Helping Your Pet Live a Longer, Healthier Life

Obesity is linked to many serious health conditions, including:

• Diabetes mellitus
• Arthritis & joint pain – extra weight places stress on hips, knees, and spine
• Heart & respiratory disease – making exercise and even rest more difficult
• Immune dysfunction – reducing your pet’s ability to fight infection
• Certain cancers – obesity is a known risk factor
• Liver & urinary tract disease – causing chronic health problems

Even a small amount of excess weight can have a big impact on mobility, energy levels, and quality of life. It also shortens lifespan — studies in dogs have shown that even moderately overweight animals live measurably shorter lives than their lean littermates, alongside spending more of those years affected by joint and metabolic disease.

1. Initial Assessment

At your first appointment, one of our friendly veterinary nurses will:

• Take a full history of your pet’s diet, exercise, and lifestyle
• Assess your pet’s Body Condition Score (BCS) using an internationally recognised scale
• Weigh your pet accurately and record a starting point
• Discuss any health issues that may be contributing to weight gain

2. Tailored Weight Loss Plan

We then create a bespoke plan designed specifically for your pet, which may include:

• Switching to a prescription weight loss diet that really works
• Calculating precise daily calorie requirements
• Recommending exercise adjustments and play ideas
• Setting realistic, achievable weight loss goals

Every plan accounts for any other pets in the household, since multi-pet homes often need a strategy for portion control that doesn’t leave one pet feeling short-changed at mealtimes.

3. Ongoing Support & Monitoring

Weight loss is a journey — and we’re with you every step of the way.

• Regular weigh-ins (usually every 4 weeks)
• Tracking progress on a personalised weight chart
• Adjusting the plan as your pet loses weight
• Offering encouragement and practical advice to keep you motivated

Regular check-ins matter because weight loss that happens too quickly can be just as unhealthy as carrying excess weight in the first place — our nursing team keeps the pace safe and sustainable rather than rushing the result.

4. Long-Term Weight Maintenance

Once your pet reaches their ideal weight, we work with you to create a maintenance plan to keep them healthy and optimal body condition for life. Maintenance is just as important as the weight loss phase itself — without an ongoing plan, it’s very common for pets to gradually regain the weight they’ve lost.

• Dedicated nurse-led consultations – expert guidance in a relaxed, supportive setting
• Access to proven prescription diets – tailored to your pet’s needs
• Regular progress tracking – to keep you on target
• Focus on overall wellbeing – we want your pet to be healthy, happy, and active

Weight gain in pets is often gradual, which makes it genuinely hard to notice without a professional assessment. A few signs worth watching for between visits: difficulty feeling your pet’s ribs without pressing firmly, a loss of visible waist when viewed from above, reluctance to jump, climb stairs, or go on longer walks, and increased panting or tiring more easily during normal activity. None of these are a diagnosis on their own, but if any sound familiar, it’s worth booking a weight check rather than waiting for your pet’s next annual visit.

If you suspect your pet may be overweight, don’t wait until it starts causing serious health problems. Book an appointment in our Weight Management Clinic and let us help your pet feel better, move more easily, and live a longer, healthier life.