Weight Loss Tips

Lose weight safely and steadily

Losing weight healthily takes time and it's important not to crash diet.  Speak to your vet or vet nurse about how to safely reduce your pet's daily intake

Choose a food that has been developed for your pet's life stage

The dietary needs of a rapidly developing kitten or puppy are very different from those of a mature cat or dog, so choose a food that has been developed for their age to ensure they get the perfect balance of nutrients to meet their needs.

Weigh the food accurately

It’s easy to overfeed if we just guess how much to give, and a few grams extra per day can soon mount up to a weight problem which carries long term health risks. It can be useful to weigh out the amount at the beginning of the day, to avoid accidental overfeeding.  Divide the daily allowance into several small meals for more effective weight loss.

Feed a specially formulated weight loss diet

If cutting back the daily allowance isn't sufficient to achieve the desired weight loss, a specialist weight loss diet will usually be recommended.  For example, Purina Veterinary Diet Obesity Management.  It’s a highly palatable, complete diet that has been clinically proven to reduce excessive body weight, effectively and steadily.  It’s low in calories and high in protein to promote fat loss while maintaining lean muscle mass; and high in fibre so pets feel full and satisfied for longer.

When feeding a weight loss diet, it’s important to choose one that still provides all the essential nutrients.

Introduce the new food gradually over a 7-10 day period by mixing your pet's former food with increasing proportions of the new food, until only the new food is being fed.  See our Transition Feeding Guide for more info.

It's best to avoid treats

Pets that are fed a balanced diet don’t need anything extra.  If you want to use treats to help with training then it’s advisable to use some food from their daily food ration to avoid extra calories.

Avoid human foods.  Items that are small snacks for us are packed with calories equal to a large meal for our pets.  

Always provide plenty fresh water

Access to sufficient clean water is vital for your pet's health.

Don't worry about variety

Humans need a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients we need. But high quality pet food brands, such as Hill’s Vet Essentials, contain all the nutrients pets need in a single food without the need to supplement with any other food.

Ensure pets get plenty of exercise

Regular daily exercise is important for general health as well as for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.