Nutrition consultation and weight control
Body condition assessment, choice of food and a weight-loss plan for a dog or cat — including therapeutic diets for kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes and allergies.
What it involves
A nutrition consultation is a conversation about what, how much and how often your animal eats, combined with an assessment of its condition. We weigh the patient, assess its body fat using the body condition score (BCS) and its muscle mass, calculate the real calorie requirement and compare it with what the animal actually receives — including treats and whatever “falls off the table”.
The result is a concrete plan: choice of food (commercial or a home-made recipe), portion weight, number of meals, permitted treats and a schedule of weight checks. For medical conditions we choose a therapeutic diet — low-protein for kidney disease, an elimination diet for allergy, one with a controlled amount of carbohydrates for diabetes.
Excess weight affects about half of dogs and cats and shortens life by 1–2 years on average. Weight reduction is one of the most effective “medicines” for joint pain, diabetes and breathing problems.
When it is used
It is worth coming for a consultation when the animal is overweight or underweight, when the diet has to be changed after the diagnosis of a chronic disease, at a change of life stage (weaning, neutering, old age), and when you want to switch to a home-made or raw diet and do it safely.
We combine the consultation with a blood test if one has not been done in recent months — obesity can mask diabetes or hypothyroidism.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- You cannot feel the dog's ribs under the layer of fat, and the waist has disappeared.
- A cat has put on weight quickly after neutering and keeps demanding food.
- A dog is losing weight despite a good appetite, or is fussy and will not eat any food.
- The animal has been diagnosed with kidney, liver or pancreatic disease or diabetes and needs a special diet.
- A dog scratches and has recurrent diarrhoea — suspected food intolerance.
- You want to feed your animal a home-made or BARF diet and need a balanced recipe.
- A senior pet is losing muscle mass although its weight is normal.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
Please bring the label or a photo of the ingredients of the current food, and an honest written list of everything the animal receives during the day. During the visit we weigh the animal and assess its body condition.
If the animal is gaining weight despite small portions or losing weight despite a good appetite, we carry out a blood count, blood biochemistry and thyroid test in our laboratory — obesity can be a sign of disease, not just overfeeding.
How it proceeds
The consultation takes about 30–40 minutes. After the history and assessment of body condition, the vet calculates the energy requirement and proposes a plan: type of food, daily portion weight, method of feeding (e.g. interactive bowls for cats) and a treat budget. For weight reduction we aim for a loss of 1–2% of body weight per week — faster is dangerous, especially in cats.
You receive the plan in writing. We schedule follow-up weigh-ins every 2–4 weeks; they are free of charge and short, and allow portions to be adjusted as we go.
Aftercare
We introduce a change of food gradually over 5–7 days, mixing the old and the new. With an elimination diet it is important that throughout the trial period the animal receives nothing off the list — a single treat can ruin the diagnostic process.
Please call if the animal refuses to eat the new food for longer than 2 days (a cat must not go without food), vomits or has diarrhoea after the change of diet.
Frequently asked questions
How much should my dog weigh?
There is no single table — body condition matters, not kilograms. A properly nourished dog has ribs that can be felt but not seen, and a visible waist when viewed from above. We will assess this at the visit.
Can a cat go on a weight-loss diet?
Yes, but carefully: in cats, losing weight too quickly risks fatty liver (hepatic lipidosis). That is why we plan weight reduction to be slow, with regular weight checks.
Is a home-made diet better than commercial food?
It can be just as good, if it is balanced. Most recipes from the internet are deficient in calcium, vitamins or fatty acids. We will help you put together a menu with the right supplements.
Is therapeutic food needed permanently?
In chronic diseases (kidneys, urinary stones) usually yes. With an elimination diet — until the end of the trial, after which we work out what the animal tolerates.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Have questions about nutrition consultation and weight control?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.