Are your furry friends too fat? Workshop will discuss obese pets & increased risk of serious illness Oct. 15

Experts say that more than half of dogs and cats are obese, putting them at increased risk of serious illness and a shortened lifespan. Are your furry friends too fat? This is the title of the workshop and the question being asked on Thursday, October 15 as part of Pawsitively Healthy: An informative series for the health & wellbeing of your dog or cat being held at Pet Supplies Plus of White Lake.

The workshop is the first in the series being conducted by Andrea Putt, DVM, of Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital in Commerce Twp., ( www.commercevillagevet.com). Are your furry friend too fat? will focus on how pet owners can tell if their dog or cat is overweight, and what they can do to keep Fluffy or Fido fit, through good nutrition and exercise. Putt will also discuss the consequences of pet obesity which include putting pets at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis and other serious illnesses.

“Unfortunately, the number of overweight dogs and cats is at an all-time high,” Putt says. “Many pet parents don’t want to deprive their dog or cat of that extra treat or they use their pet to dispose of leftovers from mealtime. The issue of pet obesity is a serious one that can mean years off a dog’s or cat’s life.”

Pawsitively Healthy workshops are being held at Pet Supplies Plus in White Lake at 6845 Highland Rd. from 7 p.m.to 8 p.m. Upcoming topics include pain in pets, kidney disease, thyroid disease and more.

Space is limited; advance registration required. Please remember to leave your pets at home. There is a $5 donation per workshop with all proceeds going to Elizabeth Lake Animal Rescue. To register and for more information, go to www.addyspsp.wordpress.com.

About Andrea Putt, DVM

Andrea Putt, DVM, owner of Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital in Commerce Twp., has been a veterinarian for more than 20 years. The hospital provides advanced veterinary care with compassion and a “small town” touch. Putt emphasizes thorough physical exams as the basis of good preventive care for dogs and cats. She also has a special interest in complex and difficult to diagnose illnesses. Putt graduated, with honors, from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

About Pet Supplies Plus

At Pet Supplies Plus, we’re crazy for pets, too. With more than 300 locations in 25 states, Pet Supplies Plus is America’s favorite neighborhood pet store. Each location offers a wide array of pet food, pet products, grooming services and animal expertise all at a great value, allowing customers to spoil their pets even more. Friendly, knowledgeable staff get to know each pet and their owner by name and provide playful store experiences to remind them just how fun it is to own a pet. Pet Supplies Plus stores are large enough to house an incredible variety of food and equipment, yet small enough to still feel neighborly.