Weight & Nutrition Clinic

All our pet owners are welcome to make an appointment and bring your pets into the surgery for regular FREE weight and diet checks. Clinic appointments are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Our nurses can advise you about the optimum weight your pet should be and how to help them gain or lose those extra pounds! They can also advise on diet - what type of food your pet should be eating, provide guidance regarding their nutritional needs, as well as dietary requirements for growth, weight loss or weight maintenance, showing you just how much food your pet should be eating and how often, and talk about exercise.

We supply a wide range of foods suitable for weight control in small animals - for example Hill's Prescription Diet r/d weight loss nutrition is clinically proven to reduce fat by 22% in two months for dogs, and 20% in three months for cats.

At the clinic   During your pets first weight clinic appointment the nurse will weigh your pet and set your pets target weight that they should be. The nurse will then calculate your pet's new diet and exercise plan including how much that they should be fed daily. A photo will also be taken so we can have a before and after picture of your pets weight.

After your first appointment your pet will require regular weight checks so we can access their progress and make sure we are still giving the correct amount of food daily, also to discuss any problems you may be having. These weight checks should be at 2 - 4 weekly intervals. Once your pet has reached their target weight, the nurse will reassess your pet's dietary requirements to aid in your pet's long term weight control.

Being overweight increases the risk of other health conditions developing such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and breathing problems. We can help prevent these by spotting symptoms early. Our nurses are here to help and encourage you help your pets every step of the way. 

What causes weight gain?   Weight gain is the result of an increase in body fat. This is usually caused by eating too much, especially when combined with lack of exercise. But there can be other contributing factors too, such as;

>  age: older pets are usually less active so require fewer calories
>  breed: some breeds are more prone to weight gain. For example Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, King Charles Spaniels and Mixed breed cats.
>  neutering: these procedures alter the metabolism of the animal and they can then be prone to weight gain.
>  medical problems: very occasionally weight gain is associated with a medical disorder that may require specific treatment. 

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

>  their ribs cannot be easily felt when running your hands along the side of their body
>  you need to loosen their collar
>  difficulty in walking and exercising
>  slow movements
>  shortness of breath
>  bad tempered
>  sleeping more than usual
>  loss of an obvious waist

How can I help my pet to lose weight?  Weight problems are very common and these can be successfully managed through changes in DIET and LIFESTYLE. Combining a change in diet with increased exercise is the most effective way of achieving a healthy weight.

Exercise tips for cats:

Encourage your cat to follow you when you move from room to room, particularly up and down stairs, use toys to encourage your cat to play or hide food to make them 'hunt' for it, shine a torch on walls for your cat to chase.

Exercise tips for dogs:

Enjoy regular walks with your dog; walking at a constant pace will help, take your dog on for walks on different surfaces, such as sand or water (these will provide extra resistant which will be more effort for your dog). Encourage play in the home and garden and encourage your dog to follow you around the house as well.