Run by Sisters Norma Boshoff and Minyon Basson, the TAH Weight Clinic was established to help owners get their pets' weight to a healthy level. Both cats and dogs may join the programme.

Excessive weight in an otherwise healthy pet is a direct result of consuming unnecessary amounts of food. Any pet, neutered or not, will gain weight if it's over-fed relative to its energy requirements. And you have control over the amount your dog or cat eats.

At the programme start pets are weighed and put on a special weight loss diet. These diets contain the right levels and combinations of specific nutrients to modify the pet's metabolism to a lean pattern. Dog owners are advised to increase the time spent walking their pet and to complement the walks with play time. Cat owners are asked to walk their cat on a harness, play with them or entice them to jump onto high shelves for food. Also, add interactive toys to its environment. Hydrotherapy at TAH's heated pool is recommended for dogs suffering from arthritis or joint problems.

Weight reduction needs to be done gradually - no crash diets. Once you've established a feeding plan that induces gradual weight loss over a few months, your pet will reach a point where weight maintenance occurs. You'd be surprised how much more active and alert your pet will be at an optimum weight. Also, your pet probably will live longer and have a much better quality of life.

Progress is checked with fortnightly weighing sessions at the TAH Weight Management Clinic and pets also may be entered for the Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year competition.