'Henry was so big we would need to drag him around the park'

Pioneering Liverpool clinic helps pets lose 2.7 tonnes

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The University of Liverpool’s Royal Canin Obesity Care Clinic is the first specialist weight loss clinic for pets anywhere in the world. Established in 2005, the clinic is celebrating 20 years of helping cats and dogs live longer and healthier lives.

The Liverpool-based service has supported 740 patients over the years including 546 dogs and 196 cats. The combined weight loss adds up to the same weight as an elephant, totalling 2.7 tonnes. Pet obesity is now one of the UK’s fastest growing animal health issues and it is estimated that about half of all UK pets are either overweight or obese.

Professor Alex German, one of the clinic’s founders, said: "When we founded the clinic 20 years ago our aim was to understand why pets gain weight and how best to support owners in helping their companions to lead healthier lives.

"Since then, every patient we’ve seen has contributed to that mission by shaping our research, redefining our approach and defining the service we offer. However, there is still so much more to discover, and each new case continues to move the field forward.

"One of my favourite cases we’ve had was a golden retriever called Henry whose owner was in his 80s. He would have to drag Henry around the park but after coming to the clinic Henry lost a huge amount of weight and gained a new lease of life.

"He lost so much weight that a man they’d see occasionally in the park thought Henry’s owner had bought a new dog."

Through the clinic’s partnership with Royal Canin, all of the consultations and tests directly related to the weight problem are free of charge.

The clinic also offers free regular follow up contact after the initial weight loss to ensure the animals maintain their new weight and the programme is successful long term.

Dr Ian Williams MRCVS, Health Affair Manager at Royal Canin, added: "For two decades, our collaboration with the University of Liverpool has helped advance the science of pet weight management and transform outcomes for hundreds of animals.

"We are incredibly proud to support a service that continues to lead the way in tackling one of the most significant health challenges facing pets today."

More information can be found on the University of Liverpool’s Royal Canin Obesity Care Clinic website.