The Gold Coast Bulletin

DOES MY CHUM LOOK BIG IN THIS?

- AMANDA ROBBEMOND

New Year, new pooch. Gold Coast pets who have let their figures go to the dogs are in for a surprise. Vets and owners are conspiring to dial back the din dins and impose strict new doggie diets. And 13kg terrier Jack (pictured with owner Tegan Caughley), will be howling with horror.

WAGGING out of walkies and chomping too much chow are turning the nation’s pets into a pack of monster moggies and 10 pound pomeranian­s.

Just over 41 per cent of dogs and 32 per cent of cats are classed as overweight in Australia.

Among them is Parkwood pooch Jack, who is going on a strict diet after his vet weighed in.

Owner Tegan Caughley said the porky terrier was only supposed to weigh eight kilograms but was tipping the scales at 13kg because he regularly snaffled the dinner of her other dog Polly as well as eating his own.

“He’ll just stalk Polly and he’ll get in if he can because that will be like two dinners for him,” she said of his dining habits. “He’s just been a very solid log.”

Ms Caughley said that while Jack received twicedaily walks, he was “stuffed” after a stroll and spent the rest of his day lazing around.

Ms Caughley said Jack was not very keen on his new diet, but she was going to stick with it. “He loves food but it will be for the best for him,” she said.

Jack is taking part in Petbarn’s ‘Biggest Pet Loser’ challenge, which gives owners 12 weeks to get their pets in shape.

Ms Caughley said she hoped Jack’s weight would dip below the 10kg mark by the end of the contest.

Dr Kevin Cruickshan­k from the Gold Coast Vet Surgery in Surfers Paradise said pets usually became overweight from a combinatio­n of overeating and a lack of exercise.

“It’s so easy to look at those pleading eyes,” he said. “But lots of people don’t realise their dog is overweight. There’s only one breed of human, but a few dog breeds.

“You can’t compare a bulldog to a whippet or a greyhound, they’re so different.”

Dr Cruickshan­k said his surgery held free weight loss clinics by appointmen­t to help get pets back into shape, adding overweight pets could end up with diabetes, heart problems, arthritis and were more susceptibl­e to heatstroke.

The Petbarn Biggest Pet Loser winner will be decided by the percentage of their weight loss. Last year there were 400 entries, with a Queensland Labrador coming out on top after shedding 11.2kg.

Pet owners can register up until February 21 and have the chance to win a $2000 Petbarn voucher and $1000 cash.

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 ?? Picture: GLENN HAMPSON ?? Tegan Caughley with her overweight jack russell terrier, Jack, who is going on a strict diet as part of Petbarn's Biggest Pet Loser challenge.
Picture: GLENN HAMPSON Tegan Caughley with her overweight jack russell terrier, Jack, who is going on a strict diet as part of Petbarn's Biggest Pet Loser challenge.

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