2016 Weight Loss Contest!

 

Pilot Knob Animal Hospital’s

Weight Loss Contest Winter 2016!

 

 

We are excited to kick off our first weight loss challenge! Below is some information on how the contest works and the steps you need to compete!

  • This contest is FREE and will run from November 1st 2016 to February 1st 2017
  • We recommend that contestants be placed on Purina OM or Royal Canin Satiety throughout the competition for optimal weight loss.
  • Want to stay on the food you have now? See our recommended calorie chart to guide your feeding adjustments!
  • Weight checks should be performed to monitor weight loss over the next couple months. Attached is a tracker for you!
  • This contest is based on percentage loss so any overweight pet can win!
  • To enroll, please email us your pet’s starting weight between November 1st– 14th.
  • Please email us a progress weight check during the Month of December. This is very important to be sure your pet isn’t losing weight too fast!
  • The final weight must be emailed to us between February 1st– February 14th.
  • Don’t have a scale at home? You are more than welcome to stop on in to use our scales!
  • The GRAND prize is a free bag of food!
  • Smaller prizes will be awarded to all contestants who keep up the weight checks each month.
  • The winner will be called on February 17, 2017 and will also be featured on our Facebook page!
  • Progress photos are encouraged but not required!

 

We are very excited to help your pets achieve their weight goal!

Good Luck!

-The staff at Pilot Knob Animal Hospital

Next you will find some helpful information to

help you in your pet’s weight loss journey!

 

Benefits of a prescription weight loss food:

  • Low calorie and low fat
  • High protein to support lean muscle during weight loss
  • Fiber which helps satisfy their appetite
  • Complete and balanced formula for adult dogs

We carry Purina OM & Royal Canin Satiety Support in both the canine and feline formulas.

Low calorie treats: We carry Charlee Bear dog treats. At only 3 calories per treat, you can have the freedom to reward your pet more often! Many brands of treats now offer calorie information on the bag– keep an eye out for those high-calorie treats!

 

How do I assess my pet’s weight?

Your pet is at a healthy weight if …

-Ribs are easily felt

-Stomach doesn’t sag

-Waist is easily noted when viewed from above

Your pet is overweight if …

-Ribs are difficult to feel

-Stomach sags

-Back is broad and flat

-Waist is barely visible or absent

Weight Loss Tracker

 

It’s important your pet doesn’t lose too much too fast! Your pet should not lose more than 2% of his or her body weight per month.

Week:

Date:

Weight:

November 1st -5th, 2016

November 6th-12th

November 13th– 19th

November 20th -26th

November 27th– December 3rd

December 4th-10th

December 11th-17th

December 18th-24th

December 25th– 31st

January 1st-7th

January 8th-14th

January 15th-22nd

January 23rd-29th

January 30th– February 5th

February 5th-11th , 2017

Final percentage lost

Weight loss tips for cats (courtesy of http://petobesityprevention.org/pet-obesity-fact-risks/):

Start with Calories

For weight loss, the formulas seem simple enough: fewer calories in plus more calories out equals weight loss. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that formula makes it appear. For starters, cats that are overweight or obese must eat. Their physiology is different than humans or dogs and if they do not eat for as little as two consecutive days, they can develop a life-threatening form of liver disease known as hepatic lipidosis.

Creative Exercise

  • Play “Find the Food”

Move the food bowl upstairs or downstairs and rotate it so that the cat always has to walk to get to its food bowl. Overweight cats are smart cats and if the food bowl moves upstairs, they’ll start relocating upstairs, too.

  • Move the food bowl as far away from your cat’s favorite haunts as possible. Again, many overweight cats will sleep and lay near the food bowl so they don’t have to go far when the eatin’ urge hits!
  • Use feather toys, flashlights, paper bags or balls, anything that your cat finds interesting to chase. Try to engage your cat for ten minutes twice a day. You can do this while you eat, watch television or even read. There are numerous toys that move and squeak that may also be interesting to your cat.

Experiment and understand that what is exciting today may be boring tomorrow.

  • Do not use a self-feeder. While this seems obvious, auto-feeders are nothing more than unlimited candy machines to an overweight cat.
  • Pet your cat or play with it when it begs for food. Many cats substitute food for affection so flip the equation and you may find that playtime displaces chowtime.
  • Feed small meals frequently – especially give a last feeding for those cats that like to wake you up in the wee hours begging for more goodies – divide the total volume or calories into four to six smaller meals –whatever you do, don’t feed extra food.
  • When the bowl is empty and your cat is pleading, add a few kibbles to the bowl. By a few, try ten or fifteen – not a handful.
  • Offer fresh water instead of food. Many cats love fresh water so when they are eyeing the empty food bowl, fill up the water bowl instead.

Multi-cat Households

  • Feed separately – this is the ideal solution for multi-cat households. Feed the overweight cat its diet in one room while feeding the other cat its food elsewhere. After a prescribed time, generally fifteen to thirty minutes, pick the food up until the next feeding.
  • Feed the normal weight cat up high where the overweight cat can’t go.
  • Do not leave food out while you’re away. In this scenario you can’t be sure who ate what and the smart money is on the overweight cat.

Most cats will achieve their ideal weight within six to eight months. If the process is taking longer than this, something needs to be changed. A healthy weight loss would be close to one pound per month. Some cats may need to go slower while others may shed the pounds more quickly. Remember that the reason for your hard effort is to help your cat live a longer, healthier life.

 

 

 

Contact Us

4145 Knob Drive
Eagan, MN 55122 

Telephone: 
(651) 452-8160

Fax: 
(651) 452-0010

Email Us

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-6pm
Sat 8am-Noon