The results are in for ROYAL CANIN’s annual Healthy Weight Competition!
Following on from the success of last year, ROYAL CANIN received more than 170 entries to its 2017 competition and announced the winners at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 15 March 2017 at Hogarth’s Stone Manor Hotel in Kidderminster
Pictured from left to right are Andrew Doyle, Veterinary Marketing Director for ROYAL CANIN, Toffe’s owners, Mr & Mrs Rawlings and Veterinary Nurse Jackie Whitway from St Georges Vets
The Healthy Weight Competition aims to provide support and reward weight loss in cats and dogs, recognising the hard work pet owners and veterinary nurses put in to maintaining a pet’s healthy weight. This year saw the addition of the new ‘Judge’s Choice’ award, which recognises a significant achievement in weight management. Other categories included ‘Best Long-term Weight Management’, ‘Best Starter’, ‘Best Before and After Photos’ and ‘Best Journey’.
The overall winner of this year’s competition was seven-year-old domestic shorthair cat, Toffee. Having visited Veterinary Nurse Jackie Whiteway at St George’s Vets in Perton, Toffee was measured with a Body Condition Score of 9/9 and a waist measurement of 68cm. Jackie immediately recommended ROYAL CANIN’S dry satiety diet and weigh-ins every two weeks to ensure he stayed on track. Within six months, Toffee went from a cat who slept indoors much of the day and struggled to groom himself to a lively and energetic pet with a clean, shiny coat. Toffee lost 8cm from his chest, 14cm from his waist and a total of weight loss of 1.96kg. Both Toffee’s owners and Jackie were awarded a £1,000 holiday voucher for their dedication to Toffee’s weight management programme.
Sarah Collins, Veterinary Marketing Executive at ROYAL CANIN, said: “We’ve seen some fantastic weight loss journeys during this competition, with our six winners losing a combined total of nearly 30kg. It takes dedication from both veterinary nurses and the pet owners to see their cat or dog through a weight management programme so our Healthy Weight Competition is a great tool to keep pets healthy and reward those involved for their success.
“ROYAL CANIN is committed to supporting veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland with weight management programmes and tailor-made diets and we look forward to seeing this year’s winners continue their weight loss journeys.”
The 2018 Healthy Weight Competition opens for entries in May 2017. For more information about ROYAL CANIN’s Healthy Weight Competition, contact your Veterinary Business Manager or visit www.royalcaninhealthyweight.co.uk
The winners
Best before and after photos
Eleven-year-old Jack Russell Terrier Tiger-Lily with the help of Abbeycroft Veterinary Surgery Vet Nurse Katie Hartnoll. Tiger-Lily lost 38% of her body weight, achieving the ideal body condition score of 5. Now weighing 6.1kg, Tiger-Lily has maintained her healthy weight for four months and has a much friendlier demeanour and temperament.
Best long term management
Having started his weight loss management in November 2015, Sebastian the Jack Russell terrier has gone from strength to strength. Again under the watchful eye of Vet Nurse Katie Hartnoll, Sebastian initially weighed 10.4kg and had aBody Condition Score of eight. The nine-year-old now weighs 8.8kg and has a much healthy body condition score of four.
Best starter
Overall winner, Toffee, also won the Best Starter award.
Best journey (joint winner)
The first joint winner of the best journey award was seven-year-old Labrador Rolo, with the help of Vet Nurse Sam Holliday of Paragon Vets. Rolo’s target weight was set at 31.7kg but Rolo went on to smash that, weighing 28.5kg at the start of 2017 and achieving an ideal Body Condition Score of 5.
Best journey (joint winner)
Nala, a twelve-year-old domestic shorthair cat was the other winner of the best journey award and her owners were also helped by Sam Holliday. One year since starting her journey, Nala has lost 1.45kg and has significantly improved her quality of life going into her senior years.
Judge’s Choice
Five-year-old beagle Charlie has been battling obesity for almost four years but has now made a significant weight loss. In February 2013, Charlie weighed 31.4kg, nine kilograms more than his recommended weight. Charlie now weighs 23.25kg and has an ideal Body Condition Score. He is now almost there at his ideal target weight.