TOPEKA, KAN. — Hill’s Pet Nutrition launched its annual “End Pet Obesity” campaign, enlisting Vernard Hodges, DVM, and Terrence Ferguson, DVM, stars of TV series “Critter Fixers: Country Vets.”

According to Hill’s, more than 50% of pets are overweight and 90% of pet parents with an overweight pet do not know their pet is overweight.

“As veterinarians, we want every pet to live a long and healthy life,” Hodges said. “That's why pet parents should actively monitor their pet's weight and address it in real time with the guidance of their veterinarian. We are proud to be a part of Hill's 'End Pet Obesity' campaign to help pet parents learn about the impact of even a few extra pounds and equip them with the tools and resources they need to help their pets achieve and maintain a healthy weight.”

Hill’s “End Pet Obesity” campaign strives to provide pet parents with a proactive approach to help their pets maintain a healthy weight.

“Sometimes, under all their beautiful fur, it's hard to realize our pets have gained weight, and even just a few extra pounds can have an impact on their energy and overall wellness,” Ferguson said.

“Obesity is one of the greatest health risks for pets and what a pet eats is one of the most important decisions a pet parent can make,” he added. “Whether your pet is a new addition to the family or just eaten a little too much over the holidays, now is a great time for all pet parents to reset nutritional habits and make sure their pet is at a healthy weight — starting with the food they feed.”

In line with its campaign, Hill’s offers a variety of weight management formulations to help pets maintain a healthy weight, including Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight. According to Hill’s, more than 70% of pets lost weight in 10 weeks when fed the Science Diet Perfect Weight formula.

“At Hill's, we have been studying the impact of nutrition on how pets' bodies function for over a decade,” said Karen Shenoy, DVM, chief veterinary officer at Hill’s Pet Nutrition US. “We learned that lean pets have a different biology than overweight pets. This guided our development of formulas that both help support a pet's metabolism for a healthy body weight and taste great. With the guidance of a veterinarian, it can be as simple as feeding the right kind of 'love' to lose the weight.”

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