Where to begin Assess the pet’s current state Begin by assessing the pet’s current state with a thorough medical and nutritional history. Include the following information: ● Current diet ● Feeding schedule: ○ How many people feed the pet? ○ Is there a structure/routine in place? ○ What steps do they take to prevent overfeeding? ● Treats: What kind, how many, and how often? ● Number of household members ● Perceptions of household members: ○ Do they appreciate that there is a problem? ○ Will they be on board with management recommendations in the future? ○ Is there one family member who is likely to give table food or excess calories? ● Exercise—now and possible options for the future ● Environment: ○ Environmental enrichment? ○ Housing concerns? ○ Number of pets in the home? ■ If a multipet household: □ Are the pets fed together? □ Individual bowls? □ Do they have access to each other’s food? Assess the patient Perform a thorough physical exam. Take care to evaluate the pet’s BW, BCS, and MCS. Determine the ideal body weight (IBW) The 2014 AAHA guidelines discuss three means to identify a pet’s IBW (Brooks et al., 2014): ● Historical data—ensure consistent recording of BCS over time, adjusting for age and growth as needed ● Calculation of a healthy weight: ○ A healthy weight correlates to a BCS of 5/9 or 3/5. ○ “Each BCS ≥ 5 (on a 9-point scale) or half of a BCS ≥ 3 (on a 5-point scale) is equivalent to being 10% overweight” (Brooks et al., 2014 ● Use percent body fat (BF): ○ “Use the percent body fat that correlates with the BCS scores to estimate ideal weight using the equation: [current BW x (100-BF%)]/0.8” ○ “Note that lean mass is 80% of the ideal BW, assuming 20% BF” (Brooks et al., 2014 Assess a client’s readiness to change Does the client want to change their pet’s weight? This will require effort, as the client must evaluate their current habits, the feeding routine, and the pet’s lifestyle/ environment. As a part of this evaluation, identify potential barriers to success and determine whether all family members are likely to follow your recommendations: Designing a weight loss program To design a weight loss program, we must first determine the total kcal/day required by the patient. Ward (2022) recommends the following approach: ● Begin by estimating the pet’s ideal body weight (in kg) ● Use the following equation to calculate resting energy requirement (RER): ○ RER in kcal/day = (ideal/target weight in kg ^ 0.75) × 70 ● Begin by matching the daily caloric intake to the pet’s RER ● Further reductions may be needed if weight loss does not occur
● When a person is ready and willing to change, they are more likely to be successful in moving forward and more amenable to the recommendations we set forth. LaMorte (2019) discusses six stages of change. 1. Precontemplation : A person does not recognize there is a problem and has no intention of acting in the next six months. 2. Contemplation : Within the next six months, a person intends to change an action or behavior. For example, the owner recognizes that their pet is overweight and is evaluating steps for change but is not yet ready to move forward. 3. Preparation : A person is planning to change a behavior. For example, they may intend to begin increasing their pet’s exercise. They recognize change is in the pet’s best interest. 4. Action : The person has changed a behavior (walking their dog or decreasing the number of treats fed regularly) and plans to continue over the next six months. 5. Maintenance : The behavior (walking the pet and calorie restriction) has occurred for more than six months, and the intent is to continue in the future. 6. Termination : A person does not want the pet to return to an unhealthy state. They will continue with long-term changes. Have you ever faced that client who gives you the evil stare or tries to rush you out of the door? Knowing they are not going to be receptive in the first place may help guide how you approach them versus a client who is openly in the preparation and action stages. Assess the current diet There are three key components to a dietary assessment (Brooks et al., 2014): ● Establish an estimate of current caloric intake. ● Include treats, table food, dental chews, and any meds (plus foods/treats used to administer meds) in calculations. ● Evaluate client–pet food relationship. The human-animal bond often plays a role in what food, how, and when owners feed their pets, so we must recognize this and evaluate how food plays a role, including how it may be used in “training, nurturing, or bonding in specific situations” (Brooks et al., 2014). Learning what the owners absolutely will not do or give up, and what they are unlikely to change, can help to identify what compromises may occur to increase compliance. Acknowledging the human–animal bond and what is essential to the owner, like letting their pet lick plates as they are put in the dishwasher, helps to build trust in you and your recommendations (Brooks et al., 2014). Next, we must help the owners develop a plan for how to administer those calories throughout the day and how to add exercise. An effective weight loss plan must consider comorbidities (especially those limiting exercise/activity), owner compliance/willingness, financial and time costs, and the owner’s willingness to comply with follow-up recommendations (Linder, 2017). Diet selection Considerations include palatability, owner preferences, and the pet’s texture and flavor preferences. Prepare a list of options to provide choices for both the owner and the pet.
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Book Code: VFL1526
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