SAN DIEGO, July 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With more than half of all dogs and cats overweight or obese, pet dietary management is an increasingly important part of pet wellness care. Point Loma veterinarians Dr. Mariann Rozsa, Dr.Jagpal S. Deo, and Dr. Juan Pablo Romero are educating pet owners about the importance of good pet nutrition. From food allergies to weight management, the veterinarians recommend pet dietary counseling to help dogs and cats stay healthy and active well into their golden years.
With the obesity rate increasing among San Diego pets, Point Loma veterinarian Dr. Mariann Rozsa and Bayside Veterinary Hospital are proactively working to reverse this trend. According to Dr. Rozsa, reducing the rate for pet obesity and chronic health problems starts with education and increased awareness.
"At Bayside Veterinary Hospital, we strongly believe that prevention is the best treatment," said Dr. Rozsa. "Unfortunately, not all pet foods are created equal. In fact, some foods and treats are the nutritional equivalent of a fast food meal. It's no surprise that pets are gaining rate at a rapid pace. We are working to educate pet owners about good nutrition and teach them what to look for when selecting pet foods."
Bayside Veterinary Hospital offers pet dietary management services to help pet owners learn more about good pet nutrition. These services are not only helpful for pets that need to lose weight, but also beneficial for pets that have food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
"Today's pet food stores offer a wide variety of different foods," said Point Loma veterinarian Dr. Jagpal S. Deo. "In fact, the assortment can be overwhelming. Our pet dietary management services are designed to help pet owners learn what to look for when selecting a pet food."
Dr. Deo recommends that pet owners carefully read food ingredient labels. The vet warns that some foods have misleading health claims. For example, Dr. Deo says that foods may claim to be a "good source of protein," but on closer inspection, the label reveals that the food's primary ingredients are corn or soy gluten and animal byproducts.
"Reading labels is essential to making an informed food choice," said Point Loma veterinarian Dr. Juan Pablo Romero. "This is especially true for pets that are allergic to certain ingredients, such as soy, wheat, corn, dairy or certain meats. As part of our pet wellness services, we can help pet owners find foods with healthy ingredient alternatives, such as venison, kangaroo, sweet potato and brown rice."
The veterinarians are also reminding pet owners not to overfeed their pets, especially if pets are primarily indoor animals or lead sedentary lifestyles.
"Overfeeding is a leading cause for pet weight gain," said Dr. Rozsa. "Portion control helps pets maintain a healthy weight."
To learn more about pet wellness care and dietary management, visit http://www.mybaysidevet.com/