(New York, N.Y.)  BluePearl Veterinary Partners, a group of specialty and emergency hospitals located throughout the central and eastern U.S., recommends for pet owners to observe National Pet Obesity Awareness Day this Wednesday. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 54 percent of cats and dogs in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese.

In addition to a decreased life-expectancy, animals that are overweight are at risk for cranial cruciate ligament injury, heart and respiratory disease, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes, as well as osteoarthritis.

“These numbers are absolutely staggering, especially when obesity in pets can be so easily prevented,” said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer at BluePearl. “Making sure a pet receives adequate exercise and a healthy diet is paramount.”

Along with diet and exercise, BluePearl Veterinary Partners recommends having your pet seen by your family veterinarian at least twice a year because pets age much faster than humans.

For more information about National Pet Obesity Awareness day, contact your veterinarian and visit: http://www.petobesityprevention.com/

About BluePearl Veterinary Partners
Formed in 2008, BluePearl Veterinary Partners is headquartered in Tampa, Fla., and employs more than 1,200 people including approximately 250 veterinarians. BluePearl hospitals are referral-only and don’t provide primary care. Most BluePearl hospitals offer 24-hour emergency care services. BluePearl is one of the world’s principal providers of approved veterinary residency and internship educational programs. BluePearl also participates in and conducts clinical trials to study the effectiveness of new drugs and treatments, which give clients access to cutting-edge medicine not yet commercially available and improves the quality of care delivered to our patients.