The Highest Stand DR. STEVEN MCGINTY ON WHAT IT MEANS Do you know that kid in the neighborhood everyone can rely on? The kid you can call if you’re going out of town and need someone to watch your dog? When Dr. Steven McGinty was young, he was that kid. “I became known as the go-to guy for taking care of neighborhood pets,”Dr. McGinty says. “I got used to giving pets medicine as a young kid and that interest grew from there. I shadowed some veterinarians while I was in school and realized I wanted to take care of animals for the rest of my life.” Dr. McGinty is originally from Sac City, Iowa. After graduating from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2012, he moved to Illinois to work at a low-income, high-volume practice. It wasn’t long before he realized this quick-service style of veterinary care didn’t match his values. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to offer anything less than the highest standard of care,”Dr. McGinty states. “Our animals deserve nothing less. It’s what’s best for them, and it’s what’s best for clients who trust us to care for their pets.”
People love chubby pets. Just look at all the pictures of fat cats and “chonker” pups on the internet. But while pudgy pets might be cute, they are often incredibly unhealthy. Being overweight can dramatically shorten your pet’s lifespan and cause painful cases of arthritis, pancreatitis, or diabetes. Over half of all dogs and cats in the United States are overweight or obese. Here are some veterinarian-approved tips for getting your pet to a healthy weight. Make a Schedule Most pets are free-fed, which means they can eat whenever they want and their owners refill the bowl every time it’s empty. The problem is most pets don’t just eat when they’re hungry and free access to their food allows them to overeat. Instead of keeping the bowl full all day, schedule regular feeding times with measured food amounts based on your pet’s breed and age. This will help you keep track of how much your pet is eating. Count Calories If you find yourself giving your pet a lot of treats, take those calories into account and cut down on how much food they get at mealtime. Speaking of calories, pay attention to how much human food your pet consumes. For a small dog, just a small piece of cheese is the equivalent of eating a Big Mac! Treat human food and table scraps like rare treats and don’t let your pet overindulge. Exercise! Just like in humans, exercise is an important step in maintaining a healthy weight in animals. This doesn’t mean you and your dog have to run a marathon together. Regular walks each day can help your dog get moving and shed those extra pounds. Indoor cats can also benefit from play times in the evenings. Any regular physical activity can make a difference. What about diet pet foods? When pets need to lose weight, many owners will look for special weight-loss pet foods first. However, most pets don’t need special food in order to lose weight. Cutting back their regular food with scheduled meals is usually enough to make a huge difference. That said, if you’ve tried everything and your pet isn’t able to lose weight, don’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian. They can help you come up with healthy weight loss strategies for your pet, which could include a prescription pet food diet in extreme circumstances. HOWWEIGHT LOSS HELPS YOUR PET LIVE LONGER
Looking for a new practice closer to home brought Dr. McGinty to Petersen Pet Hospital.
Simple Salmon Cat Treats
Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, which makes finding the right cat treat a challenge. Fortunately, we’ve found a recipe for homemade cat treats that will delight even the most finicky feline.
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