AVMA partnership promotes obesity awareness

Schaumburg, Ill. - 1/15/08 - The American Veterinary Medical Association and Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. launched an outreach program targeting pet obesity.The announcement came Feb. 12 during the AVMA House of Delegates Winter Session in Schaumburg, Ill.

The AVMA-Hill's Alliance for Healthier Pets aims to give veterinarians tools to further educate owners about appropriate weight management for pets. According to Hill's President Neil Thompson, 9 percent of dogs and 3 percent of cats were overweight in the 1970s. Today, 35 percent of all pets and 50 percent of senior dogs are considered overweight, he contends.

"We have the responsibility to identify significant animal-health issues ... and address them head on," AVMA President Dr. Gregory Hammer says. "This highlights one of the ways veterinarians can improve human health as well."