Lovable losers: Local pets drop pounds in contest

The results are in for the "Biggest Loser Contest." No, not the TV show. The contest held for canines and felines at the Loving Care Animal Clinic in Rolling Meadows.

The first place winner is 3-year-old Jemima, a domestic short hair feline. She lost 28 percent body weight. Her owner, Jennifer Scanlan of Streamwood, is beaming with pride.

"I'm thrilled!" Scanlan said. "She is a new cat. She's excited and runs around, and goes up and down the stairs. She is a totally different cat."

When Jemima started the diet, she weight 17 pounds. Now she is down to about 11 pounds. The process was a breeze for her owner.

"She lost the weight just by eating the special food. I didn't exercise her or do anything else," Scanlan said. "The only hard part was being consistent about not giving her treats."

Alyssa Kocher of Lake Zurich did add a half-mile walk to her canine's weight-loss program. That may have been the secret to his second-place finish in the contest. Monty, a 5-year-old German shepherd-Siberian husky mix, lost 10 percent body weight.

"He weighed 95 pounds and got down to about 86 pounds," Kocher said. "He took to the food very well. The weigh-ins were helpful because the clinic monitored him."

Kocher explained that she and her husband also had to do some monitoring of their own when Monty got into a loaf of bread. Once they put the bread in the cupboard, there was no more bingeing for the dog.

Third-place winner, Montana, is also a bit of a trickster, according to owner Gail Piccolo of Rolling Meadows.

"I want him to lose more, but I have no new tricks up my sleeve. But I'm sure he has a few up his sleeve," she said. "He's a stubborn cat. Some days he would refuse the special food and run to try to eat the other cat's food."

Still, the 9-year-old domestic long hair cat lost 4 percent body weight. Piccolo thinks that's quite an accomplishment, considering how much Montana loves to eat.

"Another contestant was Tuscan, a feline who resides at Church Creek in Arlington Heights," said Sue Pfisterer, the clinic's marketing coordinator. "He actually gained 1 percent body weight, so we are suggesting he switch from counted calorie high fiber food to the counted calorie high protein food to help him lose weight. Also, we suspect some of the residents of Church Creek assisted living facility may have been sneaking him treats."

The contest ran from Aug. 1 to Feb. 16. The clinic invited their clients, four of which participated, to shed pounds instead of fur. All participants were on special food formulas. Pets received a free exam at the start and at the end of the contest. They each had to undergo blood work in the beginning, which was discounted by the clinic. The animals came in for monthly weigh-ins and received support phone calls from the staff at Loving Care. Each contestant had to be at least 20 percent or more overweight to be eligible for the "Biggest Loser Contest." Each winner received a goody bag, and gift cards ranging from $100 to $25.

'We started the program because we are committed to improving pets' life expectancy and well-being," said Dr. Joanne Carlson. "I was pleasantly surprised with Jemima losing 28 percent body weight. She was on diets before without significant results."

Monty and Montana are not resting on their laurels. Both will still be hittin' the gym, so to speak.

"He's well on his way, but we want him to continue to lose till he gets closer to the 80-pound range," Kocher said. "It's going to be a lifestyle change for him."

Carlson had specific suggestions for continued success and maintenance.

"If they have reached their goal, we'll have them stay on the same food, but increase the amount by 10 percent," she said. "If they have not reached their goal, we'll decrease the amount by 10 percent."

Loving Care Animal Clinic is planning another weight-loss program in April. Call (847) 670-8488 for details.

Seven steps to a healthy pet

• Maintain proper diet

• Provide only healthy treats and snacks

• Enforce daily exercise

• Get annual check-ups and vaccinations

• Supply fresh water daily

• Utilize attention to stimulate mental well-being

• Use an ID microchip for safe return of a lost pet