All animals require a balanced diet with essential nutrients in the correct ratio for optimal health of the animal. When an animal is overweight, the temptation is to cut down on the amount of food they are getting, and if the correct diet is not used, this may lead to the animal suffering nutritional deficiencies.
Prescription weight loss diets are scientifically formulated to meet all of the daily nutritional requirements of the animal, while still promising weight loss. This claim is backed up with a 100% money back guarantee. The other main advantage is that these diets maintain the animal's feeling of fullness and help to avoid hunger-induced scavenging.
Non-prescription brands may not cover all of these bases, and the main concern with these diets is that animals may lose weight too quickly. The ideal rate of weight loss is 1% of their body weight per week (ie 400g per week for a 40kg Labrador). While wanting to see results and have a healthier, happier animal quickly is everyone's goal, losing weight too quickly can place strain on the liver and other organs responsible for controlling sugar levels in the blood. This is especially a problem in cats, who are prone to fatty liver syndrome in this scenario.
While the initial cost of the prescription diet may appear to be more than the supermarket brands, the long-term benefits to your pet, and the potential savings in avoided medical bills more than makes up for any extra dollars spent now. Hungry dogs that get into the rubbish may end up with constipation and obstructions which are difficult and expensive to treat. Once your animal is back to fighting fit, the vast majority return to a normal adult diet to maintain their now healthy weight.
If you think your animal could benefit from a consult with one of our weight loss gurus, please give us a call at the Feilding clinic for more information.
