Pets: Weighty issue of health risks for obese pets

A CHUBBY pet can look cute - but what if its owner is killing it with kindness?

It seems that thousands of animals, especially dogs, are facing serious health risks, including diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, because they are overweight.

Veterinary charity PDSA has issued a warning, revealing its dog obesity findings are painting a worrying picture of pets' waistlines.

"Overweight pets are less mobile, less willing to play and more likely to develop a number of serious health conditions," explains senior veterinary surgeon Sean Wensley. "We know from our work with pet owners that many view an overweight pet as cute and cuddly.

"What they don't see is the threat that obesity poses to their beloved animal's health and lifespan."

More than 30,000 dogs across the UK have had their weight and general health assessed by the charity over the last four years. Over this time, the percentage of overweight pets has risen from around one in five to more than one in three.

The fears are that if the trend continues, by 2013 nearly 50 per cent of all UK dogs could be overweight.

It is not too late to put an end to your pet's misery, or prevent your animal from getting fat in the first place.

Preventing weight loss is always much easier than getting an animal to lose weight though, so introducing a good diet when a pet is young is essential. The reality is, obese puppies or kittens are likely to become obese adults owing to the number fat cells they produce during growth.

Owners should be wary of feeding their pets treats, as even a small one can significantly increase their calorie intake. If they are given, consider reducing the amount of main meal given that day.

If your animal is already overweight, the PDSA advises discussing a weight-loss programme with your vet, allowing the correct combination of diet and exercise to be struck.

A pet should not be allowed to go from "couch potato" to "marathon runner" overnight, according to the charity's vets, so build up exercise gradually.

In some pets, especially cats and rabbits, weight loss has to be very gradual as losing it too quickly can be fatal.

A vet will be able to advise owners on the right shape for their pet as many people are not clear on what's healthy.

"Ultimately, owners control their pet's diet and exercise. The good news is, it's never too late to achieve positive change with the help of their veterinary practice," explains Sean. He also stresses that owners must not be worried about seeking advice for their overweight pet for fear of being prosecuted. Cases of prosecution for pet obesity are very rare and are usually a result of owners repeatedly ignoring advice from their vet over a long period of time.

Owing to the widespread problem of animal obesity, the PDSA is re-launching its annual pet slimming competition, PDSA Pet Fit Club, to recruit some of the country's fattest pets and help them slim down.

Practical help will be issued to owners to help improve the quality of their pet's life. To enter, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub. For more information on obesity, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/obesity.