#HillsPet redefines love by helping our pets achieve healthy weight loss

In our society, FOOD = LOVE. We may deny it, especially the healthiest of us who eat to live rather than live to eat (can't we do both?), but we still link food and love together. 

• Food provides comfort when we're sick or sad.

• We enjoy romantic meals with our partners.

• We reward our children with candy and treats for a job well done. 

• We bring a welcoming platter of cookies to our new neighbor.

When we give from the heart, we often give food. Especially when it comes to our pets. They can't communicate in words how they feel about us, and though we try to tell them how we feel, we're never quite sure if they grasp the depth of our devotion. What's the sure-fire way to show our pets how we feel? Give them food! Those purrs and wagging tails say it all. Our pets love food as much as we do.

When does treat-giving and table scrap-sneaking get out of control? When our pets reach an unhealthy weight. This weighty problem can spiral out of control quickly, before we even notice. 

Changing our feelings about food and love would be next to impossible. We don't want to deprive our pets of what they love, and we don't want to deprive ourselves of the affection we receive when we make our pets happy. Thankfully, Hill's® has formulated a program of food and treats that do not require us to deprive our furry friends: Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution.

If your pet is overweight and you don't want to curb the food affection (who does?), this is a viable solution to consider. For pets on this program, it's not as much about the quantity of food provided (thought there are feeding guidelines, of course), but it's about feeding your pet a food that will help your pet's metabolism move things in a lighter direction. You don't have to withhold food! Awesome!

Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution is a proven weight loss program:

• 88% of pets lost weight in two months at home

• clinically proven to safely provide 28% body fat loss in dogs in two months and 29% body fat loss in cats in two months

• nutrition that helps pets feel full and satisfied between meals

• clinically proven to avoid weight regain following a weight loss program

• 80% of pet owners would recommend Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution to friends with overweight pets

This program is available for both dogs and cats and requires veterinary approval. But Hill's® is making it easier for Well Minded readers to get started with their Tell-a-Friend Program. Just by filling out a form (link below), you'll receive a $25 Wellness Visit rebate AND a $25 rebate for Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution food–a $50 value. And, please, tell a friend by sharing this post. Hill's® wants all of our readers and friends to benefit from this offer. Here's the link:

Hill's® Rebate and Coupon 

So let's redefine love. Keep giving those treats, but make sure they are the right ones. Because EXTRAORDINARY NUTRITION = YOUR PET AT HIS VERY BEST. If that's not love, I don't know what is.

Further Reading:

Feed Your Pet with Love, Not Excess Food

Is Your Pet Overweight? Let's Get Real

If Bear Can Do it, Any Pet Can: Gaining Back Your Friend

This post is sponsored by Hill's and the Pet Blogger Newwork. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Food, but Well Minded only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., is not responsible for the content of this article.

is your pet overweight? let's get real #HillsPet #giveaway #sponsored

I hate to admit it, but when it comes to evaluating pets based on their looks, I usually go for the kooky ones. Missing an eye? Come to mama. Scraggly fur? That's my girl! A little plump? Nah, you're extra cuddly! That plump you got goin' on just adds character. Nothin' to worry about. 

The problem with my philosophy? When it comes to pets being plump, there is a problem. Overweight dogs and overweight cats are surely cute and cuddly and a little bit funny, but the reality of the situation is that they aren't healthy. An overweight pet can have a whole host of health problems that can cause discomfort and a shortened life span. As pet parents, it is our responsibility to do whatever we can to keep our pets healthy. Helping your pet maintain a healthy weight is vital to his overall health. 

It's difficult! I understand. We hear all the stories about how Americans are overweight. We try, don't we? (How is that new year's resolution holding up, buy the way?) Did you know that America's pets are also dealing with weight issues? Over half of the population of dogs and cats in the U.S. are considered overweight, in fact. Dog weight loss and cat weight loss are becoming increasingly important to pet parents.

We often use food (usually the unhealthy kind) as an emotional crutch. We eat in times of celebration and in times of sorrow. We have "comfort food." We reward ourselves for a job well done with an indulgent treat. And we do the same for our pets. We reward them for a trick with a tasty treat or slip them a bit of food under the table at dinner time. Heck, we can't help ourselves...we even reward them with food just for being cute. I know I've had my struggles with that. We don't want to deprive our pets. Food equals love. And we love to love our pets.

So what do we do? Sometimes we try to reduce the amount of food we give our dogs and cats, but then they just start begging for more. Sometimes we try to impose a new exercise routine, but that only works if the canine or feline party is willing and able. Exercise is important to the whole family, but if we're not putting healthy food into our bodies, or if we're rewarding ourselves and our pets with food a little too often, our efforts to work those calories off can't keep up with our intake.

Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution just might be the answer. It puts the focus on WHAT we feed our pets rather than HOW we feed our pets. Hill's® seems to "get" us and our struggles to maintain our pets' health. It can be frustrating to try to help our pets loose weight and fail. Check out this hilarious video, "One Big Kitty:"

I want to snuggle him, too! But I think his owner is doing the right thing. He'll still be cute and cuddly in a couple of months after dining on Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. The most important thing is that he'll be healthy and comfortable, all set to maximize his time with his loving pet parent. Maybe he'll even master that obstacle course!

Our pets aren't as critical of themselves as we are when they look in the mirror (I'm a bit envious of that), so now is the time for us to look critically for them. They are cute and lovable no matter what, but are they maintaining a healthy weight? Let's help them. Hills® is working to help us help them. They report "Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution food works by activating metabolism to regulate appetite and burn fat. In real life, normal conditions, 88% of dogs and cats that participated in our feeding trial lost weight without having to greatly change their life style."

Hill's® is generously supporting well minded readers in their pet weight loss efforts by allowing you the opportunity to try this program!

For your pet's opportunity to try Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution for free, we're giving away 10 Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution trial kits with your veterinarian's authorization. It's a $70 value!

Check out what the kits include:

CANINE METABOLIC STARTER KIT                         FELINE METABOLIC STARTER KIT

• One Weight Loss Success Tote Bag                       • One Weight Loss Success Tote Bag

• One Weight Loss Success Guide                            • One Weight Loss Success Guide

• One 6lb bag of Metabolic dry dog food                     • One 4lb bag of Metabolic dry cat food

• Two 13oz Metabolic cans                                       • Two 5.5oz Metabolic cans

• One 16oz Metabolic treats                                      •  One 2.5oz Metabolic treats 

• Two $25 coupons                                                   • Two $25 coupons

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment and tell us about your pet who can benefit from Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution. Be sure to include all of the required information below: 

• What is your pet: dog or cat

• Pet's age

• Pet's current weight or close guess

• Your name

• Your email address

Just like us, before starting a weight loss program, a doctor should be consulted. Your veterinarian's authorization is required before starting Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution food.

This giveaway is limited to one winner per household and is for U.S. residents only. Be sure to use a valid email when leaving your comment so we can contact you if you are chosen as a winner.

Please share this opportunity with others by posting on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, or email a link to this article directly to a pet parent who may benefit from this information. We're all in this together!

MORE INFORMATION:

Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution Website

Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution for Dogs

Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution for Cats

Hills® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution Ratings and Reviews

8 Common Snacks That Will Prompt a Portly Pet

Big Pet Gets Bigger: Latest Survey Shows Dog and Cat Obesity Epidemic Expanding

Banfield Pet Hospital State of Pet Health 2012

This post is sponsored by Hill's. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Food, but well minded only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., is not responsible for the content of this article. 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!