Veterinary Weight Management Programmes
Why you will benefit from this course
This course will assist you with the organisation, planning and ongoing delivery of a successful weight management programme in your practice, and from your studies on the course you will be able to set up a clear and easy-to-follow practice plan incorporating the key components for a successful, professional programme.
What will you learn?
Course content includes an exploration of clinic structure, staffing, nutrition and specific diets for weight loss, pricing, dealing with difficult cases, essential equipment, effective communication to achieve client motivation, promoting the programme, and creating supporting materials.
Learning outcomes
Successful completion of this course will enable learners to:
- Understand the principles and practicalities behind setting up and managing successful weight management programmes
- Appreciate the different tools we can call upon to achieve client motivation and adherence to treatment plans
- Consider where to obtain and how to develop the tools to deliver and support a weight management programme
Syllabus
An overview of the key topics that will be covered during the on-demand course, that will enable you to brush up and expand your knowledge
Basic principles
- Whose responsibility is pet obesity?
- One Health impact
- Professional responsibility
- Human/pet owner responsibility
- Obesity and disease conditions
- Benefits of running a weight management programme
Structure of a weight management programme
- Deciding which staff will assist with the clinics
- How the clinics will fit within your practice consultation structure
- Induction appointments, ongoing appointments and follow-ups
- Running client group sessions for weight management
Diet and nutrition for weight management
- Basic nutrition principles
- Body Condition Scoring
- Different types of diet available
- Behavioural considerations
- Different feeding methods
- Feline specifics
Communication and client support
- Consultation communication
- How to build trust with your clients
- Shared decision-making
- Creating client motivation to aid with adherence to the programme
Equipment for weight management clinics
- The equipment you will need for your clinics
- Items of equipment you may not have thought of
The common challenges with weight management clinics
- Exploration of the common challenges you may encounter
- The things you can do to reduce or ameliorate these challenges
Ensuring sustainability of weight management clinics
- Staffing and room space
- Setting up a fee structure for the programme
- Considering how we can develop a service-based structure to practice
Promotion of weight management clinics
- In-house materials
- Practice website
- In-house referral
- Use of social media
Creating and obtaining in-house supporting materials
- Flyers and posters
- Client support leaflets
- Weight monitoring handouts
Teamwork
- Getting the whole team on board with the clinics – from vets to reception staff
- Creating a practice plan for revamping your weight management clinics
