Fortunately, cats and dogs are far too sensible to ruin their health with booze and fags - but allowing your pet to become obese is as bad.

The "Plump Pets Pack" is designed to be handed out at the first consultation of a weight reduction programme. Mark your packs clearly "cat" or "dog" since the diet food samples and exercising instructions will differ. You might include any of the following in your packs:

• There is an abundance of pre-printed literature available from both Hills & Waltham relevant to their respective weight control products. If your practice favours only one diet manufacturer, use only the leaflets relating to this product. If a choice is offered, it is far better to allow the pet to decide upon the brand (after all, they're the one's who are going to have to eat it!) and include feeding guides for both.
   
• Measuring cups for the diets will not fit into the wallets, but make sure they are to hand ready to give to the client during the consultation.
   
• Free samples of the dry diet foods . These are not available in a pre-packed form, but it is easy to make your own with small grip-seal bags and customised stickers made on Microsoft Word.
   
• Free sample of a healthy, low fat treat for dogs such as Pedigree Light & Tasty rice bones. Samples again are not available pre-packed, but try making your own. If Waltham know that you are actively promoting their products, they are usually willing to help out with some freebies (chat up the rep!). Diet cat treats are few and far between, so why not offer a small pack of cat nip or a ping bong ball? (cheap and cheerful, but always appreciated).
   
• A graph (available from either Hills or Waltham). There is nothing that a client likes more than being able to see their pet's progress from week to week (but do warn them that pets invariably reach a plateau at some stage on their diet just like their human counterparts).
   
• Discount vouchers for the diet food (again, available periodically from Hills & Waltham - ask your rep).
   
• A certificate of achievement (this looks great with "before & after" photos attached so get your practice to invest in a Polaroid, or better still, digital camera. Content of this nature is ideal for your website).
   
• A personalised diet plan for the individual animal - include an introduction, helpful hints, information about the diet foods and other relevant merchandise (plus photos of the products and costs).