Veterinary Medicine - September 2007 - (Page S6)

CANINE OBESITY Regulating treats The frequency and type of treats clients give their dogs can increase the risk of obesity or compound an existing obesity condition. Clients should consider these treat ideas and alternatives to help their obese dog shed pounds and improve overall health: • Keep a container of green beans in the freezer: If it comes from the hand, the dog will consider it a treat, and it has fewer calories than a cookie. Popcorn and kibble also are good low-calorie treat alternatives. • Cook vegetables in a low-calorie, low-sodium butter substitute or bouillon for an attractive aroma and taste. • Break biscuits and treats down and give a piece at a time: The timing of the treat and positive reinforcement is what’s most important to a dog, not the size. • Limit treats to10% of the dog’s daily caloric intake: If a treat is given for going outside, eliminate the cookie the dog gets at the bank’s drive-up window. • Offer a bowl of dog food from the table: The dog will still see it as table scraps—and it won’t have the fat and cholesterol of steak. • Keep a treat diary or daily treat checklist so family members don’t give multiple treats. Buzhardt: We practice the rule of three: Clients need to hear a message three times before it sinks in. The scale is their first stop. The receptionist may approach the client right there and say, “Fluffy lost 2 lbs in the last six months.” Or, “Oh my, we gained a few pounds. Expect a longer office visit today.” Then the technician takes the client to the exam room to review the pet’s status again. She may also do some of the reassessments, such as making follow-up phone calls and reweighing the pet. Our program is more doctor-centered, but the receptionists and technicians are also integral parts of a successful program. Remillard: Weight-loss programs can be a terrific practice builder. Just think, 30% of your patients have a disease that you can often cure. The more often clients walk into your clinic, the more they will spend with you. When you give them a reason to come back, the quality of care increases and they dedicate more dollars to taking care of their pet. Buzhardt: Exactly. We want the long-term relationship. And if a dog lives two years longer because you have kept it lean, that means you’ve given the client two more years with the pet. You’ll also have two more years to provide medical care, which increases your income. Churchill: You also build trust with your clientele because you are sending the message you care about prevention and wellness, rather than just treatment. Buzhardt: And let’s not forget that these obese animals are at risk for other diseases. Managing obesity means evaluating these pets through laboratory workups periodically and diagnosing medical problems earlier. That way we can do the most good. Running a program Laflamme: Can you describe how your weightmanagement program works and what role each team member plays? Prendergast: We have one assistant who oversees our nutritional program. Once the veterinarian identifies the pet as overweight, the assistant meets with the client and develops that relationship through education. She helps the client choose the diet and outlines the amount of food, treats, and exercise. She will then follow up. Although she has the most client contact, the whole staff remains engaged in the weight-loss program. When the pets come in for weight checks, the front office staff is the welcoming committee. “Fluffy, you look so good. Look at those inches coming off.” They often escort the pets to the scale until the assistant can take them into a room and evaluate their progress. Laflamme: Lynn, how does that differ from what you do? Educating clients about obesity Laflamme: How do you explain the dangers of obesity to clients? Buzhardt: I don’t get extremely technical. We talk about the inflammatory responses of adipose tissue, and I normally explain that an overweight or obese pet may not feel as well, won’t heal as quickly, and will be more prone to develop other diseases like respiratory and cardiac disease and diabetes. Those are words clients can recognize, relate to, and fear. 6

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

Contents Letters Leading Off The Veterinary Medicine Interview: Dr. William J. Kay Idea Exchange Practical Matters Salivary Mucoceles in Cates: A Retropspective Study of Seven Cases Hyperlipidemia in Dogs and Cats Purina Insert The Latest Management Recommendations for Cats and Dogs with Nonketotic Diabetes Mellitus CE Form Product Preview Advertiser Index Marketplace/Classifieds Mind Over Miller

Veterinary Medicine - September 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.