Your Pets Daily - Dog weight loss

Tubby Terrier sheds whopping 4.5kg as ‘dog mum’ encourages owners to get pets weighed

Katie Court — Tue, 19 Mar 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A Greater Manchester 'dog mum' whose Chinese Crested Terrier successfully lost almost a third of his whole body weight is now calling on other pet owners to join PDSA's Big Weigh In, in partnership with Royal Canin.

The campaign, now in its second year, aims to tackle the pet obesity crisis head on, with owners able to take advantage of free weight checks at participating vet practices throughout the UK.

Alison Short, (46), from Salford helped her dog, Peanut, lose a whopping 4.5kg after her furry friend mysteriously stopped walking and quickly piled on the pounds.

"Peanut used to love to go on walks but mysteriously just stopped walking one day and ever since then he's piled the weight on," explained Alison.

Vets discovered that both of Peanut's back limbs were causing him a lot of pain when walking as they had become disjointed.

"I was relieved that vets had found the problem, but felt so sad for the pain Peanut had been in, and that I had been trying to encourage him to go on walks and not overfeed with treats.

"We started him on treatment but then the next challenge was getting him to lose the weight!"

At this point Peanut was 14.5kg, 28% over his recommended weight for his breed and size.

Alison had to change Peanut's diet, drop down his portion sizes and increase his daily exercise.

"Peanut has always been an active dog. We are an outdoors family and we used to take him out wherever we could; hiking, walking, climbing hills and even one mountain! He especially loves scrambling on rocks and at the beach although he won't go into any water to swim.

"It can seem really daunting to take a pet on a weight loss challenge, but I promise that you won't look back. It's not a quick fix though and takes patience and perseverance but small changes to food, treats and exercise can make a huge difference.

"The Royal Canin weight loss programme we went on via the team at the University of Liverpool really works. We hit Peanut's target in just six months and now he is on maintenance for life with regular check ups."

Thankfully, Alison revealed that Peanut is back to his usual self.

Alison and Peanut live with another Chinese Crested Terrier, rescue dog, Loki, (3), her partner Phil, (47), and their two sons aged 18 and 15.

"Peanut smashed his weight loss target and we discovered there was no need for any surgery on his legs, which is what we wanted to avoid, he now has his quality of life back and now enjoys walks two or three times a day once more.

"I'd urge anyone reading this to get their pet weighed. It's not until you look properly that you can see that your four-legged friend is actually overweight as it can be hard to tell and sometimes you need expert advice on how to best manage your pet's nutrition."

Unfortunately the statistics confirm Alison's concerns - according to the 2023 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, vet professionals estimate that almost half of pets are overweight or obese (46% of dogs, and 43% of cats).

"Whilst many owners may deem a few extra pounds as harmless and sometimes even cute, there are actually many long-term health risks associated with obesity," PDSA Vet Lynne James explains.

"Worryingly, our PAW Report 2023 also found 42% of pet owners admit to not knowing their pet's current weight and 54% to not knowing their pet's ideal weight.

"10% of pet owners say they last weighed their pet more than 12 months ago, equating to 520,000 dogs. Of those owners, 51% (270,000 dog owners) told us they didn't feel it was necessary and 17% (86,000 dog owners) said they didn't want to pay to take their dog to the vets to get them weighed.

"This shows us why our Big Weigh In, in partnership with Royal Canin, is such an essential initiative!"

The Big Weigh In campaign is now in its second year. For the rest of March 2024, pet owners can book free weight checks and receive free advice at one of 500+ participating vet practices across the country.

During the free weight check, pets' weight and body condition scores will be recorded and owners will be signposted to further materials to help educate them about their pet's weight and encourage regular monitoring, as well as support with weight loss if needed. There are also plenty of helpful resources on PDSA's website for owners to refer back to.

To find your nearest participating practice visit: pdsa.org.uk/WeighUp

Lighter Labrador James is like a new dog after weight loss success

Jessica Curtis — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Labrador James has lost 10kg (one-and-a-half stone) – equivalent to a large sack of pet food – after his worried new owner feared he was overweight and took him to a pet weight loss clinic. His owner, Nicola Mark, took James to Uplands Way Vets in Bressingham for weight advice after adopting him last year, when he tipped the scales at a hefty 45kg (seven stone). Carrying too many pounds was affecting the six-year-old pooch’s health and mobility, and he struggled to get up again after lying down.

Uplands Way head nurse Emily Philpot, who saw James for his weight management sessions, says that through eating a healthy diet combined with increased exercise, James is now a much trimmer 34.2kg (just over five stone).

Emily said: “I’m very proud of James and Mrs Mark for following the diet plan successfully, and James looks so different it’s hard to believe he’s the same dog.

“When we first saw James he was extremely overweight, which was affecting his mobility and putting his health at risk. Now he’s slimmer, happier and finds it easier to get around.

“His weight loss was achieved safely by working out how much food a dog of his size needs to provide the right amount of calories and nutrients. He has two meals a day, weighed out to the exact amount, and we also recommended a feed that’s designed to help support weight loss and contains a supplement to support his joints.

“Losing weight steadily and gradually is important, and James followed the diet for 10 months. Mrs Mark brought him in regularly so we could weigh him and check his progress - she has been brilliant at following our advice and was committed to helping James reach his target weight.”

Emily said that obesity is a serious problem in dogs and cats and, according to the 2023 Paw Report, published by the charity PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), veterinary professionals estimate that 46% of dogs are overweight or obese.

Emily added: “Even being a few kilogrammes overweight can contribute to health issues and it can also shorten a pet’s life. While James is livelier and more mobile since losing weight, he has been diagnosed with spondylosis, which affects the spine, and osteoarthritis. Both of these conditions are caused by wear and tear on the joints, which is increased if a dog is overweight. Unfortunately, they are issues that are not reversible, but can be managed through weight loss and medication.

“Anyone who is worried about their pet’s weight can contact us for advice and our weight clinics are the perfect opportunity to have your dog weighed and chat to our friendly team. We won’t judge an owner if their pet is overweight and we just want to help them keep their dog or cat as happy and healthy as possible.”

Mrs Mark, from Bressingham, said she is delighted with the new-look James, who she rehomed after his previous owner passed away. In his former home he’d piled on the pounds eating three meals a day, wolfing down chicken and rice, which are high in calories, and having limited exercise.

Mrs Mark said: “James was grossly overweight and I knew I had to do something for his health – he waddled instead of walking and he couldn’t play or run. It was like he was old before his time, but since he’s lost weight, he’s as active as any other dog his age. We recently took him to the beach and he loved it – it was the first time he’d had the zoomies since we rehomed him!

“I’m so grateful to Emily and the team at Uplands Way Vets for all the advice they’ve given me. Emily has been so supportive and encouraging and has helped keep James and myself on track with his weight loss.

“One of the most useful things I’ve learned is to weigh out James’s meals to ensure I’m giving him the correct amount and it’s important to be precise as even a couple of extra pieces of kibble can make a difference. The regular weigh-ins also helped me stay focused and knowing his weight loss was going in the right direction kept me motivated.

“James is such a lovely, friendly dog and I feel very lucky to have been able to offer him a home. It’s very rewarding to see him slimmer and healthier and enjoying life since so much more since he’s lost weight.”

Your Pets Daily - Dog weight loss

Tubby Terrier sheds whopping 4.5kg as ‘dog mum’ encourages owners to get pets weighed

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