TOPEKA, Kan.,
Jan. 13, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- As Americans ring in the new year, many have set
new resolutions to be healthier and shed extra pounds. But what
about resolutions for our beloved furry family members? A new
survey from Hill's Pet Nutrition, conducted in partnership with
Kelton, a Material Company, revealed that 40 percent of pet parents
resolve to lose weight themselves, but only half of those say they
have plans in place to help their pet lose weight. In addition,
nearly half of pet parents say it's hard to help their pet lose
weight. To help pet parents jump start their pet's weight
management journey, Hill's has enlisted world-renowned chef and dog
pet parent Alton Brown to join its
annual End Pet Obesity campaign, which provides free education,
tools and resources for pet owners.
"For humans and animals alike, setting and sticking to healthy
habits can have a positive impact on overall health. I know this
firsthand from my own personal weight loss journey and as one of my
resolutions this year, I am now working with my dog Scabigail to
reach her ideal weight with a custom nutrition plan using food from
Hill's," said Brown. "I've learned that overtreating and not
feeding the right diet can have serious consequences, which is why
I'm happy to be working with Hill's Pet Nutrition to help other pet
owners learn how to tackle pet obesity, so pets can live their best
life with their families."
Obesity is a leading health risk for pets. Feeding a few
additional treats or ounces here or there may seem harmless, but
ultimately adds up and can have a serious impact on a pets overall
wellbeing.
Other survey findings include:
- Treats = Love. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of pet
parents say the way they show love and affection to their pets is
through treats, and more than 1 in 5 (22%) say it is giving their
pet people food. While many pet parents give treats to connect with
their furry loved ones, some admit that treats are often given
without any reason at all. More than 1 in 3 (35%) say they give
them 'just because'.
- Showing love isn't worth the extra
pounds. With treats being a key way of showing love, the
majority of pet parents (61%) shared they would stop giving too
many treats if they were aware their pet needed to lose
weight.
- Despite the love they show, pet parents do recognize the
repercussions of overtreating pets. Those with overweight
pets primarily blame it on giving them more treats lately (40%).
Those with dogs are more likely to blame treats than those with
cats (47% vs. 34%).
- Keeping up with resolutions remains a challenge for pets and
their parents alike. Only about one-third (30% for
pet parents; 35% for pets) are likely to make their 2022
resolutions a reality.
"Even a little extra weight on a pet can have a big impact on
their overall quality of life. Astoundingly, 90 percent of
pet parents with an overweight pet do not realize
it1.. It is Hill's goal to help pet parents feel
empowered and prepared to proactively discuss their pet's weight
with their veterinarian," said Dr. Karen
Shenoy, Hill's US Chief Veterinary Officer. "As part of our
commitment to ending pet obesity, Hill's has developed easy guides
and tools designed to quickly gauge a pet's current body condition
and provide tips around how to address the added weight. A
consultation with a veterinarian can then provide further insights
on the ideal weight for a pet's breed and size and open up a
dialogue so that the pet's veterinarian can work with the pet
parent to map out an appropriate plan for optimal nutrition
and physical activity."
Hill's End Pet Obesity campaign provides pet parents with
various ways to assist their pet on their weight management
journey:
- Check Your Pet: Pet owners can check their pet's body condition
by using Hill's easy-to-use body shape assessment tool that shows a
pet's results plus a recommendation for what to do next.
- Schedule A Vet Visit: Pet owners should always consult their
veterinarian if they have concerns about their pet's weight. Hill's
recommends starting the conversation with these questions:
-
- Is my pet at their ideal weight?
- How can I help my pet reach their ideal weight?
- How can food help manage a pet's weight?
- Start With The Right Food: Hill's has a variety of products
that can help your pet achieve a healthy weight.
- Enter Hill's Pampered Pet Package: Hill's invites pet owners to
check their pets weight for a chance to win Hill's Pampered Pet
Package Sweepstakes. The grand prize includes a $5,000 check that can be used towards Hill's
food, vet wellness visits and grooming. Hill's is also giving away
thousands of other prizes for select winners.
To learn more, visit www.EndPetObesity.com.
About Hill's Pet Nutrition
At Hill's, our decades of science and research guide us in
creating nutrition that's a step ahead —so pets and pet parents can
enjoy every day together. As the US #1 Veterinarian Recommended pet
food brand, knowledge is our first ingredient with 220+
veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists working to
develop breakthrough innovations in pet health. Hill's Prescription
Diet therapeutic nutrition plus our everyday foods, Hill's Science
Diet, Hill's Healthy Advantage and Hill's Bioactive Recipe, are
sold at vet clinics and pet specialty retailers worldwide. For more
information about Hill's, our products and our forward-thinking
approach to nutrition, visit us at HillsPet.com or HillsVet.com, or
connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
To learn more about Hill's support for shelter pets year-round,
visit us at HillsPet.com/shelter.
About the Pet Weight Management 2021 Study
The survey was conducted between December
2, 2021, and December 6, 2021,
among 1,094 dog and cat owners 18 years of age and over, using an
email invitation and an online survey.
Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The
magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the
number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing
the results.
In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a
survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.0
percentage points from the result that would be obtained if
interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe
represented by the sample. The margin of error of any subgroups
will be slightly higher.
About Material
Material is a leading global insights
and strategy consultancy serving as a partner to more than 100 of
the Fortune 500 and thousands of smaller companies and
organizations. Utilizing a wide range of customized, innovative
research techniques and staff expertise in the marketing, branding,
PR, media, and business strategy; Material helps drive our clients'
business forward.
For more information about Material please call 1.888.853.5866
or visit www.materialplus.io
1 2018 Pet Obesity Study. Association for Pet
Obesity Prevention.
Contact: Alana Doyle
alana.doyle@bcw-global.com
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SOURCE Hill's Pet Nutrition