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A step-by-step basic approach to the obese veterinary patient | VetGirl Veterinary CE Podcast

 x 1.0 < current intake, continue with step 5

5. Select a diet and feeding plan and include treat options
Treat calories should be less than 10% of total kcal, and the remaining kcals should be fed as a therapeutic weight loss diet, if possible. The therapeutic weight loss diets are higher in protein in other nutrients and help avoid nutrient restriction despite caloric restriction.

It’s always best to ensure that there is adequate protein in the chosen diet. Dogs should receive approximately 1 gram protein per pound of current body weight and cats should receive approximately 2 grams of protein per pound of current body weight.

If the pet has concurrent health problems, there are other options – but if you need severe caloric restriction to allow for weight loss, it’s best to consult with a DACVN for these cases. I use homemade diets in a lot of patients that are obese but have other nutritional issues.

6. Reassess the patient
Patients should lose 0.5-2% of starting body weight per week. I try to give my clients a schedule (e.g. it will take up to x months to achieve ideal weight) so they know what to expect. I recommend checking patients’ weight every 2 weeks until they establish a weight loss trend – that is, they are not losing too quickly or too slowly. After the weight loss trend has been established, the weight can be checked every 2-4 weeks. If the plan needs to be adjusted, I usually decrease or increase in increments of 5-10% of total calories. Make sure you reduce treat calories if you do that, but never eliminate treats entirely. I have the best luck with compliance if I include controlled treat options in a weight loss plan.

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