As you know, we at Daleside are committed to keeping your pets as happy and healthy as possible. That is why we have always championed the importance of preventive healthcare and with pet obesity on the rise, we have decided to tackle the chubby pets of Wrexham and Cheshire as our 2016 healthcare focus!

We are proud to report that as of this week, we are the first veterinary practice in North Wales to achieve approval as a Weight Management Centre! Over the 4 months approval process, all of our staff had to undergo specialist training in body condition score assessment and pet nutrition. As a practice we then reviewed our weight clinic presentation and referral format to make it easier to identify and encourage overweight pets and their owners to attend. During this period we assisted the pets enrolled with us to lose over 106Kgs in excess weight between them – that’s heavier than a baby elephant!

We have been working closely with Shelley Holden, a well-known Veterinary Nurse who specialises in nutrition, (you may have met her at DogFest or similar pet shows) who was previously involved with the pet weight management programme at Liverpool University. She now works alongside Royal Canin to help proactive vet practices improve their preventative care in this field. As she says, “This is a unique platform for veterinary practices across the UK to excel in addressing weight management issues in practice and tackling prevention. We are excited to currently work with an elite group of practices, all committed to raising awareness of obesity in cats and dogs.”

As an approved Weight Management Clinic all our staff are trained to discuss body condition scoring with our patients to identify whether the pet is in ideal condition. If overweight or obese, they are then referred for further advice and support to our in house weight clinic. The weight clinic is a complementary 30 minute appointment with a weight management nurse, followed by ongoing monitoring, personalised advice and telephone support. Approved clinics also educate owners about prevention during puppy parties, puppy and kitten vaccinations, and at neutering to ensure owners are aware of the health risks of weight gain from the outset.