Call for stories of healthy-eating hounds

Swindon-based healthy pet food firm Vet's Kitchen wants to hear inspiring stories.

Its Woof & Well Award is for a special dog that’s stuck to a sensible eating regime and ramped up their exercise regime - the sort of dog that would make Joe Wicks proud. 

Of course, the firm says, the owner has to take some of the credit.

Vet's Kitchen is a pet food business with an in-house state-of-the-art veterinary practice that sees over a hundred pets every day

Fiona Firth, a pet nutritionist at Vet’s Kitchen, said: "We know how tempting it is to treat our dogs, especially at the moment, by giving them an extra helping of food or worse, something from the biscuit jar, but dogs - like humans - need to maintain a healthy weight range.

“It’s also important to remember that dogs with different ages or different conditions can sometimes require a different type of food. 

"If your dog is overweight, for example, try and find a product rich in protein but low in fat to help them lose weight. The Vet’s Kitchen Healthy Weight dog food contains 30 percent less fat than our Everyday Health dog food. It’s also high in fibre to help satisfy hunger.

“Dog obesity can lead to severe health problems such as diabetes, so regular exercise combined with feeding the correct amount of a good quality food is one way of caring for them from the inside out. 

"What’s more, on our website we have a handy Calorie Calculator - https://vetskitchen.co.uk/pages/calorie-calculator - to help work out how much you should be feeding your dog. “

Dog owners with are story to tell are invited at get in touch at https://vetskitchen.co.uk/pages/contact. 

The most inspiring dog will receive a free canine diet consultation with an in-house Nutritionist, six months of tailored nutrition from Vet’s Kitchen, a doggy fitness tracker and a gold medal for their collar.  

A second and third prize of runner-up rosettes will also be awarded, together with fitness trackers and a selection of Vet’s Kitchen products. 

The Vet’s Kitchen Woof and Well Award will be supported by Wood Green, The Animals Charity to provide tips and advice to pet owners. 

Linda Cantle, Director of Pet and Owner Support Services at Wood Green, said: “It’s great that brands are taking steps to highlight how the public can act in a responsible and caring way towards their pets. 

"Just like Vet’s Kitchen, our mission is to provide support and guidance for pet owners, and this includes raising awareness for health issues like obesity.” 

Vet’s Kitchen has tips to dog owners who would like to help their dog lose weight:

-  Choose a lower calorie food or ‘lighter’ food option for them and make sure the fat content is below 10 percent for them to lose weight.

- Weigh out your dog’s food each day or weigh out a week’s worth on a Sunday if you find yourself short of time during the week.

- Don’t forget to allow for treats, dental chews out of their daily calorie allowance.

- Add extra fibre using root vegetables, such as carrots as part of the daily allowance can help add to that feeling of fullness.

- Exercise, exercise, exercise! Just like humans, taking your dog out for a walk every day is good for them. It is important to start with shorter distances and build up the time you spend outdoors gradually. For older, overweight dogs bear in mind that 80 percent of senior dogs suffer from arthritis (often undiagnosed) and they should be exercised using shorter, more frequent walks (such as three 15-minute walks per day to help them lose weight without over-stressing the joints.

The Woof & Well Award launches on the 31 March and is open to all dogs resident in the UK who can show they’ve been barking up the fitness tree with some noticeable results. 

A before and after photo, together with 100 words to explain their journey, would help the judges to choose the gold medal winner and runners up. The award scheme closes on the 30 June, when the winners will be announced.