Description
Do you find it difficult to have conversations with owners about obesity in pets? Do you find your words fall on deaf ears? Or, despite your best efforts, do you find it difficult to maintain owner compliance during a weight programme?
In this lecture, Prof Alex German of the University of Liverpool will cover communication in the context of the obesity consultation. Drawing on parallels with human obesity, he will first explain some of the psychological and behavioural factors known to be associated with obesity in pets, and illustrate how these influence the weight management process. He will then discuss the approach to the obesity conversation, and alternative strategies to use for getting owners on board. Finally, he will explain how to keep owners motivated during the weight loss process and what to say when things go wrong.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss the association between owner psychology and pet obesity and how it can influence the success of weight management
- Interpret different aspects of conversations with pet owners about obesity and how they can positively or negatively affect outcomes
- Describe different approaches for introducing the topic of obesity during conversation with a pet owner.
- Interpret an owner’s readiness to engage with a weight management plan, according to the transtheoretical model of change, and use this to decide on a communication strategy.
- Decide how to apply communication strategies to improve the outcomes of weight loss regimens.