Investigating the effects of an educational intervention on veterinary professionals’ communication with clients about pet obesity

Despite growing concerns about the number of overweight and obese cats and dogs there has been little success in reducing the prevalence of pet obesity. The veterinary industry and prominent pet care companies, including Royal Canin, have indicated that reducing the prevalence of pet obesity remains a priority to protect the health and wellbeing of pets. Veterinary professionals face several challenges when encountering obese pets in the exam room, including potential difficulty discussing the issue with pet owners. The primary objective of this project is to create and evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program to teach veterinary professionals the skills to confidently discuss pet obesity, weight management, and nutrition with their clients using a pre-intervention post-intervention design. The education program will focus on three primary components of managing pet obesity: the causes and prevention of pet obesity, effective management strategies for treating obesity in cats and dogs, and how to effectively communicate about pet obesity with veterinary clients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jason Coe

Student:

Partner:

Royal Canin

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Guelph

Program: