According to the American Animal Hospital Association, recent studies show that 30 to 40 percent of U.S. pets are overweight, and 25 percent are obese.  We all know that extra weight can cause health issues, such as respiratory problems, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and joint pain, just to name a few.

This is why Knollwood is hosting the Iams Weight Loss Challenge!  Our three pet participants - Sammie, Brody, and Toby - will be fed the recommended diet plan of the Iams Weight Control food.  Their progress will be tracked and featured here, with an update every month!

Your pets are more than welcome to join the Challenge, too!  Iams Weight Control food and treats are conveniently sold in our clinic.  We'd love to hear of your pets' weight loss success stories.  Feel free to send any pictures or comments to postmaster@knollwoodhospitalforpets.com, or bring pictures in to the clinic to be posted on a bulletin board in the upcoming months.

Come back next month to see our Challengers - and hopefully, there will be less of them to see!

Month 1 - Beginning December 1, 2009

Sammie Surdam
Golden retriever - 6 years old

Starting Weight: 70 lbs

Next Month's Goal Weight: 67-68 lbs

Brody Grish
DSH - 7 years old (and the pet of our own HA, Anney!)

Starting Weight: 13.2 lbs

Next Month's Goal Weight: 12 lbs

Toby Dietrich
Miniature Pinscher - 10 years old

Starting Weight: 10.4 lbs

Next Month's Goal Weight: 9-9.5 lbs

Month 2 - January 2010

Sammie Surdam

Starting Weight: 70 lbs

January's Goal Weight: 67-68 lbs

January's Actual Weight: 69 lbs

Total Loss: 1 lb!

Sammie is doing just fine with the new diet, and is enjoying the weight loss food and treats very much. Mom and Dad are trying to get her out and exercised in the cold weather as best as they can.

Brody Grish

Starting Weight: 13.2 lbs

January's Goal Weight: 12 lbs

January's Actual Weight: 12 lbs

Total Loss: 1.2 lbs!

Brody's having a little trouble adjusting to the new diet.  She is much more vocal about getting her food now, and is following Mom around begging!!!  We are going to try and see if switching her to the wet weight loss formula will work out better for her, since she was more used to eating wet food before.

Toby Dietrich

Starting Weight: 10.4 lbs

January's Goal Weight: 9-9.5 lbs

January's Actual Weight: 9.6 lbs

Total Loss: 0.8 lbs!

Toby is doing just fine eating the weight loss formula.  She got a lot of compliments over the holidays about how great and more slender she is looking these days!  Mom has been using Cheerios and little bits of carrots instead of her regular treats to help cut down on the calories as well.

Month 2 - February 2010

Sammie Surdam

Starting Weight: 70 lbs

February's Weight: 69 lbs

Total Loss: 1 lb!

So Sammie didn't lose this month...BUT she's maintaining!  And she's going to put forth a little extra effort this month.  This weather is making it a little difficult to get out and exercise, but she's not making any excuses!

Brody Grish

Starting Weight: 13.2 lbs

February's Weight: 11.6 lbs

Total Loss: 1.6 lbs!

Brody is down over half a pound!  Anney, Brody's "mom," is trying to get her other cat, Citrus, to gain weight while trying to help Brody lose weight.  Poor Brody feels like she's being deprived, but she's being a trooper!

Toby Dietrich

Starting Weight: 10.4 lbs

February's Weight: 9.6 lbs

Total Loss: 0.8 lbs!

Toby maintained her weight this month as well.  But she promised that she would would try a little harder to be nice and svelte by the end of the month!