IAMS™ Brand Gets Oversized Dog Balloon Stuck - On Purpose - En Route to Parade to Raise Awareness of the Issue of Overweight Dogs

One real dog's wellness journey – and his turn as a larger-than-life city spectacle – brings attention to a pressing pet health issue

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To shine an unmissable light on the issue of overweight dogs, IAMS^™ pet food partnered with a real-life overweight dog named Waylon to put his story on a huge stage this holiday season. The brand created a larger-than-life dog balloon – modeled after Waylon – that got "stuck" between two buildings en route to the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Not actually an official entry in the parade, the two-story-tall balloon represents the many dogs across the country who are carrying extra weight.

It's one of the most pressing issues in pet health – over 59% of American dogs are overweight or obese^[1] and most dog parents don't even realize it. That's why the IAMS brand is putting a spotlight on the issue of overweight dogs and helping pet parents navigate their own dogs' wellness journeys through science-based nutrition and additional pet health and wellness resources.

The wedged Waylon balloon was visible in Chicago's Loop neighborhood on Sunday, and prompted passersby to scan on-site QR codes driving them to the IAMS Healthy Weight Dog Hub, where they could learn more about Waylon's journey toward living a more active, healthier lifestyle and reaching a healthier weight with a combination of regular exercise, veterinary care and IAMS nutrition and tools.* The hub contains a variety of resources and tools to help support all dogs and pet parents on their own wellness journeys, including tips for exercise and treating, a serving size calculator to help with portion control, and the IAMS Weight Assessment tool, which pet parents can use to determine if their dog is at a healthy weight by assessing their Body Condition Score.

Waylon was about 8 pounds overweight at a recent checkup, according to his veterinarian. Following his vet's recommendation, Waylon embarked on an overall wellness journey with two goals in mind: to reach a healthier weight and to participate in a local turkey trot event. Waylon and his pet parent aimed to achieve these goals through greater emphasis on exercise and spending time outdoors, and with nutritional support from the IAMS brand, focusing on portion control and changing his diet to IAMS Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food.*

"Many dog parents don't even know their pets are overweight and it's our mission at IAMS to help those dogs, like Waylon, live healthier lives," said Jean-Paul Jansen, Chief Marketing Officer, Mars Pet Nutrition North America. "Showcasing Waylon's journey on this large stage is important to us because it's one many pet parents can relate to. We're committed to helping them move forward in their own wellness journeys by providing nutritional support and practical tools to better understand and help improve their pets' health and wellbeing."

After following his veterinarian's recommended approach, Waylon's pet parent reports that he has lost weight and is continuing on his healthy weight journey. They even expect to achieve the goal of participating in a dog-friendly 5K together on Thanksgiving Day.

Pet parents inspired by Waylon's story can visit the IAMS Healthy Weight Dog Hub to check where their own dogs sit on the healthy weight spectrum and learn more about the different factors impacting weight. The hub offers a variety of resources and tools like tips for exercise and treating, a serving-size calculator to help with portion control, and details of specially formulated IAMS Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food. Made with delicious real farm-raised chicken, IAMS Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food is formulated with L-carnitine, an ingredient to help turn fat into energy in order to gradually help return dogs to a healthy weight when included as part of an overall wellness routine.

IAMS pet food products are available online or in-store at major retailers and pet stores nationwide. To follow along with Waylon's journey* and to access health and wellness resources in support of all dogs on their own wellness journeys, pet parents can visit the IAMS Healthy Weight Dog Hub, and follow the IAMS brand on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a $50bn+ family-owned business, our diverse and expanding portfolio of leading pet care products and veterinary services support pets all around the world and our quality snacking and food products delight millions of people every day. We produce some of the world's best-loved brands including ROYAL CANIN^®, PEDIGREE^®, WHISKAS^®, CESAR^®, DOVE^®, EXTRA^®, M&M's^®, SNICKERS^® and BEN'S ORIGINAL^™. Our international networks of pet hospitals, including BANFIELD^™, BLUEPEARL^™, VCA^™ and ANICURA^™ span preventive, general, specialty, and emergency veterinary care, and our global veterinary diagnostics business ANTECH^® offers breakthrough capabilities in pet diagnostics. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 150,000 Associates to act every day to help create a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

¹PetObesityPrevention.org: 2022 Pet Obesity U.S. Prevalence Survey
*Waylon's journey involves one dog only and similar results are not guaranteed. IAMS Healthy Weight Formula Dry Dog Food is not a substitute for regular physical activity or veterinary care. You should consult with your veterinarian to develop the best exercise and diet program for your dog based on their individual needs.

SOURCE The IAMS™ Brand