By Patrick Mahaney, VMD
Is your dog overweight, lethargic, or plagued by persistent medical conditions? If so, your dog’s health problems likely have a correlation 
to commercial dog food, treats, and other calorie sources consistently consumed over his lifetime. Despite extensive research going into the production of reputedly “nutritionally complete” pet foods by major companies, the correlation between chronic, potentially preventable diseases and ingestion of highly processed pet foods is increasingly becoming apparent.
In my clinical practice, I see obesity, endocrine abnormalities (hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, etc.), and inflammatory conditions of the joints (osteoarthritis, other), digestive tract (inflammatory bowel disease, other), and skin (allergic skin disease, other) correlating with long-term consumption of these foods.
Buddy doesn’t get up as quickly as he once did. It takes him a little bit longer and he seems stiff. He limps for the first few steps before he gets going. He doesn’t run after the ball with as much energy as he used to and after a long walk he likes to lay down.
