Pet Therapy: New Veterinary Center Hopes to Tame Animal Obesity

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A local veterinary specialty and emergency hospital will open a new athletic center at its Buffalo Grove location.

Officials for the Veterinary Specialty Center say pet obesity and over-exercising was their motivation for creating the center. The new athletic center is hoping to meet the increased demand for exercise and recovery services for pets, many of them due to the rise in orthopedic pet surgeries during the past several years.

According to the American Pet Products Association, U.S. residents will spend an estimated $15.92 billion on veterinary care this year. This means Americans on a whole are spending more money on their pets than ever before.

"...VSC is opening its new Athletic Center to not only aid in recovery, but also to provide preventative classes, therapies and more to reduce weight loss and injuries due to over exercising, which are contributing factors to the increase in orthopedic surgeries," the hospital said in a statement.

The center is slated to open on Aug. 18 and will offer treatments including laser therapy, circulation therapy and other therapy on its underwater treadmills.