Ark House Vets marks 25 years of pet weight loss clinic

Debbie Culley, Veterinary Nurse and Pet Health Adviser at Ark House Vets in Leighton Buzzard is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her pet weight loss clinics. 

Debbie’s ‘weight watchers’ clinics have long been a flagship service at Ark House Vets, helping to tackle the growing challenge of pet obesity. By educating owners and guiding pets through tailored weight management plans, she has transformed countless lives, enabling patients to live healthier, happier and more active lives.  

Ark House Vets pet weight loss clinics  

Out of her 52 years as a vet nurse, Debbie has worked at Ark House Vets for 30 of them and has run the pet weight loss clinics for half of her career. In her role as a Pet Health Adviser, she offers clients a range of pet nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle advice, helping them make lasting changes.  

Debbie stresses the importance of continuous pet health management to combat the rise of obesity in small animals. 

“The reason I keep doing it is because I feel I can make a difference to pets’ lives,” she says.   

“If a dog is overweight and can’t walk or breathe well and I can educate someone on how to improve its quality of life, that’s my motivation.”  

In addition to pet weight loss, she coordinates a range of other clinics including Puppy Playgroup, Junior and Senior Clinics, Arthritis Clinics and Dental Clinics.  

Pet weight assessments

Pets attending the weight loss clinic are given a body condition score, with the ideal being four or five out of nine. Unfortunately, many score higher, signalling obesity.   

“I don’t go by figures of what a certain breed should be, I do it by judging what I see and things like whether I can feel the ribs,” says Debbie, who believes many owners underestimate the impact of their dogs and cats being overweight. 

Pet nutrition advice 

Through these assessments, Debbie has led many patients to achieve healthy weights, while guiding owners on how to better manage their pet’s nutrition. Recommendations can include tailoring food, adjusting feeding amounts, or reducing treats.  

Ark House Vets arthritis clinics for dogs and cats 

Debbie also runs mobility clinics to treat conditions affected by weight, such as osteoarthritis, often seen in dogs. Hydrotherapy, massage therapy and supplements are all part of the treatment arsenal too.  

“I’ve seen so many pets that are gravely obese and can barely walk who are then able to run around like they did years before.” Debbie shares.  

Weight loss successes  

11-year-old Golden Retriever Skye was brought to Ark House Vets after a health scare. Following Debbie’s advice to alter her pet’s diet, measure food, change treats and stop sugary human snacks, Skye has lost 7kg in six months – almost one fifth of her body weight.  

  

Owner Gwen says the results have helped ease her dog’s arthritis and improve her mobility.  

 “It’s taken years off, and she’s back to what she was like when she was much younger.  

“When we went on holiday, she was on the beach every day. She’s never seemed happier, and she looked like she was enjoying life again.”  

Another patient, a Cockapoo named Teddy, originally weighed 16.5kg and has dropped to 12.2kg after following Debbie’s tailored pet weight management program, including regular exercise and set meal portions. 

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Britain's fattest dog is now half the hound 

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