• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Spark a conversation with veterinary clients about obesity

April 1, 2013
Bob Levoy

Nearly 40 percent of owners of overweight pets don't realize their animal has a problem.

When clients come in with overweight pets, as a veterinarian it's your responsibility to talk about it and let clients know that extra weight can have serious effects on a pet's health.

That's the message Tufts University's pet obesity clinic and its director, Dr. Deborah Linder, are trying to get across.

The clinic focuses on providing weight loss programs for pets deemed to be overweight and obese; educating veterinarians and pet owners on how to prevent, identify, and combat obesity in pets; and conducting clinical research on optimal methods for the treatment and prevention of obesity.

Advertisement

Dr. Linder recommends that during every visit, veterinarians take a thorough diet history, because nearly 40 percent of owners of overweight pets don't know their pet has a problem.

"Ask about treats as well as supplements, chews, and rawhides," Dr. Linder says. "Many times things come up that wouldn't have been mentioned if I hadn't taken a diet history."

Dr. Linder says that she once asked a client if she was giving her dog its medication. The client said the dog was getting his pills in butter.

"We would never have known about that just by asking, 'What food are you feeding your pet?'" she says. "Owners don't always know how those extras may affect the overall diet."

Veterinarians have heard it before, she says, but having an in-depth conversation about the pet's diet is the only way to get those gems of information and it doesn't end there. "Clients should be told about their pet’s body condition and instructed that if it’s not ideal, it could have harmful consequences for their pets,” says Dr. Linder, such as diabetes, orthopedic problems, and respiratory complications as well as reduced quality of life and life expectancy.

Focusing in on those sometimes uncomfortable conversations can help educate your clients on problems they didn't even know their pets had.

Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member Bob Levoy is the author of 101 Secrets of a High Performance Veterinary Practice and 222 Secrets of Hiring, Managing and Retaining Great Employees in Healthcare Practices.

Related Content:

Client Relations & Marketing
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind
Treating patients with spectrum of care in mind
 BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
BluePrints Veterinary Marketing Group awarded 2 Gold VETTY Awards
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services
3 tips for marketing veterinary dental services

Advertisement

Latest News

Kentucky Humane Society with Louisville Metro Animal Services to host mega adoption event

San Diego Zoo celebrates Andean bear cub twins

Spring’s pet toxins have sprung

IBPSA and Zoundz Music for Pets team up to reduce pet anxiety in pet care facilities

View More Latest News
Advertisement