriented veterinarians.”
Pets Reducing for Rescues Contest
Free Contest sign up and initial weigh-ins will begin during the open house on Jan. 16th from 12 to 2PM, will continue during the week of Jan 18 thru 23rd, and will close on Fri., Jan. 23rd at 5:30 PM. The contest will run for 8 weeks and includes educational seminars given by the Drs of WFPC on Sat January 16th at 1 PM and Wed Feb 17th at 7:30PM . Prizes and awards will be given at the Grand Finale on Saturday March 13th from 12 to 1PM Pictures from our 2008 & 2009 contests can be seen at Facebook.com/westsidefamilypet The following rescues participated and/or received donations at our 2009 contest: Friends of Ferals, Badger Kennel Club, Capital K-9’s, Dane County Humane Society, GRRoW, Madison Area Dachshunds, WAGS, Adopt-a-Husky, Wisconsin Westie Rescue and Angel’s Wish.
Preventative Pet Nutrition Open House
The open house will include preventative nutritional consultations, ideal weight assessments and supplements that have scientific evidence to support their effectiveness. Drs Ken Lambrecht, associate veterinarians, & our staff of Veterinary Technicians, assistants and vendors will be on hand to answer nutritional questions on the most common preventative nutrition areas (ideal weight, dentistry, osteoarthritis) as well as the benefits of EPA & DHA (fish oils), joint supplements & probiotics. Certain supplements have good evidence to help pet weight loss. Dr Roudebush et al
We will also have exercise demos at 4 Paws Swim and Fitness and experience sharing from former contestants.
We hope you can make it!
Drs Ken, Sarah & Dawn
Westside Family Pet Clinic (WFPC) was founded in 1984 and has been an AAHA accredited veterinary clinic since 1996. Dr Lambrecht has 25 years experience as a wellness veterinarian and is the medical director and founding owner.
