With over 65% of dogs and 39% of cats in the UK now considered overweight or obese, Royal Canin is taking further steps to help owners manage their pets’ weight with a complete weight management product portfolio for dogs and cats, Light Weight Care.
The new range offers improved formulas across the range, with highly-visible ‘proven results’ flashes on-pack to ensure stand-out on shelf.
The Feline Care Nutrition Light Weight Care dry products feature a new, donut shaped kibble which is proven to slow down the speed of eating. New to the range is X-small Light Weight Care for adult dogs weighing up to 4kg with a tendency to gain weight.
Guidelines on portion control and mixed feeding have also been made more user-friendly.
Royal Canin retail marketing manager Ben Hurley said: “Obesity is a major problem for our pets, contributing to the development of diseases such as arthritis, cardiac problems and diabetes as well as reducing life expectancy. Yet owners are reluctant to admit, even to themselves, that their pet is overweight, let alone obese.
‘CURRENCY OF LOVE’
“Only 17 per cent of dog owners and 21 per cent of cat owners declare that their pet is overweight, which highlights a problem between perception and reality. Some owners don’t follow feeding guidelines on pack, and for many their emotional attachment to their pet means that food becomes a currency of love. For example, 69% of cat owners feed their cats until they stop begging.
“Our aim is to make it easier for dog and cat owners to understand their pet’s health needs, and to help them keep their pet at an ideal weight.”
The range will be the focus of activity in the summer months, where Royal Canin will be placing emphasis on the use of body condition scoring to help owners understand ideal weight and to identify any weight issues before they become a problem.
Further details of the summer Light Weight Care programme will be available shortly. “Watch this space!” said Ben. “We are going to be putting real efforts into helping pet owners keep their pets on the straight and narrow and on helping our specialist pet trade partners give them the advice they need.”
The enhanced Royal Canin Light Weight Care ranges for cats and dogs will be available to order from early April.
