The scales are set for Pet Slimmer of the Year 2014
It’s no secret that pet obesity has become a rather weighty topic recently and one which is showing no signs of shrinking. This has made it ever more challenging for veterinary professionals to help achieve healthy weight goals for their clients’ pets, which is why Hill’s Pet Nutrition launched its Pet Slimmer of the Year 2014 competition. Championed by Drive Nutrition, the heavyweight campaign benefits vet nurses, their practices and pet owners; offering some very compelling reasons for everyone to get involved.
Most vet nurses will be familiar with two big barriers to successful pet slimming – lack of owner compliance and motivation. Luckily these are two hurdles which Pet Slimmer of the Year can help to overcome. Through offering a whole host of prizes as well as exclusive educational material and handy weight loss tools, participating practices will have no shortage of ways to support, incentivise and reward their clients pet slimming success.
The competition will see 16 regional winners slimmed down - quite literally - to one deserving canine and one feline champion who have triumphed in the battle against the bulge. Both overall winners will win a whopping £1000 worth of Love2Shop vouchers plus a year’s supply of Hill’s pet food. What’s more, the nominating vet nurse and their practice will receive £500 worth of the coveted vouchers, making sure everyone is rewarded for their endeavours.
Eight regional winners have already been chosen during the first judging phase, with the remaining eight still up for grabs. Nurses who nominate a regional winner will receive £150 worth of Love2Shop vouchers while all participating clients will automatically receive a free starter pack. Successful pet slimmers will be rewarded with a sought-after congratulatory goody bag worth £49*, giving vets and nurses have a multitude of ways to motivate their clients.
Vet nurse, Alan Gallagher, from Sunbeam Veterinary Hospital in Cork, has entered 47 of his clients into the competition so far and believes the benefits of the programme are more than just skin deep, “I’ve been running weight loss clinics for years now and by far the best success I have achieved is through Pet Slimmers. Clients absolutely love the motivation and really enjoy getting to know the practice team as a result of coming in for their regular weigh-ins - you can see they’re literally buzzing to find out the results each time! So, not only does it do wonders for the pet’s waistline but it’s a great way to strengthen relationships with your clients who are then much more likely to take your other healthcare recommendations on board. There’s literally no reason not to enter!”
Participating practices will be provided with a comprehensive range of educational materials for the waiting room and weighing scales areas designed to create awareness of obesity and inform owners of the benefits of pet weight loss by encouraging regular weight checks. There are also some handy tools to help practices manage weight clinics more effectively, including the Quick Reco online tool for creating healthy weight protocols, a healthy weight protocol mobile app, tape measure and measurement sheets - so keeping pets on the ‘slim’ and narrow has never been simpler. Participating practices are eligible for an exclusive deal on Hill’sTM Prescription DietTM Metabolic and should ask their Hill’s Veterinary Territory Manager for more information.
Entries close on the 31st of October, so to be in with a chance of achieving champion status in the slimming stakes nurses should visit Drive Nutrition at www.hillsvet.co.uk or www.hillsvet.ie now and, with the clients’ permission, register their details online.
*Prices based on the canine pack
