Owners 'kill pets with kindness'

By Fiona Stalker
BBC Scotland

A leading veterinary charity has said the problem of obese pets in Scotland is now the worst it has ever seen.

The PDSA clinic said about 70% of dogs it sees are overweight

The People's Dispensary For Sick Animals (PDSA) claims the growing number of owners who overfeed their animals could be guilty of "killing their pets with kindness".

And the charity fears official figures on overweight pets are masking a much bigger problem.

The PDSA said although official figures now put dog obesity at 30%, experience at clinics points to about 70% of dogs being overweight.

That, said the charity, puts them at risk of heart and kidney disease, diabetes and arthritis - all serious and in some cases fatal conditions.

Life expectancy of an overweight dog can be cut short by two years.

The problem is also rising dramatically among cats.

I visited the PDSA clinic in Aberdeen, which is at the forefront of the battle against the bulge.

What the pet gets to eat is down to its owner - the cat or dog doesn't open the packet themselves Fiona Gregge Senior PDSA vet

Brian Horne put his cocker spaniel Fraser on a diet after becoming seriously worried about his weight.

Two and a half years later, Fraser has lost 20% of his body weight.

Brian said: "I suppose he was getting the odd titbit from the table.

"Unconsciously we were feeding him and now we're pretty strict."

Brian was given advice about Fraser's diet from the PDSA and now feeds him special low-fat meals.

"The first couple of days he turned his nose up but he now seems used to it," he said.

"He has far more energy and is very bouncy."

'Can't breathe'

Fraser and Brian both seemed nervous about the weigh in.

But the good news was delivered by senior PDSA vet Fiona Gregge - Fraser had lost some more weight.

Fiona said: "A lot of owners do give up quite readily - they don't see the weight loss rapidly, but full marks to Brian - he's persevered and his dog is much healthier for it - a real success story."

But sadly there are many stories that aren't so successful.

Fiona said the clinic had seen cats who cannot groom themselves because they are so overweight.

"They end up with pathological fractures because their legs can't carry them," she said.

'Normal weight'

"You have the dogs who are so overweight that they can't breathe.

"As a result they've had heart problems and the owners don't notice until the dogs start panting, by which it's sometimes too late to do anything."

And the vet fears the official figures of overweight pets are just the tip of the iceberg.

"From the animals we see coming through the door, we reckon we're seeing nearer 70% obesity and it does make us feel quite frustrated because so many of the problems we're seeing could be prevented if these animals were a normal weight," she said.

"At the end of the day what the pet gets to eat is down to its owner.

"The cat or dog doesn't open the packet themselves."

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