Prescription Diets to Achieve & Maintain Ideal Weight
With an increasing number of pets overweight and affected by other diseases that can be treated or prevented with nutrition the Drs & staff are totally committed to being a nutritional center. That simply means we commit to research comprehensively diets that has been shown through independent or repetitive studies to help pets achieve & maintain ideal weight, treat or help prevent arthritis, or prevent dental disease so that you have choices to help prevent or treat these diseases nutritionally for your pet.
With 50 to 60% of pets over their ideal weight and at least 20 to 30% of those pets truly obese (20% or more over ideal) Foods by Purina, Royal Canin and Purina, to help get pets safely & effectively to their ideal weight and maintain that healthy weight..
These new weight loss diets have significant advantages over ordinary dog foods specifically low caloric density, higher protein and added ingredients like isoflavones ( Purina) that have shown effectiveness.
To give credit where credit is due, Purina provided the study that highlighted the crucial need to get & keep pets to their ideal weight. They then produced the first higher protein diet food that was well tolerated and really effective in helping pets lose weight.
Hills quickly followed with a reformulation of their primary diet food (R/D) Royal Canin has excellent veterinary weight loss foods that contain higher protein levels and very low calorie levels to achieve fat loss while preserving muscle mass.
In researching other foods (including Iams) according to guidelines presented at the International Veterinary Rehabilitation Symposium by a board certified veterinary nutritionist at the University of Minnesota Julie Churchill DVM DACVN we have found that Hills R/D, Royal Canin HP, Royal Canin HF, Purina OM, Purina JM all meet her criteria.
She stated that all pets 2 points over their ideal body condition score be fed a prescription weight loss food that contains 1gm protein for every pound of ideal weight. Protein content of foods can be found at Ohio Sate University website.
No food should be prescribed for any pet over 20% of their ideal weight(technically obese) until a comprehensive wellness exam, nutritional consultation and wellness testing (blood and urine samples) are performed to avoid missing underlying problems or creating undue stress when another problem exists. Some supplementation may be advised as well.
As prevention is always our goal certain breeds may need lower caloric density foods than others to prevent obesity and all the associated negative effects starting as puppies! (Pugs, Beagles, Labradors etc!) www.breedspecificwellnessblog
Feeding a prescription food is just one of many steps in a comprehensive weight loss program. Counting calories, supplements, and a consistent exercise program are all part of a successful program!
Check out our Facebook Page with great pet photos and details for our upcoming Preventative Nutrition Open House & “Pets Reducing for Rescues 2011″ Ideal Weight Contest. Come see us on Saturday January 22nd from 1 to 3PM to learn more about Ideal Weight & preventative nutrition in pets!
Link to Canine Rx Weight Loss Diets
Link to Feline Rx Weight Loss Diets
