Veterinary Medicine - September 2007 - (Page S8)

CANINE OBESITY Achieve client compliance by: • • • • focusing on follow-ups giving them permission to fail celebrating small accomplishments recognizing accomplishments with awards (Pet of the Month) • creating client account incentives (discount if they reach their weight goal). Prendergast: We start a serious conversation about changing diet when the pet hits a BCS of 7. Buzhardt: Owners are afraid of diet changes. I tell them, “I am asking you to do something that is challenging, but if we work together, your dog is going to benefit.” We often do a gradual diet change, and we celebrate even the smallest weight loss. When they don’t see progress it is frustrating and decreases compliance. We are motivators for owners dealing with a difficult situation. Overfeeding and weight gain also occur when owners love their dogs to death. They think they are neglecting their pets if they don’t give them treats. We explain that treats don’t have to come in a box named “Treat.” Put some kibble in a zip-top bag and feed that as a treat. The dog really doesn’t care what comes out of your hand. It just wants the attention (See Regulating treats, page 6). Laflamme: Any final words of advice? Heather Prendergast “We start a serious conversation about changing an overweight dog’s diet when the pet hits a BCS of 7.” feeding instructions that they bring in for their rechecks. Weight and BCS are recorded at each visit so that they can track progress. Laflamme: Do you ask all owners, regardless of their pet’s weight, to measure the food? Buzhardt: Yes. We want control over what’s going in every pet’s mouth. We also ask them to monitor the rest of the family so the pet doesn’t get fed twice. Laflamme: At what point do you move beyond the feeding protocol and recommend diet change? Buzhardt: We try to intervene early, and call it weight management, not weight reduction. If the pet has a BCS of 6 moving toward 7, we’ll discuss it. We don’t wait until the pet is a 7. Early intervention is key, not only to stop the progression of weight gain but also to change the lifestyle pattern before it becomes ingrained. Prendergast: The keys to success are listening to your clients, understanding their lifestyle and household, developing a tailored weight-loss plan, getting the whole family educated and on board, and having an effective follow-up system. If you don’t follow up, everyone will lose interest and your program will falter. Reference 1. Armstrong, PJ, Kirk CA, Lund EM, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for obesity in adult dogs and risk factors for obesity in adult dogs from private U.S. veterinary practices. Intern J Appl Vet Res 2005;3:88-96. BCS website To view a video demonstrating Nestlé Purina's Body Condition Score (BCS) system and how to use the BCS chart, click here. The views in this publication represent those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect those of Nestlé Purina. © 2007 Nestlé Purina. All rights reserved. To view this publication online, visit www.advanstarvhc.com/c15 8 VET 1595A-0907 http://www.advanstarvhc.com/c15

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

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